Question for Californians

Deborah · December 30, 2012

I have never planted tomatoes from seed. When do I start them?
I have Micro Tom and Casino Chips.
I'm in a coastal area which may be/usually is overcast and cool in May and June.

Sun City Linda · December 30, 2012

The standard formula is to start seeds six to eight weeks before your last frost date. Your last frost date is very similar to mine, about the middle of March. So, for earliest plant out you would be starting seeds about the middle to the end of January. Given our long growing season you can certainly plant out later. I plant out as late as mid May. Much later and you may catch high heat waves that limit fruit set.

The goal for high summer heat areas is to get them planted out, growing vigorously and setting fruit before temps go over 90 degrees. Generally for me, and our climates are similar, I can plan on good tomato growing weather through July. Anything after that is a gift. 2011 was mild. Last year, not so much.....

I have many maters already started but I will protect them from early cold snaps.

LDx4 · December 31, 2012

Deborah,

I'm starting seeds in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr and May so that I'll have plants at different stages of production throughout the summer. In Jan I'm starting some cool-tolerant varieties like Moravsky Div, Matina and Stupice. I plan to plant them out in early March. Then in Feb and Mar I'm starting my larger tomatoes that like it to be warmer. In Apr and May I'm starting a couple that can tolerate the heat, since our really hot weather doesn't hit until August/Sept. Of course, you are probably farther inland than me - I'm about 8 miles from the coast as the crow flys and we get some May gray/June gloom up to about July 1st. And our last frost (if we get any at all) is usually no later than Feb.

If you're as far inland as Linda and you get a lot of heat in the summer, you should follow her schedule though.

Lyn

Sun City Linda · December 31, 2012

Deborah - Perhaps I am mistaken, I thought you told me you were right off the 15? I dont generally think of San Marcos as coastal, althought, with no mountains between you and the beach, as I have, you certainly get the fog. In any event, I tend to agree with Lyn and have previously sent you a PM suggesting some cool weather earlies, as she did.

feraltomatoes · December 31, 2012

I agree about spreading out your planting. Always worth a try to plant early, right after last frost. The plant that are planted weeks after usually do much better overall.
With coastal California having better tomato weather in late summer and Fall you could plant all the way through June.

Deborah · December 31, 2012

Thank you all ! Linda, I'm off the 78. I'm actually from Oceanside, born in Escondido.

Tonio · January 1, 2013

Gotta agree w/ Brad, true costal is alot more ocean effected i.e more cloud cover and AM dew(nastystuff).
San Marcos? I guess it depends on where exactly(microclimate). There are good locations from what I remember- when I used to deliver screen/patio products.
This years late rains (Marchl?) did a number of powdery mildew on my toms

I'm gonna try a tad later this (2013) year-I'm about 4miles from the coast(South Bay).

Crandrew · January 7, 2013

i'm true coastal living on balboa Island (100 ft from water). In May and June we get a marine layer that doesn't lift until around noon. It doesn't actually heat up until Aug/Sept. I planted seed in early Feb and planted out the 3rd week of March. First fruit from the early varieties came around mid June if I recall correctly. I then planted a second set of seeds in mid may and had a second late harvest. This year i will plant the seeds last week of Jan or first week of February.

Deborah · January 7, 2013

All things including my micro-climate considered, I think if I plant on my birthday (February 13th) things should be OK.
Can't think of a better birthday to-do !
Thanks all for the help .

Crandrew · January 7, 2013

sounds like a great birthday to-do

Ms. Jitomate · February 14, 2013

Happy birthday Deborah! Did you start your seeds?

Ms. J.

Deborah · February 14, 2013

Yes, thank you ! I started Casino Chips today !

Sun City Linda · February 14, 2013

Happy happy B-day, and many more.

Deborah · February 14, 2013

Thank you !

Tonio · February 14, 2013

Happy B-Day Deborah, hope for a fruitful bunch of casino chip tom's. Good time to sow, its supposed to warm this weekend.
I started mine on the 3rd , and are all in cotyledon stage on the 7th. Had a few helmets-stuck testa(seed coat), but a water spray and tweezers does the trick. Time to amend the beds..

December 30, 2012	#1
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	Question for Californians I have never planted tomatoes from seed. When do I start them? I have Micro Tom and Casino Chips. I'm in a coastal area which may be/usually is overcast and cool in May and June.

December 31, 2012	#5
feraltomatoes Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Home=Napa Valley/ Garden=Solano County Posts: 245	I agree about spreading out your planting. Always worth a try to plant early, right after last frost. The plant that are planted weeks after usually do much better overall. With coastal California having better tomato weather in late summer and Fall you could plant all the way through June. __________________ Brad Gates-Wild Boar Farms ______________________________

December 30, 2012	#2
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	The standard formula is to start seeds six to eight weeks before your last frost date. Your last frost date is very similar to mine, about the middle of March. So, for earliest plant out you would be starting seeds about the middle to the end of January. Given our long growing season you can certainly plant out later. I plant out as late as mid May. Much later and you may catch high heat waves that limit fruit set. The goal for high summer heat areas is to get them planted out, growing vigorously and setting fruit before temps go over 90 degrees. Generally for me, and our climates are similar, I can plan on good tomato growing weather through July. Anything after that is a gift. 2011 was mild. Last year, not so much..... I have many maters already started but I will protect them from early cold snaps.

December 31, 2012	#3
LDx4 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 321	Deborah, I'm starting seeds in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr and May so that I'll have plants at different stages of production throughout the summer. In Jan I'm starting some cool-tolerant varieties like Moravsky Div, Matina and Stupice. I plan to plant them out in early March. Then in Feb and Mar I'm starting my larger tomatoes that like it to be warmer. In Apr and May I'm starting a couple that can tolerate the heat, since our really hot weather doesn't hit until August/Sept. Of course, you are probably farther inland than me - I'm about 8 miles from the coast as the crow flys and we get some May gray/June gloom up to about July 1st. And our last frost (if we get any at all) is usually no later than Feb. If you're as far inland as Linda and you get a lot of heat in the summer, you should follow her schedule though. Lyn

January 1, 2013	#7
Tonio Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 148	Gotta agree w/ Brad, true costal is alot more ocean effected i.e more cloud cover and AM dew(nastystuff). San Marcos? I guess it depends on where exactly(microclimate). There are good locations from what I remember- when I used to deliver screen/patio products. This years late rains (Marchl?) did a number of powdery mildew on my toms I'm gonna try a tad later this (2013) year-I'm about 4miles from the coast(South Bay).

January 7, 2013	#8
Crandrew Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: asdf Posts: 1,202	i'm true coastal living on balboa Island (100 ft from water). In May and June we get a marine layer that doesn't lift until around noon. It doesn't actually heat up until Aug/Sept. I planted seed in early Feb and planted out the 3rd week of March. First fruit from the early varieties came around mid June if I recall correctly. I then planted a second set of seeds in mid may and had a second late harvest. This year i will plant the seeds last week of Jan or first week of February.

February 14, 2013	#11
Ms. Jitomate Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: San Gabriel Valley, CA Posts: 99	Happy birthday Deborah! Did you start your seeds? Ms. J.