Too Late to Start??

crmauch · April 30, 2015

I started most of my tomatoes within the right period for planting out about May 20th (From various sources it's about 90% for frost free), However a few varieties (VA Sweets, Sweet Ozark Orange) didn't sprout and one (Lucky Cross) I failed to plant.

Is it too late for me to start (say tonight!) and have a small tomato ready to plant out by the end of May? Last year I planted out until the end of June and though technically I should have had enough season left, I got hit by Late Blight in August and most of what I planted in the latter half of June I got nothing from them.

Or should I just wait until next year?

Thanks for your opinions!!!

[FYI, I'm in zone 6(b) in SE Pennsylvania. I have about 138 days of frost free growing, with about 123 days (end of September) where it's still usually warm - this isn't 'official' data, just my manual calculation]

RobinB · April 30, 2015

I can't plant out without protection until June usually. It seems like there is usually a storm that spits frozen slush at us right at the end of May or even the beginning of June. We have about 110 frost free days per year here in Northern Nevada.

Just stick to varieties that will mature in 65-70 days or so and go for it. Now that it's warm(er) I usually wait 6 weeks or so from seed and then get them in the ground. I don't know what to tell you about the blight. We don't get it in the desert. My battle is russet mites.

Every stinkin' year.

Lindalana · April 30, 2015

I would not go into too much expense of restarting something now. Maybe one of your local peeps has some extras to share?

Gardeneer · April 30, 2015

Well , if you start today, it will take about a week to germinate. Then they will have just 13 days till plant out. By then they will be tiny. If you had a long growing season, it could be fine but not in your zone, me thinks.
If you have space get some seedlings as an alternative. JMO

Gardener.

kath · April 30, 2015

Go for it! Tormato (in MA) said he usually sows May 1 for a June 1 plant out and I'm in the same zone as you and have sown as late as May 20th and had all the plants produce fruits in Aug. or Sept. If your seeds are good, they should sprout in 3 days and you can keep them outside in the sun from the start and bring them back inside for more light at sundown. They grow fast that way! No need to set them out on May 20th with the others- as soon as they look sturdy enough, put them in the nice warm ground in June.

Btw, I think you're south of me but we never get frost until at least the end of the first week in Oct.

kath

Tracydr · April 30, 2015

As Kath said, get them in the sun daily from the get go. Only in for cool nights. They will grow quick and you'll only plant out a week or two late at the most.

JLJ_ · April 30, 2015

By all means start 'em. It's obviously late to do your main seedling starting, but for a few extras that couldn't/didn't get started at the usual time . . . I started a couple within the past week, and expect to get at least some production from them (hailstorms, early snow/freeze, flea beetles and voles permitting) and you have a much longer growing season than we have here.

Father'sDaughter · May 1, 2015

I would go ahead and start them then give them an extra week or two before planting out.

Gardeneer · May 1, 2015

OK. Other than I, everybody is saying: Go for it.

Let me give you a real life, living example here:

On March 26 I started some KUMATO.
Today, May 1st (after 36 days ) it is about 3" tall and has just 3 true leaves.
All my seedlings are already planted out (starting 4/8/15) and some are ready to flower.
My Kumato won't be ready til another 15 days ( 50 days from sowing seed !!!). That is in line with starting 6 to 7 weeks before plant out. So if you sow seeds today, perhaps can plant in mid June. Depending on the variety (lets take DTM =75) you will have the first ripe fruit around September 1st., IF MY MATH IS NOT WRONG !

IN THE END OF THE DAY, It is your decision, time and garden. The buck stops with you.

April 30, 2015	#1
crmauch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: Honey Brook, PA Zone 6b Posts: 399	Too Late to Start?? I started most of my tomatoes within the right period for planting out about May 20th (From various sources it's about 90% for frost free), However a few varieties (VA Sweets, Sweet Ozark Orange) didn't sprout and one (Lucky Cross) I failed to plant. Is it too late for me to start (say tonight!) and have a small tomato ready to plant out by the end of May? Last year I planted out until the end of June and though technically I should have had enough season left, I got hit by Late Blight in August and most of what I planted in the latter half of June I got nothing from them. Or should I just wait until next year? Thanks for your opinions!!! [FYI, I'm in zone 6(b) in SE Pennsylvania. I have about 138 days of frost free growing, with about 123 days (end of September) where it's still usually warm - this isn't 'official' data, just my manual calculation]

April 30, 2015	#5
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Go for it! Tormato (in MA) said he usually sows May 1 for a June 1 plant out and I'm in the same zone as you and have sown as late as May 20th and had all the plants produce fruits in Aug. or Sept. If your seeds are good, they should sprout in 3 days and you can keep them outside in the sun from the start and bring them back inside for more light at sundown. They grow fast that way! No need to set them out on May 20th with the others- as soon as they look sturdy enough, put them in the nice warm ground in June. Btw, I think you're south of me but we never get frost until at least the end of the first week in Oct. kath Last edited by kath; April 30, 2015 at 07:48 PM.

April 30, 2015	#7
JLJ_ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 759	By all means start 'em. It's obviously late to do your main seedling starting, but for a few extras that couldn't/didn't get started at the usual time . . . I started a couple within the past week, and expect to get at least some production from them (hailstorms, early snow/freeze, flea beetles and voles permitting) and you have a much longer growing season than we have here. Last edited by JLJ_; April 30, 2015 at 09:47 PM.

April 30, 2015	#2
RobinB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Near Reno, NV Posts: 1,621	I can't plant out without protection until June usually. It seems like there is usually a storm that spits frozen slush at us right at the end of May or even the beginning of June. We have about 110 frost free days per year here in Northern Nevada. Just stick to varieties that will mature in 65-70 days or so and go for it. Now that it's warm(er) I usually wait 6 weeks or so from seed and then get them in the ground. I don't know what to tell you about the blight. We don't get it in the desert. My battle is russet mites. Every stinkin' year.

April 30, 2015	#3
Lindalana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 857	I would not go into too much expense of restarting something now. Maybe one of your local peeps has some extras to share?

April 30, 2015	#4
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Well , if you start today, it will take about a week to germinate. Then they will have just 13 days till plant out. By then they will be tiny. If you had a long growing season, it could be fine but not in your zone, me thinks. If you have space get some seedlings as an alternative. JMO Gardener.

April 30, 2015	#6
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	As Kath said, get them in the sun daily from the get go. Only in for cool nights. They will grow quick and you'll only plant out a week or two late at the most.

May 1, 2015	#8
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I would go ahead and start them then give them an extra week or two before planting out.