New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Posts: 42
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How early do people here start seeds indoors? And how big should the transplants be?
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 2,648
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Start 6-8 weeks before your last average frost. So, yes, you can start now, especially if you're going to keep them in a cool spot for a while. If they're going to be in a warmer location indoors, I'd wait a week or two so they don't get to tall or leggy.
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Michele |
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,289
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Myron, I am just downriver a ways and I will start my tomatoes this weekend or maybe next week for sure. This may be a week or so early but I start the process for a couple of nurseries who like the plants to be ready by mid-April at the 8 to 10 inch size. For myself planting out takes place the first week of May (depending on the weather and soil temperature). March 1 should be a good time for CB.
Peppers have been started a week already since they develop more slowly. Everything else started inside will be planted about March 1.
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there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes. |
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Posts: 42
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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For what its worth I agree with everyone else above.
Worth |
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 2,648
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"For what it's worth..." I like that, Worth.
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Michele |
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#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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It is a screwball name isn't it?
But one good thin you can Google my name and nothing in the lines of it will show up as a name. ![]() I am so glad my parents didn't name me Bubba. Here is a hint my middle name can be used for a boy or a girl and very few people have it. ![]() Worth |
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#8 | |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
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![]() Quote:
![]() So once again LD I thank you for that fruitcake, long since eaten. ![]() Carolyn
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Carolyn |
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#9 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
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I'll see what I cant do about the fruitcake again as these last two years were horrible for me during the holidays as you well know. ![]() Worth |
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#10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2013
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 2,052
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My last average frost date is April 15, so I sowed 207 tomato seeds (205 different varieties) and 7 pepper seeds plus 9 flower seeds yesterday and today. Here's hoping for 100% germination!
![]() By the way, it appears that some expert gardener named Worth is referred to in a recently released Tomato blockbuster book. I wonder..... Last edited by Salsacharley; February 20, 2015 at 06:40 PM. |
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#11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Virginia Beach
Posts: 2,648
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Hmm, yes, I saw him mentioned, too, salsacharley.
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Michele |
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#12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2008
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 1,212
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I think the timing question has a good bit to do with the conditions your seedlings will grow up in. For me, after they sprout, they move into a garage that is pretty cool most of the time and has a heater near them to protect from the occasional threat of freezing. Under those cool temps, 60 days would be fine. I also keep a fan on them all the time to help thicken up the stalks and I think that keeps them from growing as tall as fast. My plant out date is typically 65-75 days from seed starting and I've never once said, I really wish these plants were smaller.
Dewayne mater |
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#13 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,289
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Just finished putting about 400 tomato seeds in the soilless mix (formerly I would have said dirt, but confused some folks). Thirty-six varieties of tomato to go with the 100 or so pepper seeds (ten varieties) put in ten days ago.
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there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes. |
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#14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa
Posts: 42
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#15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brownville, Ne
Posts: 3,289
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After the first pot-up there is a fan blowing but only during lighted hours.
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there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes. |
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