Spring tomato crop

SpookyShoe · February 15, 2014

Last year I set out plants around mid-February, but not so this year. The winter has been abnormally cold and we have had several freezes in an area that can go several years with no frost. I'll wait until March 1 and then see what the weather forecast is for the next two weeks.

The plants waiting in the wings so to speak are Arkansas Traveler, Atkinson (developed by Auburn to withstand heat and humidity), Better Boy, Box Car Willie, Cherokee Purple x 2, Juliet cherry, and Patio ( I didn't want it, but my dear husband insisted I try a container plant...I've never had much luck with container plants).

I hope everyone's planting dates are not pushed back too far because of the bizarre climate this winter.

Donna, Texas Gulf Coast zone 9

b54red · February 15, 2014

Donna I had never had great luck with container plants until last year. Usually I forget to water frequently enough and they get too dry too many times and I lose most of the blooms. Last year I tried a few and gave them a dose of Texas Tomato Food every week to 10 days and they did fantastic. I have never had container plants set so much fruit. They were still smaller than my garden plants but for me they were a huge success. I plant on setting out more in containers this year.

Bill

MikeInCypress · February 15, 2014

I am in Cypress, about 35 miles northwest of Donna, and I have always tried to have plants ready by Feb 15, but rarely had seedlings of proper size by then. This year I do have about 30 plants ready to go except I haven't been able to harden them off yet. I'll start that process tomorrow and maybe I'll try to plant a Kimberley and a Moravsky Div in 4 gallon pots. My planting will continue until the end of March. Looks like I'll have around 64 plants. Just like Worth my season is over by the end of June most years except for the cherries and Juliet. Maybe this year will be one where we have moderate weather in late May - early June and some large fruited varieties will put on a flush of fruit to extend the harvest thru mid July. I always hope for that but I have only had that happen about 5 times in 35 years. There is hope every year.

MikeInCypress

**carolyn137** · February 15, 2014

Donna, isn't that a new address for you? I wondered since you used to grow many more plants than you noted above.

As for me, I'm just jealous of anyone who has plants out or almost out, as I look outside my windows and see only white, and more white to come on Tuesday, so they say.

Carolyn

SpookyShoe · February 16, 2014

I left out Black Krim from my list. I reduced the number of plants by a few because when I put out too many plants for the area I have, they become a tangled mess as the season progresses. I'm hoping that with a little more space between the plants there will be better air circulation and I can slow the spread of insects and disease. So my list is Arkansas Traveler, Atkinson, Black Krim, Box Car Willie, Better Boy, Cherokee Purple x 2, and Juliet to go into the ground. The Patio plant will go in a pot on the back patio.

Donna , Texas Gulf Coast zone 9

tlintx · February 16, 2014

I'm pretty close to Cypress, but I've always planted out the first week in March (transplants from the store).

Don't know about this year. May need to buy transplants again (was hoping to start from seed). My seedlings are sad, scrawny, pathetic little things. Just been too cold and too gray. Maybe they'll look better after a couple of weeks of sunshine. And it's sure gorgeous outside today!

At least the roses and cole crops are happy.

February 15, 2014	#1
SpookyShoe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: El Lago, Texas Posts: 1,100	Spring tomato crop Last year I set out plants around mid-February, but not so this year. The winter has been abnormally cold and we have had several freezes in an area that can go several years with no frost. I'll wait until March 1 and then see what the weather forecast is for the next two weeks. The plants waiting in the wings so to speak are Arkansas Traveler, Atkinson (developed by Auburn to withstand heat and humidity), Better Boy, Box Car Willie, Cherokee Purple x 2, Juliet cherry, and Patio ( I didn't want it, but my dear husband insisted I try a container plant...I've never had much luck with container plants). I hope everyone's planting dates are not pushed back too far because of the bizarre climate this winter. Donna, Texas Gulf Coast zone 9

February 15, 2014	#3
MikeInCypress Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 963	I am in Cypress, about 35 miles northwest of Donna, and I have always tried to have plants ready by Feb 15, but rarely had seedlings of proper size by then. This year I do have about 30 plants ready to go except I haven't been able to harden them off yet. I'll start that process tomorrow and maybe I'll try to plant a Kimberley and a Moravsky Div in 4 gallon pots. My planting will continue until the end of March. Looks like I'll have around 64 plants. Just like Worth my season is over by the end of June most years except for the cherries and Juliet. Maybe this year will be one where we have moderate weather in late May - early June and some large fruited varieties will put on a flush of fruit to extend the harvest thru mid July. I always hope for that but I have only had that happen about 5 times in 35 years. There is hope every year. MikeInCypress __________________ "Growing older, not up"

February 15, 2014	#4
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Donna, isn't that a new address for you? I wondered since you used to grow many more plants than you noted above. As for me, I'm just jealous of anyone who has plants out or almost out, as I look outside my windows and see only white, and more white to come on Tuesday, so they say. Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

February 15, 2014	#2
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Donna I had never had great luck with container plants until last year. Usually I forget to water frequently enough and they get too dry too many times and I lose most of the blooms. Last year I tried a few and gave them a dose of Texas Tomato Food every week to 10 days and they did fantastic. I have never had container plants set so much fruit. They were still smaller than my garden plants but for me they were a huge success. I plant on setting out more in containers this year. Bill

February 16, 2014	#5
SpookyShoe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: El Lago, Texas Posts: 1,100	I left out Black Krim from my list. I reduced the number of plants by a few because when I put out too many plants for the area I have, they become a tangled mess as the season progresses. I'm hoping that with a little more space between the plants there will be better air circulation and I can slow the spread of insects and disease. So my list is Arkansas Traveler, Atkinson, Black Krim, Box Car Willie, Better Boy, Cherokee Purple x 2, and Juliet to go into the ground. The Patio plant will go in a pot on the back patio. Donna , Texas Gulf Coast zone 9

February 16, 2014	#6
tlintx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: SeTx Posts: 881	I'm pretty close to Cypress, but I've always planted out the first week in March (transplants from the store). Don't know about this year. May need to buy transplants again (was hoping to start from seed). My seedlings are sad, scrawny, pathetic little things. Just been too cold and too gray. Maybe they'll look better after a couple of weeks of sunshine. And it's sure gorgeous outside today! At least the roses and cole crops are happy.