Late Planting Tomato Seeds

[AlittleSalt]

I planted tomato seeds on January 23 which I am quickly learning is too early for me to start tomato seeds for this part of Texas. Next year, Valentines day at the earliest for me starting tomato seeds. I already have tall lanky plants that will have to be trench planted out in the soil...and likely too early. April frost or freeze does happen here.

I have planted store bought transplants out in/on the first week of May here and they did produce well. I have also started tomato seeds January 1, in years past - planted out in early March just to watch them not grow until mid April or so.

It is all a learning experience. There are climatological things available that you can learn, but living in the same place for many years and seeing how each year differs can also help you understand when and what to grow where you are at. In some areas, you can trust climatology and others you can't. I live in an area that you can't.

Here, I am tired of looking at lanky tomato plants that need to be trench planted. When I know full well, that it's probably too early. I looked at some tomato transplants today at several stores - and they look awful. Most are very small with damaged leaves.

Today, May 16th, I'm going to start some cherry tomato seeds. Going against everything I have read - I think they will have a better chance here.

[Al@NC]

You could always take cuttings from your plants and root them, it would save you I don't know a couple weeks at least I'm thinking... That is if your thinking that starting from seed is too late now.

Al

[imp]

Salt, you just never know here in Texas. Even though you are eat and south of me, so our areas are quite different climate wise, it's always a dice throw. Maybe a month ago, there was snow here, after a dry and very cold winter, this last week was quite warm ( high 60's to high 70's) and this week, we're going to be in the lower 80's with warmer nights, too!

Go figure. <eye roll>

So, I am going to plant potatoes and peas this month, next month will be tomatoes set out, maybe even okra!!!

[AlittleSalt]

I have never started tomato seeds in March. The latest I have ever started any was in mid-February, so this is a 'See what happens' type experience.

The Old Farmer's Almanac says to start seeds tomato seeds in February for Fort Worth, Texas. https://www.almanac.com/gardening/pl.../tx/Fort+Worth

This site is even more forgiving time-wise https://www.ufseeds.com/learning/pla...ting-calendar/

[b54red]

Salt you don't have to trench plant tall seedlings. They will thicken up very quickly after being set out. As a matter of fact if you are having a lot of fusarium and nematode problems trenching is not a good idea. I found that before I started grafting that when I trenched plants I usually had more fusarium than when I planted them the normal depth. I also found planting really deep made things worse. I think all that tender skin from the stem under the wet ground is just an invitation for problems. I know a lot of people trench plant but my experience with the soil problems I have has not been good with trenching. Now that I am using grafted plants there is no chance of using that technique but I found even when I had terribly tall and leggy plants that they looked normal a few weeks after being set out. They do sometimes need more support though.

Bill

[AlittleSalt]

Bill, I was thinking the same thing. The more plant exposed to the RKN and Fusarium ridden soil - the worse.

[AlittleSalt]

I planted 8 varieties that had quick germination and growth in years past.

1. Ambrosia Orange UBX
2. Gargamel
3. Garnet cherry
4. Japanese Pink Cherry
5. Medovaya Kaplya
6. Peacevine
7. Porter
8. Suncherry Extra Sweet F1

[Hairy Moose Knuckles]

I normally start mine the week after Christmas. I was late this year. I'm setting mine out this week. I like mine to be big and strong when set out and I bury them deep. I don't know what the almanac says. I never read it.

[clkeiper]

Salt, have you tried the cover crop ""caliente 199 mustard". it produces excellent biomass with the highest biofumigation potential available... allow 6=7 weeks to grow and chop into the soil. it is excellent for disease, weed and nematode suppression in many crops"

I don't trench my tomatoes either. no matter how tall they get. they will develop a thick stem just from the wind movement after they are planted out. put yours infront of an oscillating fan until you can get them outside

[AlittleSalt]

I have not tried the caliente 199 mustard. I have read a lot about mustard greens and bio fumigation. It looks like I'll have plenty of time to try it out now.

I left the tomato plants outside last night because the low temperature was in the 50s with less than 10 mph light winds. We had all the windows open in the house with the fans on. It was very comfortable sleeping weather. The forecast for today was a slight chance of rain mostly to our south late in the day. Now, they're calling for some severe storms, so I went out to check on the tomato plants. They look like someone sprayed them with vegetation killer. (Nobody did that - it's just how they look.)

This was their first night outside. They have been out in the day many times, but the overnight low temperatures were conducive of light frost here lately, so I always brought them inside. They were bottom watered right, potted up into new plastic cups with MG...

Cigarette smoke contaminated them. That's what I believe messed those plants up.

[Nan_PA_6b]

Salt, that's terrible! I'm so sorry that happened. Keep caring for them for a little while -if possible- because tomato plants can bounce back from some horrible stuff. Show us a picture, maybe someone can help...

Will you re-seed, or wait till fall?

You still have your just-planted cherries, though, right?

With sympathy,
Nan

[AlittleSalt]

Thanks Nan, Yes, the cherry tomatoes I sowed yesterday and/or store bought transplants. I will continue to nurse the ones in the pictures, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Nan_PA_6b]

They still look very much alive. All that damage from one night of cigarettes? I wonder if the cold was a contributor too? If they were on the ground, it could be much colder than the official temp.

Nan

[AlittleSalt]

They were on that table. There are 4 people (adults) smoking in our house. I tried keeping the smoke away from the plants by keeping them in my bedroom with the door closed. It didn't work apparently.

EDIT: Notice in the second picture - the plants in the blue basket are stunted. They were planted on the same day as the lanky ones. My starter mix is Jiffy organic... and I used regular MG to pot them up.

[Nan_PA_6b]

Ack! How do you manage to breathe with 4 smokers?!!?

Nan