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Too early for tomatoes?

Posted on May 16th, 2008 – 4:42 PM
By Connie Nelson

OK, I’m not even planting tomatoes this year. (No sun.) But if I were, I’d wait. I’m one of those not-before-Memorial-Day planters when it comes to warm-weather soaks like tomatoes, peppers and the lot.

I know we’re all in a rush to have the first garden fresh tomato ripe from the garden. But unless you cheat the season with a cold frame, Wall O’ Water or covered rows, I think it’s risky business planting tomatoes early. If it’s too cold, the plant just sit there or, worse, get slow and stunted.

Am I old-fashioned? Am I right on? When are the rest of you tomato lovers going to plant?

This entry was posted on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 4:42 pm and is filed under Tomatoes, Peppers + Eggplant. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

8 Responses to "Too early for tomatoes?"

robin says:

May 16th, 2008 at 6:22 pm

I am going to plant tomatoes tomorrow but I have the wall o’ water set up.
It really doesn’t make that much of a difference, I don’t get tomatoes until August. But I want to did in the dirt.

I am also going to plant corn. Hopefully it won’t rot in the ground. I will do several plantings of corn to spread out the season.

Irene says:

May 16th, 2008 at 9:59 pm

I really believe that Memorial Day is the time to plant. For the last two years ive planted earlier, but it takes so long for them to get started even in the warmer weather that we had.
I also planted corn at different times, to spread out the season, but it seems like they always catch up to the earlier plantings, for what reason I dont know. I hope we get more rain this year than the last two yrs. Theres nothing like rain water for the garden.

Claire says:

May 16th, 2008 at 10:26 pm

There really isn’t going to be any difference in weather between this week and next so there shouldn’t be much issue in planting tomatoes this weekend.

yvette says:

May 17th, 2008 at 6:45 pm

i planted them a few days ago, i wanted to get into it and start already. i am currently hardening off my cucumber seedlings, and my peppers are still safe inside under the growlights. my basil and cilantro are under there too.

Judybusy says:

May 18th, 2008 at 7:57 pm

I’m waiting til next weekend. As Claire points out, the weather’s the same, but what will be different is the soil temperature. Putting them in now would just make them sullen and resentful! Plus, I have only been hardening off for a few days, so it definitely has to be next weekend.

Lorika says:

May 19th, 2008 at 11:36 am

I think everything is running a bit late this year, so I’m waiting ’til Memorial or later.

Tho’ I may pop a very “experimental” guys into the ground earlier.

Liz says:

May 19th, 2008 at 7:44 pm

I gave into the urge and planted them last week but one looked a little sad today. I think last night was a little cold in Minnneapolis

laura says:

May 20th, 2008 at 11:07 am

i gave in to my impatience and planted my tomatoes already. i’d started them indoors under grow lights 8 weeks ago and they were desperately outgrowing their little pots. rather than buy larger pots for all 10 of them, i picked the biggest 5 and planted them. they’re doing ok so far! i’m keeping my fingers crossed they stay doing ok.

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