Letting Tomato Plants go into Next Season

behlgarden · February 2, 2012

Hi, Last year I started late and put my tomato plants in the ground by end of June, I got good growth and few tomatoes and then got attacked by Squirrels. Plants also went thru Blossom drops throughout the season.

However, the large cherry continued to produce to this day and I have about good 5 to 7 Heirloom plants still holding strong and putting blooms. I did prune them hard in Nov anticipating winter death to them, some plants died while others grew up stronger.

Following are the varieties that are still in the ground and healthy:

1884 Heirloom
Brandywine Red Heirloom
Italian Heirloom
Chocolate Stripes
Medium Beefsteak

The question is do I pull them out now OR ride them into 2012 season? If someone had experience with over wintered plants, I would love to know. If these plants can perform well in 2012 season as well, I think I will get a head start because root system is fully developed and by the time we hit spring, these would thrive. I plan on composting and fertilizing these plants carefully so they get the required nutrition. Another thing is that I got green pea vines that are now climbing over these plants.

Thoughts? As of Feb 1, I have about 6-7 tiny heirloom tomato fruit set already.

February 2, 2012	#1
behlgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Zone 9 Posts: 10	Letting Tomato Plants go into Next Season Hi, Last year I started late and put my tomato plants in the ground by end of June, I got good growth and few tomatoes and then got attacked by Squirrels. Plants also went thru Blossom drops throughout the season. However, the large cherry continued to produce to this day and I have about good 5 to 7 Heirloom plants still holding strong and putting blooms. I did prune them hard in Nov anticipating winter death to them, some plants died while others grew up stronger. Following are the varieties that are still in the ground and healthy: 1884 Heirloom Brandywine Red Heirloom Italian Heirloom Chocolate Stripes Medium Beefsteak The question is do I pull them out now OR ride them into 2012 season? If someone had experience with over wintered plants, I would love to know. If these plants can perform well in 2012 season as well, I think I will get a head start because root system is fully developed and by the time we hit spring, these would thrive. I plan on composting and fertilizing these plants carefully so they get the required nutrition. Another thing is that I got green pea vines that are now climbing over these plants. Thoughts? As of Feb 1, I have about 6-7 tiny heirloom tomato fruit set already.