Started My 2010 Tomato Seedlings Today

[rnewste]

I started 33 seedlings today in Rapid Rooter plugs. The plugs sit in a styrofoam unit that floats on the surface of a water reservoir:



(Had to "borrow" Dear Wife's piece of glass to put a bit of weight on the tray to keep the plugs under water a bit).

My goal is to harden them off in early February outside, then they go into their individual EarthTainers in early March.

Here is what I started:

Berkeley Tie-Dye (Green)
Berkeley Tie Dye (Red)
Big Beef
Bloody Butcher
Brandywine Sudduth
Champion
Cowlicks
Cuostralee
Danko
Dona
Ed’s Millennium
Gary'O Sena
Goose Creek
Indian Stripe
JD’s Special C-Tex
Marianna’s Peace
NARX
Parks Whopper
Paul Robeson
Purple Haze F4

Raybo

[habitat_gardener]

Wow! That's early! I was thinking of starting mine later than last year, since we get freezes in mid-April and I've spent a lot of time protecting the youngsters from March to May.

[Tania]

Very nice selection, Raybo!
Is the Berkeley Tie-Dye still segregating for you?

I also started my mini-tomatoes for growing under lights and already have 24 little seedlings with baby leaves

It is too early here to start tomatoes for the main garden.

Tania

[rnewste]

Habitat,

Last year, I started seedlings on January 1, and the year before on December 26. I use heated Cold Frames when I put them outside in early February to harden them off.

The EarthTainers heat up in the Spring from the low angle of the Sun, so I get a bit of a jump on the Season.

Raybo

[rnewste]

Originally Posted by Tania

Very nice selection, Raybo!
Is the Berkeley Tie-Dye still segregating for you?

Tania

Tania, I am still using seeds saved from the 2007 NORCATT event at Brad's farm. The seed from the BTD (Green) I just started is from the tomato in the 7:00 O'clock position:



The BTD "Red" (yes, I know that is the wrong formal name) seed I am using is from the tomato in the 11:00 O'clock position.

Raybo

[Salty_Dog]

Well done Ray.... although those Rapid Rooter Plugs sound like something i could use for the bare paddock on top of my head

[rnewste]

Salty,

Rapid Rooters are made of composted tree bark. You probably can't get this brand in Australia, but I would think similar starter plugs would be available locally:



They simply drop in to the floating styrofoam tray and wick up water from the reservoir below. Really low maintenance system:



Raybo

[Salty_Dog]

Thanks Ray, i will certainly keep an eye out for them now.

Thats was probably the biggest guess work area in this years crop for me, the success of strong health seedlings... Some worked out great, others didn't and i have no real reason why some went better than others.

[salix]

Ray, you are so lucky to have an understanding wife - first her quilt, then "tomato dirt" on her rugs, now her glassware...

[rnewste]

Originally Posted by salix

Ray, you are so lucky to have an understanding wife - first her quilt, then "tomato dirt" on her rugs, now her glassware...

salix,

Note to Self: Find New Wife.

Raybo

[amideutch]

Ray, you are so lucky to have an understanding wife

Nah, it's called a BIG ALLOWANCE! Ami

[Suze]

Originally Posted by rnewste

I started 33 seedlings today in Rapid Rooter plugs. [...] My goal is to harden them off in early February outside, then they go into their individual EarthTainers in early March.

Ray, I take it you are going for some big transplants.

I'm still working on my list, but really need to start sowing seed by 1/7 or so.

Originally Posted by Tania

Very nice selection, Raybo!
Is the Berkeley Tie-Dye still segregating for you?

Originally Posted by rnewste

Tania, I am still using seeds saved from the 2007 NORCATT event at Brad's farm. [...] The BTD "Red" (yes, I know that is the wrong formal name) seed I am using is from the tomato in the 11:00 O'clock position.

Gosh, I hope I'm not taking your seed starting thread too far off-topic. I guess I should probably mention that I named a tomato Berkeley Tie Dye, Red this year, and have sent seeds out to a few people (and am listing it) with that name. I did talk to Brad about it first, though. It was from seeds I received from Bruce B. a few years ago of BTD Heart. I did not get the heart shape at all, but instead got this terrific tasting red-black beefsteak with some green striping on the outside.

I've continued to grow it out for a few seasons since then to try and make sure whatever it was is stable.

[rnewste]

Suze,

I was referring to the red Berkeley Tie-Dye more in the "generic" sense, as I have forgotten its actual "given" name of that one tomato pictured above.

BTW, thanks again, as several of the seed varieties I just started were in your familiar tan envelopes (JD's Special C-Tex was one of them).

Raybo