I need help 2nd guessing a planting date for my fall '07 crop in Zone 9

bigbubbacain · August 14, 2007

I started my fall seedlings back in July on 'friday the 13th'. (yeah, I know.) I've got Sungold, Black Cherry, Grushovka, Siletz, and Bush Early Girl. All are either det. or early indet. types. They're growing beautifully under my grow light. The roots are really filling out the 1 gallon pots so fast to the point that I'm tempted to put them out at week 6, but I'm concerned about the heat. I don't have any way to protect my raised beds from the full sun. Should I start them in a more shaded area of the yard, and let them get a little bigger before I put them out in the raised bed? OR do you guys think they can handle it in the August sun? I thought I remembered a forum member in zone 9 writing a message about starting his fall tomatoes on Aug. 15, but these triple digit high temps are making me wonder. Any suggestions?

August 14, 2007	#1
bigbubbacain Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Zone 9 Texas, Fort Bend County Posts: 436	I need help 2nd guessing a planting date for my fall '07 crop in Zone 9 I started my fall seedlings back in July on 'friday the 13th'. (yeah, I know.) I've got Sungold, Black Cherry, Grushovka, Siletz, and Bush Early Girl. All are either det. or early indet. types. They're growing beautifully under my grow light. The roots are really filling out the 1 gallon pots so fast to the point that I'm tempted to put them out at week 6, but I'm concerned about the heat. I don't have any way to protect my raised beds from the full sun. Should I start them in a more shaded area of the yard, and let them get a little bigger before I put them out in the raised bed? OR do you guys think they can handle it in the August sun? I thought I remembered a forum member in zone 9 writing a message about starting his fall tomatoes on Aug. 15, but these triple digit high temps are making me wonder. Any suggestions?