new jersey seed starters

TightenUp · March 22, 2011

what date did you start your seeds? i am just pushing out of dirt now so i think i may be a little late.

also what date do you usually plant outdoors?

TomNJ · March 22, 2011

It depends where you are in New Jersey and how you grow them. I am in Sayreville in central NJ near the bay, so we are considerably warmer than the hills in the northwest, and perhaps a little cooler than the south.

I will start my pepper seeds later this week, and my tomatoes around April 6th. I use heating pads to speed up germination, grow under four T8 bulbs, and don't transplant up, so my tomatoes are garden ready in only five weeks and my peppers in seven. Most people here say they allow longer to reach transplant size, so you may want to start a bit earlier, or just put them outside a little later.

I plant outdoors when the ten day forecast shows no nights below 50F, which is usually around May 10th to 15th.

TomNJ

TightenUp · March 22, 2011

yo tom

i guess i am about on time then. i will have most plants down in LBI right by the beach and a few up in north jersey. i always did my garden on memorial day and just bought tomato plants that weekend and planted them.

this year i wanted to start from seed and also get my plants in a couple weeks earlier maybe May 14/15.

from most of my reading i gathered 6-8 weeks from seed to outdoors so i am right on schedule with that

have you found any specific varieties to do well for you in the salty air off the jersey coast? i always felt the tomatoes grown in this area had a little better flavor than the inland grown ones

TomNJ · March 23, 2011

I am a couple of miles from the bay and rarely get winds off the water, so salty air is rare here compared to LBI. I tend to get better yields from beefsteaks and hearts, as my paste varieties seem more susceptible to disease. My favorite varieties are Kosovo, Brandywine Sudduth, and Cherokee Purple, but I will also plant some paste types such as Mama Leone and Martino's Roma. If you need any seeds, just send me a private message. You are also welcome to visit to see my seedling set-up. I'll be starting my peppers tomorrow.

TomNJ

TightenUp · March 23, 2011

tom thats a generous offer and greatly appreciated. i have more seeds started than i have room for so i am good for now. thanks

TightenUp · March 26, 2011

"the jersey tomato" "the garden state"

come on, there has to be more NJ growers out there. what kinds of seeds are you growing? how did you do last year? when did you start seeds this year or when will you start seeds this year?

i started my 8 varieties around march 20th. this is my first time growing from seed. i have high hopes for the kimberly, big beef and abe. my goal(weather permitting) is to plant may 14-15.

abe lincoln
ace 55
big beef
boxcar willie
hezhou
kimberly
vintage wine(freebie with order)
zhezha

NisiNJ · March 26, 2011

So glad to see this thread!

I live in Bordentown but grew up in Pennington. I usually plant the Supersonics my dear father loved and the Good 'N Early I cut my tomato teeth on. Also Tami G, which is also called Agriset. It's a really sweet and prolific grape tomato.

After reading Carolyn Male's book on heirloom tomatoes (Tomatoville's Carolyn 137), I bought seeds for all kinds of yellows, oranges, etc. and decided to sell extra seedlings at Columbus market. All the magazine and newspaper stories said heirlooms were the latest craze. But the only kind of tomato plants the NJ people at Columbus wanted were the "rounds and reds"-- the classic "Jersey Tomato." I sold out of Ramapo and anything with "beef" in the name. The exception was Sungold cherry, which was popular. I'm trying it again this year, but adjusting the numbers of each variety. I don't really make much money, but it's fun to talk to all the people about tomatoes.

Of the many heirloom seedlings I therefore had left over to plant in my own garden, I really liked Black Cherry, Red Brandywine, Kellogg's Breakfast, Heidi, Earl of Edgecombe and Costoluto Genovese. I tried Opalka for two years-- the second year in a container, thinking it was the soil--but it just didn't perform well here. Red Brandywine produced like gangbusters and the flavor knocks your socks off.

I also ordered seeds that were reported to be popular in the NJ past--Rutgers, of course, but also Jersey Giant, Sparks Earliana and a couple more I have to look up. Hoping they will do well.

I have shop lights in the basement, where it's cool, and some more in two rooms upstairs. I was even hanging them on chains under tables. Last year I wintersowed two little flats and they made the stockiest seedlings so I tried it again this year. I am concerned about the recent cold snap, though, as a few had already germinated.

Right now (indoors) there are some with little true leaves which I am potting up, some that just germinated and I still plan to start more.

Sorry for being so longwinded--just happy to see the NJ thread.

TightenUp · March 26, 2011

Hey Nisi

glad to have ya on board. you mentioned columbus but i've never heard of it. a place or fair of some sort? sounds interesting

good luck with your seeds. i started a few extras since i think i did a little overwatering and my seedlings look crappy right now. i think they'll pull through for me though

NisiNJ · March 27, 2011

Columbus Market is an indoor/outdoor market that is located in Columbus, NJ. Their website:

http://www.columbusfarmersmarket.com/indexa.htm

Google Map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl

Some people sell the used contents of their basement, and some sell new items--T shirts, shoes, jewelry--the usual outdoor market fare.

You can rent a space by the day or month's worth of days. One month's worth of Sundays is $100, and as someone pointed out to me, there are FIVE sundays in May last year and this year. So you get an extra day for the price. Next year, when there are only four Sundays in the month, I'll go to Saturdays and spend Sunday mornings in church where I belong.

People do sell produce there as well, and I don't think they require you to carry liability insurance, as many other farmers markets do. But right now I'm just selling seedlings. If you register for a month, you get an assigned space and are allowed entrance an hour early to set up. The "daily" sellers wait in their cars to be let in and grab any leftover spot. The daily spaces are $35 a day, so that's another benefit of signing for the month.

artis · March 27, 2011

I am also from central NJ, glad to hear from other growers nearby. Today, I started seeds of the following varieties:

Wes
Prue
Brandywine Sudduth
Orange Minsk

A week ago I started Moravsky Div, which is a compact early variety.

I grow the seedlings under 4 foot T8 fluorescents, transplant them twice, and set them out in early May. I grow tomatos in 5-10 gal pots and they can be moved back inside if a near freezing night is expected.

Last year was not my best because it was too hot and fruit set was low.

TightenUp · March 27, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by artis

I grow tomatos in 5-10 gal pots and they can be moved back inside if a near freezing night is expected.

u cage the potter tomatoes?

artis · March 27, 2011

Yes, I build a sturdy cage around the tomato pots using angle clamps and the 8 foot green plastic coated steel poles that are available at gardening centers. The cage is tied to the side of my deck to prevent the whole thing from toppling over.

Not a cheap method but all parts are reused and they last for many years. Also, the cage looks relatively discreet.

NisiNJ · March 28, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by artis

... transplant them twice, and set them out in early May.

How big are the two pots for your successive transplantings? Is the second transplanting right into the 5-10 gallon pots?

artis · March 28, 2011

NisiNJ,

I start seeds in 2x2x2 inch pots, then transplant to 5x5x5, then to 8x8x8 inch square-sized black plastic pots. I sometimes skip transplanting to 8x8x8 and go directly to 5 or 10 gal pots.

I used ProMix BX but this year I will be trying Sunshine Mix because I cannot find ProMix anywhere. I try not to disturb roots during transplanting and my plants hardly show any transplant shock.

I am attaching a picture with two tomato plants in 8x8x8 pots (Aurora on the left, Danko on the right). There are a couple of 2x2x2 pots in the front. The color in the picture is slightly off because half of my T8 bulbs were plant grow bulbs (pink light) although I doubt that they are required. Most of the regular T8 bulbs should do just fine.

NisiNJ · March 29, 2011

Thanks for the info and picture, Artis. Beautiful plants.

I get ProMix from Griffins Greenhouse Supply. You don't need to be a big growing operation to buy from them (I sure am not!) They have a branch in Ewing, NJ:

http://www.griffins.com/locations/ewing.asp

I just park in their lot and they load it into the back of my car.

March 22, 2011	#1
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	new jersey seed starters what date did you start your seeds? i am just pushing out of dirt now so i think i may be a little late. also what date do you usually plant outdoors?

March 26, 2011	#7
NisiNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bordentown NJ Posts: 32	NJ Tomatoes So glad to see this thread! I live in Bordentown but grew up in Pennington. I usually plant the Supersonics my dear father loved and the Good 'N Early I cut my tomato teeth on. Also Tami G, which is also called Agriset. It's a really sweet and prolific grape tomato. After reading Carolyn Male's book on heirloom tomatoes (Tomatoville's Carolyn 137), I bought seeds for all kinds of yellows, oranges, etc. and decided to sell extra seedlings at Columbus market. All the magazine and newspaper stories said heirlooms were the latest craze. But the only kind of tomato plants the NJ people at Columbus wanted were the "rounds and reds"-- the classic "Jersey Tomato." I sold out of Ramapo and anything with "beef" in the name. The exception was Sungold cherry, which was popular. I'm trying it again this year, but adjusting the numbers of each variety. I don't really make much money, but it's fun to talk to all the people about tomatoes. Of the many heirloom seedlings I therefore had left over to plant in my own garden, I really liked Black Cherry, Red Brandywine, Kellogg's Breakfast, Heidi, Earl of Edgecombe and Costoluto Genovese. I tried Opalka for two years-- the second year in a container, thinking it was the soil--but it just didn't perform well here. Red Brandywine produced like gangbusters and the flavor knocks your socks off. I also ordered seeds that were reported to be popular in the NJ past--Rutgers, of course, but also Jersey Giant, Sparks Earliana and a couple more I have to look up. Hoping they will do well. I have shop lights in the basement, where it's cool, and some more in two rooms upstairs. I was even hanging them on chains under tables. Last year I wintersowed two little flats and they made the stockiest seedlings so I tried it again this year. I am concerned about the recent cold snap, though, as a few had already germinated. Right now (indoors) there are some with little true leaves which I am potting up, some that just germinated and I still plan to start more. Sorry for being so longwinded--just happy to see the NJ thread. Last edited by NisiNJ; March 26, 2011 at 11:08 AM. Reason: typo

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March 22, 2011	#2
TomNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Floyd VA Posts: 771	It depends where you are in New Jersey and how you grow them. I am in Sayreville in central NJ near the bay, so we are considerably warmer than the hills in the northwest, and perhaps a little cooler than the south. I will start my pepper seeds later this week, and my tomatoes around April 6th. I use heating pads to speed up germination, grow under four T8 bulbs, and don't transplant up, so my tomatoes are garden ready in only five weeks and my peppers in seven. Most people here say they allow longer to reach transplant size, so you may want to start a bit earlier, or just put them outside a little later. I plant outdoors when the ten day forecast shows no nights below 50F, which is usually around May 10th to 15th. TomNJ

March 23, 2011	#4
TomNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Floyd VA Posts: 771	I am a couple of miles from the bay and rarely get winds off the water, so salty air is rare here compared to LBI. I tend to get better yields from beefsteaks and hearts, as my paste varieties seem more susceptible to disease. My favorite varieties are Kosovo, Brandywine Sudduth, and Cherokee Purple, but I will also plant some paste types such as Mama Leone and Martino's Roma. If you need any seeds, just send me a private message. You are also welcome to visit to see my seedling set-up. I'll be starting my peppers tomorrow. TomNJ

March 27, 2011	#9
NisiNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bordentown NJ Posts: 32	Columbus Market is an indoor/outdoor market that is located in Columbus, NJ. Their website: http://www.columbusfarmersmarket.com/indexa.htm Google Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl Some people sell the used contents of their basement, and some sell new items--T shirts, shoes, jewelry--the usual outdoor market fare. You can rent a space by the day or month's worth of days. One month's worth of Sundays is $100, and as someone pointed out to me, there are FIVE sundays in May last year and this year. So you get an extra day for the price. Next year, when there are only four Sundays in the month, I'll go to Saturdays and spend Sunday mornings in church where I belong. People do sell produce there as well, and I don't think they require you to carry liability insurance, as many other farmers markets do. But right now I'm just selling seedlings. If you register for a month, you get an assigned space and are allowed entrance an hour early to set up. The "daily" sellers wait in their cars to be let in and grab any leftover spot. The daily spaces are $35 a day, so that's another benefit of signing for the month.

March 27, 2011	#10
artis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: central NJ z6/7 Posts: 73	I am also from central NJ, glad to hear from other growers nearby. Today, I started seeds of the following varieties: Wes Prue Brandywine Sudduth Orange Minsk A week ago I started Moravsky Div, which is a compact early variety. I grow the seedlings under 4 foot T8 fluorescents, transplant them twice, and set them out in early May. I grow tomatos in 5-10 gal pots and they can be moved back inside if a near freezing night is expected. Last year was not my best because it was too hot and fruit set was low.

March 29, 2011	#15
NisiNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bordentown NJ Posts: 32	Thanks for the info and picture, Artis. Beautiful plants. I get ProMix from Griffins Greenhouse Supply. You don't need to be a big growing operation to buy from them (I sure am not!) They have a branch in Ewing, NJ: http://www.griffins.com/locations/ewing.asp I just park in their lot and they load it into the back of my car.