2nd Planting ???

[tokizy]

Anyone have success planting a late tomato garden? I live in Northeast Atlanta and I had the luxury of getting my plants in the ground at the end of March. My tomatoes have produced beyond imagine and now are looking exhausted as we close out July.

I have been giving serious thought to germinating and planting another round of tomatoes. If memory serves we do not usually get a first frost until late October time frame if we are lucky.

Does anyone have experience with planting late? Any tips or advice?

Thanks,
Tim

[Baizanator]

Originally Posted by tokizy

Anyone have success planting a late tomato garden? I live in Northeast Atlanta and I had the luxury of getting my plants in the ground at the end of March. My tomatoes have produced beyond imagine and now are looking exhausted as we close out July.

I have been giving serious thought to germinating and planting another round of tomatoes. If memory serves we do not usually get a first frost until late October time frame if we are lucky.

Does anyone have experience with planting late? Any tips or advice?

Thanks,
Tim

I planted 2 Black Cherry, 2 Azoychka, 2 Jetsetter and 2 Sun Gold F1 plants for fall tomatoes. My grandparents have a greenhouse and can keep tomatoes through the winter so they have Mule Team, Mexico and German Giant going for their winter crop.

[b54red]

You may be a bit late for starting seed. I have already set out some and will be setting out more up through August but usually the first week in August is the last sure date in which to set out plants and have time for them to make. I have set out plants as late as the first of September and made ripe fruit but that has only happened twice. It is a good idea to start some seed in May and then some more in June for your fall tomatoes down here. You might be able to buy some plants that you can set out. I know some of the places around here still have some but the varieties are limited and most are hybrids.

[Baizanator]

Originally Posted by b54red

You may be a bit late for starting seed. I have already set out some and will be setting out more up through August but usually the first week in August is the last sure date in which to set out plants and have time for them to make. I have set out plants as late as the first of September and made ripe fruit but that has only happened twice. It is a good idea to start some seed in May and then some more in June for your fall tomatoes down here. You might be able to buy some plants that you can set out. I know some of the places around here still have some but the varieties are limited and most are hybrids.

I agree. I put my seed in in the middle of June.

[b54red]

I would still see if I could find some plants to set out as you have time. Make sure to harden the plants off well before setting them out in the garden this time of the year. Frequently the plants are kept in shade and can't take setting them straight out into our 100 degree weather. I have had a lot of success with Big Beef planted this time of the year and most of the black tomatoes like Cherokee Purple.

[Baizanator]

Originally Posted by b54red

I would still see if I could find some plants to set out as you have time. Make sure to harden the plants off well before setting them out in the garden this time of the year. Frequently the plants are kept in shade and can't take setting them straight out into our 100 degree weather. I have had a lot of success with Big Beef planted this time of the year and most of the black tomatoes like Cherokee Purple.

Mine have been outside for nearly a week but are under a porch and have a sheet over them. Once they grow at bit in their EarthBoxes I'll remove the sheet for a week or so before setting them out. I set the out a bit early so they are susceptible to heat at the moment.

[nativeplanter]

Another thing you might try, if your current plants don't have diseases, and depending on your staking system, is to lay some of the stems down on the ground and cover them with soil, leaving a foot or so of the tip uncovered. They will root and the resulting shorter stems might give them a nice boost.

Edit - I lived in Athens for not quite 10 years. I do miss the clay soil for growing tomatoes. I've never had tomatoes as nice as the ones I had there!