Garden centers starting early with tomatoes here

rsg2001 · March 17, 2012

Since the weather has been so mild this winter, I thought, why not see if the local Home Depot had lettuce transplants? (I haven't had much luck starting lettuce from scratch.) Not only did they have four varieties, and tons of strawberry plants, they also, surprisingly, had several varieties of tomato plants (Bonnie Best), all the usual, eg, Early Girl, Husky Hybrid cherry, and other hybrids. [Disclaimer: I start 99% of my plants myself indoors, and I won't be starting them for a week or two.] I don't recall ever seeing tomatoes being stocked that early. True, our zone, formerly known as Zone 6, is now "Zone 7B" according to the new USDA map meaning only that the lowest temperatures aren't as low... but wondered if anyone else around the country has noticed differences in what is being carried by their local garden centers.

bughunter99 · March 17, 2012

Despite the 80's we have had all week, we are only seeing pansies so far, however I have never seen them that early before. Usually they show up around Easter and only if the snow cover is gone.

bulllake · March 17, 2012

Went to Lowes and Walmart today here in Burlington NC -- Just browsing . I bought a Husky Cherry Red and planted in double bucket SWC . The plants seem to be a week or two early arriving here . It's warm , very warm for March .

stonysoilseeds · March 17, 2012

i live upsate new york and went to browse at our lowes but didnt see anything yet but im sure if the weather keeps up like it has been they willl arrive shortly .. the gardem fever is rampant with this beautiful weather selfishly i think to myself thank you for global warming lol

feldon30 · March 17, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulllake

Went to Lowes and Walmart today here in Burlington NC -- Just browsing . I bought a Husky Cherry Red and planted in double bucket SWC . The plants seem to be a week or two early arriving here . It's warm , very warm for March .

Hopefully it's tastier for you than it was for me.

stonysoilseeds · March 17, 2012

hi rsg2001 was wondering which part of ny that you reside thats part of zone 7b

bdank · March 19, 2012

I was at Lowes today and there was a selection of Bonnie plants that included herbs, strawberries, and tomatoes. The last frost date here is April 20th so they are about a month early.

rsg2001 · March 19, 2012

Stonyseeds, I'm in Forest Hills in Queens, NYC.

March 19, 2012

Both lowes and homedepot had plants out here about a month earlier than the normal transplant time, and they were selling. The local nurseries did the normal starting time, and probably lost some sales due to the warm weather and early planters. For us, we could have planted 6weeks early and probably been safe this year. Of course, we have the chance of tornados tonight.

pattiann · March 22, 2012

My son is going out for me today to the Christmas Tree Shop since they have potting soil bags, about 16#, they told me over the phone, but no idea of cubic foot coverage each, they tell me there isn't a label on the bag for that. They are about $3 each and he is going to lay them out for me to put in some of the lemon balm and fennel that I started indoors. With the weather here in New Jersey being so warm (though they are calling for 32 for a low on Sunday).... is it safe to put them out or should I go through potting them up? They are really getting rootbound in those little squares.

The HD here has lots out, way earlier than ever before too.

This is my first year starting everything from seed, so could use some advice from you master gardeners. Thanks!

stonysoilseeds · March 22, 2012

i w3ould think the fennel and lemon balm should be ok to set out as they can stand a light frost

pattiann · March 22, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonysoilseeds

i w3ould think the fennel and lemon balm should be ok to set out as they can stand a light frost

thanks so very much. It'll be nice to get something outside! Already the daffodils are dying off, but the day lillies are sprouted up. Interesting weather!!

JonFrum · April 20, 2012

My local Lowes and Home Depot both have a selection of plants early this year. I just went over to check out Lowes, and just as I was getting ready to leave with one plant, I noticed a typed sheet that said all $3.48 plants were on sale for $1.50 each. I got a Big Beef and a Rutgers, and put both in the ground. They also have Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, Pink Brandywine and a few other heirlooms. My local farmstand/nursery won't have their heirloom plants out until the end of the month, so I figured I'd get a head start with these plants.

DiggingDogFarm · April 20, 2012

Lowes started selling tomato plants 2 weeks ago here, about 8 weeks before the average last frost date.
It's ludicrous.

Deborah · April 20, 2012

I really want to try Matt's and Mexico Midget, but can't get them locally. One thing for sure, I'll never grow Celebrity again. Or yellow pear.

March 17, 2012	#1
rsg2001 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Zone 6 Posts: 479	Garden centers starting early with tomatoes here Since the weather has been so mild this winter, I thought, why not see if the local Home Depot had lettuce transplants? (I haven't had much luck starting lettuce from scratch.) Not only did they have four varieties, and tons of strawberry plants, they also, surprisingly, had several varieties of tomato plants (Bonnie Best), all the usual, eg, Early Girl, Husky Hybrid cherry, and other hybrids. [Disclaimer: I start 99% of my plants myself indoors, and I won't be starting them for a week or two.] I don't recall ever seeing tomatoes being stocked that early. True, our zone, formerly known as Zone 6, is now "Zone 7B" according to the new USDA map meaning only that the lowest temperatures aren't as low... but wondered if anyone else around the country has noticed differences in what is being carried by their local garden centers.

March 17, 2012	#3
bulllake Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Burlington NC Posts: 13	COULD NOT HELP MYSELF Went to Lowes and Walmart today here in Burlington NC -- Just browsing . I bought a Husky Cherry Red and planted in double bucket SWC . The plants seem to be a week or two early arriving here . It's warm , very warm for March .

April 20, 2012	#14
DiggingDogFarm Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New York State Posts: 286	Lowes started selling tomato plants 2 weeks ago here, about 8 weeks before the average last frost date. It's ludicrous. __________________ "The best thing about a vegetable garden is all the meat you can shoot and trap out of it!"

March 17, 2012	#2
bughunter99 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: zone 5 Posts: 821	Despite the 80's we have had all week, we are only seeing pansies so far, however I have never seen them that early before. Usually they show up around Easter and only if the snow cover is gone.

March 17, 2012	#4
stonysoilseeds Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: cincinnatus, new york Posts: 341	i live upsate new york and went to browse at our lowes but didnt see anything yet but im sure if the weather keeps up like it has been they willl arrive shortly .. the gardem fever is rampant with this beautiful weather selfishly i think to myself thank you for global warming lol

March 19, 2012	#7
bdank Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 51	I was at Lowes today and there was a selection of Bonnie plants that included herbs, strawberries, and tomatoes. The last frost date here is April 20th so they are about a month early.

March 19, 2012	#9
eltex Guest Posts: n/a	Both lowes and homedepot had plants out here about a month earlier than the normal transplant time, and they were selling. The local nurseries did the normal starting time, and probably lost some sales due to the warm weather and early planters. For us, we could have planted 6weeks early and probably been safe this year. Of course, we have the chance of tornados tonight.

March 22, 2012	#10
pattiann Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: New Jersey 7a Posts: 44	My son is going out for me today to the Christmas Tree Shop since they have potting soil bags, about 16#, they told me over the phone, but no idea of cubic foot coverage each, they tell me there isn't a label on the bag for that. They are about $3 each and he is going to lay them out for me to put in some of the lemon balm and fennel that I started indoors. With the weather here in New Jersey being so warm (though they are calling for 32 for a low on Sunday).... is it safe to put them out or should I go through potting them up? They are really getting rootbound in those little squares. The HD here has lots out, way earlier than ever before too. This is my first year starting everything from seed, so could use some advice from you master gardeners. Thanks!

April 20, 2012	#13
JonFrum Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 25	My local Lowes and Home Depot both have a selection of plants early this year. I just went over to check out Lowes, and just as I was getting ready to leave with one plant, I noticed a typed sheet that said all $3.48 plants were on sale for $1.50 each. I got a Big Beef and a Rutgers, and put both in the ground. They also have Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, Pink Brandywine and a few other heirlooms. My local farmstand/nursery won't have their heirloom plants out until the end of the month, so I figured I'd get a head start with these plants.

April 20, 2012	#15
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	I really want to try Matt's and Mexico Midget, but can't get them locally. One thing for sure, I'll never grow Celebrity again. Or yellow pear.