Old Farmers Almanac

[Tomatovator]

I'm in Zone 5 about 10 miles out of Zone 6. I picked up an Old Farmers Almanac for something to read and it says that the best time to plant tomatoes next year in Zone 5 is around the third week of April (if I'm reading it correctly). Usually people around here don't plant tomatoes till the end of May. Should I give any thought to actually planting 6 weeks earlier next year? Anyone out there follow the forecasts, etc. listed in the OFA. It mentions that the warmest part of the summer next year in Zone 5 will be in May. What do you think?

[Suze]

I suspect that's the recommendation for the seed sowing date, not the transplanting date.

[shelleybean]

That's about the time I put my transplants out in the garden and I'm in zone 8.

[Gimme3]

Tomatovator.....id say this.

Dont shoot ya wad all at one Time. I'm in zone 7...or 8 if Global warming continues...my latitude is 34.42 degrees North. jus call it 34 an a half degrees north.
i have grown out w'fine sucess...German Red Strawberry's...stuck in the ground on April first...but they Sho took a lot of Babying, an i kinda feel i'da been jus as well off, to Wait, an let em keep growin under Sheltered conditions, rather than run my self ragged, tryin to protect em from Frost. A GRSB takes Forever....to come into Fruition...thats the reason...for Eager Beavor effort.

But i've Learned...in the case of Zone 7..AKA 8...that we got plenty of Time. Its not uncommon...to have Beautiful...Ripening , /Yielding plants...here...in early to mid-November. Once one begins to ponder that...a natural Question occurs. " What was my Hurry?"

In Zone 7...April 15 is considered the Prudent, earliest date...to set out a Tomato. And even then...llike i said...hold some in Reserve, dont shoot ya Whole wad at one time. You got Time...and Numbers...on yo Side...if you Remember that...)))

[cecilsgarden1958]

I am over the hill and a rocks throw from you in Somerset County.
I got quick frozen earlier this year on the last week of May.

The Old Farmer's Almanac does say that Spring will come early do our area, with some of the hottest temps from mid-April to mid-May. I plan on putting out the first good planting day in May, that has a favorable moon; but I would never ever risk April.

Same Almanac says Cool & dry summer. Dry from April to August.

CECIL-who can hear snickers from the gallery about following the almanac

[Suze]

Originally Posted by cecilsgarden

CECIL-who can hear snickers from the gallery about following the almanac

Not to worry, Barkeater already wrote an informal FAQ on GW addressing this. If memory serves, it was called "kiss my moonsign". Or something to that effect.

[Seriously, I still say the recommendation has to do w/the sowing date based on common sense for the OPs 5/6 zone and also based on what I've seen folks recommend that do use the almanac/follow planetary signs; usually the seed sowing date is somehow tied to a particular phase of the moon.]

[LoreD]

I am zone 5a and last year we had weather in the 70's and 80's at the end of April. A lot of my friends put their tomatoes out then. We did have two nights of frost in May but they were in wall-o-waters near a brick wall on their house. They also had put in eggplants which are much more cold sensitive than tomatoes and they also survived the cold snap.

I put my long season varieties in May 1. I would have put them in April 15 but they wouldn't let me into the community garden. They were placed in a cold frame that I removed June 1. This was not because of the cold (although it helped them survive the two night cold snap) but because of the wind in May. In Chicago during May we have a major problem with wind damage.

If you are ready with something like greenhouse film or frost blanket, I don't see a problem with risking a couple of long season varieties. I was picking German Red Strawberry in August. The only thing to remember is that you must warm the soil for two weeks before you put the plant in the ground.

I would risk a couple of plants, but also keep some backup plants in case you lost those plants.

LoreD

[Tomstrees]

Plant your seeds knowing you'll
set them out sometime during the 2-3
week of May ...
Always use your best judgement ~

~ Waxer