Is it too late to start another batch of seeds?

[Douglas14]

I've had quite a few plants that have died after the first transplant stage...likely do to some mistakes I've made. I have a few varieties that I'd planned on, that may not make it into my garden, unless I start more seeds. I'm wondering if anyone has had success in starting seeds 4-5 weeks before planting out? If so, do these younger plants catch up to the older ones. I'm prepared to somewhat baby the younger plants, if that's what's needed. Any advice/opinions/experience is appreciated.

[barkeater]

I started a second batch last year on April 17th, and all of the tomatoes produced very well, but were 2-3 weeks behind the ones I started 18 days earlier. They mostly started bearing the 1st 10 days of September. It was a very cool summer so in a warmer year they may catch up faster. Then again, an early freeze would have burned me. I'm glad I did it though as I got to try a lot of good new tomatoes like Old Brooks and Box Car Willie that were in that late group.

I split them up again this year too, but not by that much, starting my early tomatoes March 31, and the rest a week later.

[Douglas14]

Thanks Barkeater.
I think I'll just stay with what I've got. I do have one batch that I started about a week ago, so that should help(
Sungolds and Brandywine Reds). I should have at least one plant of almost all the varieties I planned on. A couple of the plants look like a little iffy. If they don't make it, they'll have to wait till next year.

[the999bbq]

what can you loose by trying ? ;-) meanwhile you could take some of the succers and root those so you could have extra plants from the varieties you still have if you want the extra plants. Than you still can decide at planting time what plants you use; the seedlings or the propagated ones. The more we come to summer conditions, the more the plants seem to grow with ease so 4 weeks in march don't compare with 4 weeks in june (it is warmer, more and more powerful sunlight,...).

[Tormato]

Douglas14,

I'm still about a week away from starting most of my seedlings. I usually have them germinated about May 1st, and transplanted about June 1st.

With good weather they can do alot of catching up. I once had someone start a plant on March 15, and I started the same variety on May 1st. The March plant was only a week earlier, to ripe fruit.

Tormato

[BVGardener]

Douglas,

I agree in that I think you should at least try a few. Even if it's only 2 or 3. That way you can go through the experiance of starting them late in the season and seeing how well they perform. You never know and then you would have the experiance to reflect back on.

Jay

[jhp]

I usually plant out around May 15. Two years ago, someone sent me seeds late. I decided to start them anyway, it was May 4. I planted them out June 3. They soon caught up to the other plants that had been started much earlier. They hit the ground running at only 4 weeks old at plant out. You would never have guessed that they were started late.

I say, go for it. What have you got to lose?

Jen

[Douglas14]

Wow those are encouraging results. I think I'll go start some seeds. Thanks!

[OmahaJB]

Glad to see people have had success starting seeds this late. I wasn't able to start as many as I wanted to about a month ago, so was thinking of starting more in a day or two or three. Maybe some early and mid season varieties. I finally have room to get them started! Yeah....

Jeff

[stratcat1]

Douglas, I just spent an hour replanting varieties that didn't come up or ones that I only got one plant. I like backups.

When these come up I expect they'll catch up to the current ones. If they run a bit behind the others now they should be fresher later in the season.

As gardeners we are optimistic.

john

[Douglas14]

That's a good outlook John! Best of luck to all of you that started some seeds later. It's hard to wait another year to try a highly anticipated variety....for me anyway.

[stratcat1]

Yes, Douglas, good luck to you, as well.

Last year I had four or five varieties that began sprouting after being planted for 21 days or so! Really glad I replanted that bunch and didn't wait.

Happy gardening,

john

[kelleyville]

Due to pretty much being homeless, we were staying with a neighbor until we could find a place, I started some seeds in a little 9 pack deal. I was so excited when they sprouted only a few days later. I had watered them in the kitchen sink and left them to drain as space was at a premium. the little elderly lady who lived there killed all of them by washing dishes and rinsing the dishes over my tomatoes!

We finally got into our place and I started more seeds a little over a week ago! I have no garden space ready for them so I guess this will be a plant in buckets year!

I will start seeds any time of year! Last year when I found this place and learned how to get the seeds processed, I got seeds from a neighbors plants and started some yellow pear and juliet grape in July! Those plants lived happily in the garage and kept producing until Late January!

Got to love tomatoes! They don't have a clue when they are supposed to grow and less of a clue when they are supposed to die!

Kelley