North Texans are you planting out this weekend?

[Dewayne mater]

My test for when to plant out in Dallas suburbia has been that is is at least March 1 plus having a 10 day forecast that does not include freezing temps. That test will be met this weekend, so I'm planting out. How about you? I have my row cover ready if freezing temps come back - and they usually do. And so it begins!!

Dewayne Mater

[Worth1]

I live way south of you and it was 28 degrees F this morning at sunrise.
And I have had ice on my bird bathes two days in a row.
I just dont know what to think.
The weather does look good for the next few days for hardening off though.
Worth

[Dewayne mater]

Worth I still have a snow covered lawn today. But, it will be gone by tonight. Starting tomorrow, the lowest of the 10 day low temps are in the 40s and highs in the 50s, 60s and 70s! Good enough for me.

[creister]

I will next weekend, need to harden off and get the beds ready. I just wrap cages in grow cloth and leave it on as long as possible to protect from wind and potential hail storms.

[Worth1]

Darn it I went through everyone's weather for the next month ans typed it all out and forgot to post it.
All of us are in this order.
Frisco lowest low for the rest of the month and so on, march the 8'th and 9th 40F.
Central Dallas, 9th and 10th 40F
Abilene 9th and 10th 36F and 35F respectively.
Bastrop 15th 41.

It looks like we are good to go at least so far as the long range forecast from accuweather is concerned.
The very long range says we wont see 90 until the last of June this year.
We will see.
It is looking like it is going to be a very good year this time lets all hope so.

Worth

[Stvrob]

I set out my main grafted plants on Wednesday, just in time to catch a fierce SW on Thursday. Everything seems ok. Low temps tonight calling for 39℉, and after that I assume it's off to the races. Last year I has frost on March 21, which is pretty late for my area.

[decherdt]

If it dries out enough, I'll get to mow the Elbon cover down, then its about 2 or 3 weeks to plant out ...will plant out before Easter anyways, and then with row cover until mid April.

[Gardeneer]

You guys better hurry it up down south to have a nice and long first grow out season. Up here NW we wont be able to plant out till mid April to early May. Not to worry ; We won't have many days highs reaching 86F.
Having said that still I am shooting for some ripe tomatoes on the big Fourth of July

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

You guys better hurry it up down south to have a nice and long first grow out season. Up here NW we wont be able to plant out till mid April to early May. Not to worry ; We won't have many days highs reaching 86F.
Having said that still I am shooting for some ripe tomatoes on the big Fourth of July

As far as I am concerned we at least I only have one grow out season.
By the time the heat stops and you start getting fruit set it gets cold and the plants freeze.

Better to pull the plant and plant something else.

Worth

[Gardeneer]

Worth, how come ? I had the impression that you South/ SW Texans have two grow out seasons.
For the second season you can start from cuttings in July (maybe?). I've done that few times in Atl. GA.
Anyway, no matter what you have at least a 4 month season ( Apr, May, June, July)

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

Worth, how come ? I had the impression that you South/ SW Texans have two grow out seasons.
For the second season you can start from cuttings in July (maybe?). I've done that few times in Atl. GA.
Anyway, no matter what you have at least a 4 month season ( Apr, May, June, July)

Depending on the year sometimes we get over 100F for days on end.
On any account the plants will stall out and quit growing in the extreme heat.
This heat will continue up into September then start to cool off in October.
The plants will start to set fruit and before they get ripe or mature a freeze comes along and kills them.

Every year I have plants that make it through the summer and the same thing happens every year.

I am not going to waste my time starting plants in July because the return is practically nothing.
That is why we have okra.
For a summer long treat Matt's wild cherry does the best in the heat.

I just set my plants out at 7:00 AM this morning even before coffee.


Worth

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by Gardeneer

Worth, how come ? I had the impression that you South/ SW Texans have two grow out seasons.
For the second season you can start from cuttings in July (maybe?). I've done that few times in Atl. GA.
Anyway, no matter what you have at least a 4 month season ( Apr, May, June, July)

I tried fall tomatoes for 2 years. It was maximum effort, minimum result. Just as things are getting ripe, we start having nights that dip into the 40's. If I did it again, I'd do the few tomatoes that can stand up to cold temps and not lose all their flavor -- Momotaro and Black & Brown Boar. Everything else tastes like a grocery store tomato after a few cool nights.

[jmsieglaff]

You guys in Texas are planting out and is in Wisconsin are beginning what looks to be a week of snow melting! The sun is winning!

[charley]

harden off my plant this week and getting the turkey compost in the beds.next week plant.caint wait any longer my plants are starting to bloom.

[charley]

i hope they aint getting root bound,but they are still growing like crazy