Not too late?

christian1971 · April 22, 2016

I live in zone 4. It's not too late to start tomato seeds indoors is it?

Cole_Robbie · April 22, 2016

I don't think so, but I'd hurry it up. Warmth speeds germination and early growth. You can plant small seedlings outside and be ok, as long as the weather has warmed up.

rxkeith · April 22, 2016

you can still start them now, but will repeat the hurry up.
you want about a 6 week old plant to transplant outside. if your area is like mine, that would be june first as the generally safe date to plant outside.

keith

PhilaGardener · April 22, 2016

It's only getting later . . . .

RJGlew · April 23, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by christian1971

I live in zone 4. It's not too late to start tomato seeds indoors is it?

You have exactly 6 weeks if you plant out on Sat, June 4th. Consider quick germinators - the following varieties germinated in 3 days for me this year (on a heat mat).

New Girl F1
Orange Paruche F1
Sakharnyi Zheltyi
Saraev Druzhnya
Saraev Otbor 1
Saraev Shtambovyi
Stupice
Sun Gold F1
Ultra Pink F1

PhilaGardener · April 23, 2016

Interesting suggestions but I was hoping christian1971 already had seeds . . .

Aerial · April 23, 2016

My local hardware and grocery stores sell big robust seedlings for 99 cents, and ready to go in the ground. It's tempting to just go that route.

Try both, so you'll have a crop regardless.

Check out nctomatoman's youtube channel for his seed starting method, I have the best luck with that.

christian1971 · April 27, 2016

I finally set up my seeds indoors this past Sunday. I am going to retill my garden in a couple weekends. I did apply several heapings of rabbit manure in my garden. Might do it one more time. We shall see what happens.

Temps have been rather cool, with on and off again rain. Should help manure penetrate soil. I did water down the manure initially. Lots of poo puddles.

barbamWY · April 27, 2016

I too am in zone 4. Get started and use fresh seed. Give them some bottom heat if you can. You aren't too late. Give them 5-6 weeks to set out.
Barb

oakley · April 27, 2016

You are ok. I have often planted out the second weekend in June because of weather and anything that went in sooner than that did fine, but other late plantings easily caught up as the soil warmed.

My local fabulous nursery, same altitude, 5 min away, has very healthy starts of heirlooms that seem so much better than mine and often pick up a few with a few herbs like rosemary, tarragon, sage...
Mine always catch up to their toms every time.

April 22, 2016	#1
christian1971 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Minnesota Posts: 94	Not too late? I live in zone 4. It's not too late to start tomato seeds indoors is it?

April 27, 2016	#8
christian1971 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Minnesota Posts: 94	I finally set up my seeds indoors this past Sunday. I am going to retill my garden in a couple weekends. I did apply several heapings of rabbit manure in my garden. Might do it one more time. We shall see what happens. Temps have been rather cool, with on and off again rain. Should help manure penetrate soil. I did water down the manure initially. Lots of poo puddles. Last edited by christian1971; April 27, 2016 at 01:55 AM.

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April 22, 2016	#2
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I don't think so, but I'd hurry it up. Warmth speeds germination and early growth. You can plant small seedlings outside and be ok, as long as the weather has warmed up.

April 22, 2016	#3
rxkeith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Back in da U.P. Posts: 1,848	you can still start them now, but will repeat the hurry up. you want about a 6 week old plant to transplant outside. if your area is like mine, that would be june first as the generally safe date to plant outside. keith

April 22, 2016	#4
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	It's only getting later . . . .

April 23, 2016	#6
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Interesting suggestions but I was hoping christian1971 already had seeds . . .

April 23, 2016	#7
Aerial Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: CA Posts: 410	My local hardware and grocery stores sell big robust seedlings for 99 cents, and ready to go in the ground. It's tempting to just go that route. Try both, so you'll have a crop regardless. Check out nctomatoman's youtube channel for his seed starting method, I have the best luck with that.

April 27, 2016	#9
barbamWY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: North West Wyoming Posts: 466	I too am in zone 4. Get started and use fresh seed. Give them some bottom heat if you can. You aren't too late. Give them 5-6 weeks to set out. Barb

April 27, 2016	#10
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	You are ok. I have often planted out the second weekend in June because of weather and anything that went in sooner than that did fine, but other late plantings easily caught up as the soil warmed. My local fabulous nursery, same altitude, 5 min away, has very healthy starts of heirlooms that seem so much better than mine and often pick up a few with a few herbs like rosemary, tarragon, sage... Mine always catch up to their toms every time.