To what point have you progressed as of today?

[tomatoguy]

I thought it might be interesting to see what stage of development folks are at right now, given our different locations, zones, climates, etc.

If your zone isn't listed with your nickname please clue us in. I am at the southern edge of Zone 6B, 35 miles southeast of Nashville, Tennessee at an elevation of about 600 feet.

All of my plants are still in the light box but are chomping at the bit to get in some real soil and sun. There are 55 tomato plants and 4 hot pepper plants. The tomato plants are from 4 inches to 10 inches tall. I used 4 inch, very deep plastic pots. The plants aren't nearly as rangy as last year when I was not around to take care of them, due to my mom's illness. Whether they took advantage of the extra room for roots, we shall see soon enough. The planned date of my planting and most of the plant distribution is next Wednesday, April 16. All of my co-workers get their plants on that date. The following weekend my friend Perry, my daughter Cheryl and my granddaughter Blake get the rest. First frost free date here is May 1. .

The ground temperature isn't really where I want it to be but the plants have got to go before they get much taller. Some of them on the second shelf are threatening to touch the light which is as high as it will go. Also, we are predicted to have 5 dry days in a row leading up to that date. That is important since we get so much spring rain here and it is often too wet to plant. I will watch the weather outlook every day for a while and change dates if I really have to.

So, spill the beans. Just now putting seeds in peat or battling late blight? "Enquiring minds want to know."

mater

[dcarch]

I am in zone 6 NY.

Planted mine in ground on 3/30

Most plants are blossoming and some started to fruit.

dcarch

[tomatoguy]

dcarch,

I assume you are close enough to the ocean to have warmer temps than most of New York. If not, you are a brave soul. Or something.

mater

[dcarch]

Originally Posted by tomatoguy

dcarch,
I assume you are close enough to the ocean to have warmer temps than most of New York. If not, you are a brave soul. Or something.
mater

I use a removable greenhouse method, so no problem with frost.

I will get two more months' growing.

dcarch

[Elliot]

We are still waiting for the nurseries to carry and/or ship us plants. In our area, which is LI, New York we are advised to wait till Mothers day before planting tomatos outdoors. I already have my lettuce out and have planted pansies. My lillies are starting to break out of the ground.

Elliot,

New York

[kimpossible]

Well, a quick update - hope to have more in a few more days. I have started 186 different tomato varieties in the last 2 weeks, x about 6 to 8 per variety. I also started about 8 varieties of peppers with about 10 to 20 per variety. I have various germination results, - some 100%, some starting their true leaves. Waiting on others for better/some/any? germination results. Soon I will be starting other veggies - squash, cuc's, corn, etc. (about a 4 week window). I have the added complication of going on a huge family Carribean holiday the last week of May (prime planting time - 25 people being treated to an all-expenses-paid trip). So I will be planning carefully considering the weather at the time - do I plant before, do I plant afterward, etc. etc.

But right now I am admiring my tiny tomato seedlings, spitting on & removing seed coats, washing and sterilizing my pots for transplants, preparing my stakes/markers, updating my spreadsheets, etc. etc.!!!
FUN??? WOW!!! (Seriously!!!)

[GIZZARDFARM]

Well Tomatoguy I live just down the road from you (between Nashville and Chattanooga) and I have repotted my 250 seedlings twice. They have about 3 or so sets of leaves and are stout and ready to be put in the garden and strawbales the first week of may. Im not going to jump the gun this year as i lost 200 plants last year to that late freeze. My okra plants are up 4 or so inches and is also ready as is my squash,watermelon,and cukes...still got my babes under the light with a fan breezing them but have been putting them outside everyday and letting them suck up the sun....nice to talk to a neighbor

Gizzard

[rxkeith]

in zone 4 ironwood, mi where we work, we got a few inches of snow overnight. not gonna plant anything outside anytime soon. our farm is outside of calumet, zone 5. there is a snow issue there as well. as of today, seeds planted april 3rd, are just now sprouting. first to show signs of life was bloody butcher from 2001 seeds. i transplanted most of my peppers and some eggplant last week. one bulgarian carrot bit the dust. unknown causes. the peppers and eggplant sprouted over a month long period. the lolly gaggers will get transplanted within the next few days. some of the older seeds really took their time waking up.

keith

[Sherry_AK]

Over the past few days I've potted up seedlings from cell packs to individual pots. Today I set up a method to keep records on the Dwarf Project plants I'm growing this year.

It's been snowing sideways here today. I'm glad I have these indoor chores to keep busy with.

Sherry

[robin303]

Hmmmm, Well I have green tomatoes on more than half of my plants and there not even 18” high yet. Today I pulled up all my collard greens being a tad bit warm and just have maybe 10 or less of broccoli plants left. My Japs and green peppers are slow going but hardy and my garlic and 400 onions are about 32” high and I am having a few bolt which is ok. I have so much lettuce I don’t know what to do with. Giving it away to people I don’t even know. Lady bugs love lettuce and I don’t know why. My dedicated flower beds are getting up there and have just a few now budding. The bad thing is caterpillars are dropping out of the trees like gangbusters. Come in the house and find them walking are crawling on the brim of my hat. My pumpkin [ In competition this year] is doing ok and a few of my tomatoes from Dave in the trials are about 2” high. Green beans are budding and over 24” high and my cat loves her 2 catnip plants. Over all I’m happy with the results but I’m out of room. Ahh forgot about my Okra plants they are whopping 4” now.

[gardenhappy]

I've been pulling a few radishes that are done,broccoli is almost finished ,the first crop,grew the purple variety and was not impressed at all(cheif's choice mix)so much for that,little tiny spindles compare to beautiful HUGE heads on my green(packman),give it another try sometime with another variety, most of the first crop of cabbage,jersey wakefield,and copenhagen are over with,new started,Indian hopi pink sweet corn is all up and the first batch is tasseling,peas are almost done ,pole beans are on,summer squashes and winter are growing well,summer we are just harvesting the first ones,green beans we planted,mayflower,true red cranberry,tripple Italian broad beans,purple podded pole, vermont cranberry, boston favorite,good mother stallard,cherokee trail of tears,charelevoix dark red kidney,ireland creek annie,tigers eye,tendergreen,christmas lima,speckled calico lima,lingua di fuoco,and super marconi cuneo, cukes are just comming on,sunflowers are about 16'',nasturtuims are all big huge bushes now and planted up several 10' hanging baskets of them and they are all in bloom now,transplanted over 200 tomato's monday and tuesday and scented geranims,potaot's are half in 19 varieties,onions 15 varieties,garlic has been in- 12 varieties,tomato's from Andery are getting fruit out in the big garden and in the hoop house ,i transplanted everything exept the grow outs for others outside a few weeks ago,sungold we have been eating off of for about 3 weeks now and ,snhallots are doing great and the bunching onion plants 450 we put in are almost ready to begin to harvest,basil is big bushes now and starting tons more next week as soon as more seed starting soil comes in.The front display beds are just taking off and doing well, all started from seed so it has been a slow work of art,lavenders 6 kinds,zinna's in bloom,cabbage doing great planted in with potao's and nasturtums,calendula,basil,thyme,lavender,chards,k ales,roman wormwood,roses,leeks,summer savery,dill,greek oragano,cilantros 6 kinds,carrots 5 kinds,mondara,beets 4 kinds,peas5,celery 7 kinds,garlic chives 5 kinds and eggplants about 20,hot peppers over 45 varieties(had alot of germination problems),last week Isacc and Josiah planted a teepee fort from last years KONG,sunflower canes and planted Jack-in- the-beanstalk beans ,climbing nasturtuims,seeds all around after weaving twine thruout,they planted zinna's at each corner and cukes. We have their cotton field all ready and today they a re transplanting 6 kinds of cotton into their 4x6 "field" Today I'm repotting more,got about 9 flats of seedlings to get transplanted,help the boys and fertilize everthing with fish emulsion It's busy and I just love this time of year

[Tomstrees]

As of right now, I have all my tomatoes, peppers and herbs all set for 2008.
Next week, I'll do my first pot-up.

I've been out in the yard "getting things ready". I just have to build a new raised bed; plant; and enjoy the summer!

~ Tom

[TZ-OH6]

I'm busy double digging a new plot...spent the winter clearing off wild rose, blackberry and honeysuckle from it. Last year we had snow at this time, this year I'm in shorts and getting sun burned with a month to go before recomended frost free planting date. Seeds were sown a week ago and most of the 37 varieties are up. Today I'll resow the handfull of varieties that haven't germinated.

I'm also prepping the new straw bales (soaking w/ high N fert.) so they will be ready when the plants are.

[duajones]

Zone 9 Corpus Christi, Texas. I set out my tomato plants on Feb. 24th. Most have set fruit with Jet Star being the leader with 17 fruit set so far. Weak front expected soon and weather should be ideal for fruitset over the next few weeks. Picklebush and Boston pickling cukes have began flowering while Diva is getting close. Dragon Tongue beans are close to flowering as well as Straightneck squash. Louisiana Green Velvet is around 3-4 inches tall at this point.

[huntoften]

Zone 6 in south Kansas City.

I too was bitten bad by the freeze last April...I am waiting at least until the first of May to plant this year. I have some seedlings I've re-potted twice to keep them from getting leggy. Most of them are 2-4 inches and growing slowly in my greenhouse due to the cool temps...that's ok...the roots are developing very well!

I'm growing 16 different varieties...14 are heirloom.

The pepper seedlings are even further behind the tomatoes...that's ok as well...I'm learning patience when dealing with these tropicals.

As for the garden...I am picking asparagus, almost ready to pick lettuce and radishes, the spinach is doing well and the snow peas are just sprouting. I have 3 beds left to till, one new bed still to build and fill, and the former pumpkin patch to round-up, till, and plant with corn. I have all my soaker hoses ready to install, and should have a new drip irrigation system at my doorstep today or Friday...something new to try!

Right now everythign is on hold...2 inches of rain in the last 3 days and lots more on the way tonight. Supposed to be lows in the 30's as well...patience, patience, patience!