From

Location

Message

Date Posted

North Of The Border

I am new to tomato growing, and I wanted to know when to start the plants. Also what sort of fertilizer do they like, and how long the recommended season is. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

3/23/2020 7:05:05 AM

central Nc

Depends. Where are you located?

3/23/2020 7:21:39 AM

Eastern Shore of VA

Where the PUMPKINS grow......

Duh.

(Face palm)

State Fans....

3/23/2020 8:05:39 AM

central Nc

lol. I'm going to add a rivalry feature to the team grow. Pick your rival, winner gets bragging rights. It's on Tarheel!

3/23/2020 8:30:17 AM

Central NY

After you cut the lawn for the third time??....I heard that might work in your area...first ,second week in may?

3/23/2020 10:30:47 AM

Wixom MI.

I would say you can start your seeds indoors 3 weeks before you plant them outside.your seedlings should have only about 3 true leaves on then at that time or be about 3 to 4 inches tall.

3/23/2020 10:41:23 AM

Team Canuckle Heads

where at in Canada?

3/23/2020 10:56:13 AM

Central NY

Starting too early is a no-no

3/23/2020 11:32:30 AM

Central NY

(Without protection-greenhouse/ soil cables)

3/23/2020 11:33:07 AM

Grittyville, WA

I am starting now... Much cooler nights here so things grow slow. Gallon sized plants for transplant out in early May is my goal. I tried later sowings including sowing seeds way out in June and the best results for me have always been the earliest ones to go in ground.

3/23/2020 11:43:32 AM

Grittyville, WA

If the roots are cold... simply foliar feed? I think really warm weather is bad for size. No one since gordon graham has grown a wr or anything big in the south? And weird wint and sutherland started their state record plants very early compared to what porkchop is advising.

3/23/2020 11:51:35 AM

Grittyville, WA

So dont listen to the guy who grew the world record...

3/23/2020 11:57:15 AM

What a slap down. G Kins, I congratulate you.

Pork, are you going to take that? I think you have just been challenged.

3/23/2020 12:21:31 PM

North Of The Border

Thanks for responding so quickly. I am located near the border with New York, and we will have the last frost within a few days probably. I will probably be able to have at least a mini greenhouse cover over the plants for a little while. I was just wondering when they should be planted inside, because I have never grown them (Giant sized ones) before. Normal ones are started already, but I did not know about giant ones.

3/23/2020 1:09:50 PM

Grittyville, WA

No I get a red card on that one since the competition hasnt begun yet...

3/23/2020 2:21:04 PM

Grittyville, WA

He is going to Zidane Zidane me... Soccer being todays theme I guess.

3/23/2020 2:26:52 PM

Grittyville, WA

Grower216 you are way far from me and I ought to keep my feet firmly in the mud here in WA but I will say plants do start to grow fast when night time soil temps are around 60 @ less than that things slow down. I'm outta here. . . Porks a good guy lots and has lots of smarts to share actually this is the only place where my growing will differ from his.

3/23/2020 3:06:01 PM

Eastern Shore of VA

It’s on Wolfpack !
Lol.

3/23/2020 5:28:28 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

I start my outdoor plants in the first part of May. From my winter grow, I know if I start earlier, I will be getting the first truss flowers before last chance of frost outside. I do not have a green house. Eating tomatoes...the more blossoms you have the better. For me, I have had best success with the first truss megas. I want as much roots as I can get for them. I have started mid June before and still grew 5 pounds. The problem with mid June was not the heat. September around here is blight season. That makes late season difficult here.
So, I guess I am of the porkchop mindset. Don't start too early, but don't start too late. It depends on your climate conditions.

3/23/2020 5:37:00 PM

Central NY

If your roots are cold yer screwing yerself...regular tomatoes, and doing this for fun?....no problem, they will recover and grow well if you have decent soil...but if you are truly growing for a ten pound tomato, the details are important...At least I think so.

3/24/2020 10:11:27 AM

Central NY

grower-no earlier than the first week in may for your competition plants

3/24/2020 10:22:17 AM

Central NY

on the same note, im worried you started the pumpkin too early

3/24/2020 10:53:18 AM

North Of The Border

While that is possible, I doubt it,because the last frost here will be in less than a week, and that is just a light frost. The daytime highs are currently around 10 degrees Celsius or 50 degrees Fahrenheit with lows being around 0 Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. I was also going to plant them under cover of needed, but of they should not be planted outside till may or June that should nor be a problem.

3/25/2020 7:20:23 AM

Central NY

Now I’m really worried

3/25/2020 7:56:07 AM

North Of The Border

Why? It is just an early spring for this year. Why does that worry you?

3/25/2020 8:45:45 AM

Central NY

well, im gonna warm up before you by at least a week...i have the bells and whistles to keep the plants warm and i wont start for another few weeks... our plants go in the ground 10-14 days after they pop up. Soil has to be nice and warm.if i were to start early and put them in the ground without the protection the plants will stall...once they stall, you are giving up major pounds. if we get the snow like we always do in april and they have to stay inside for more then a few days extra they will get rootbound and stall.without proper heating i would advise waiting until the soil is warm. in other words starting early only works out in your favor when you have protections in place. ive seen plants planted 30 days after others have planted that catch right up and pass those plants because the soil/enviorment temps were dialed in....just want to help maximize your efforts!! good luck!!

3/25/2020 9:03:23 AM

Wixom MI.

I agree with porkchop on this grower 216 your method is ok for eating tomatoes because you really don't care about size on them but with the giant tomatoes you don't won't to have your plants slowed down with cold soil or night temperatures and you might not think a 6" tomato plant is rootbound in a pot but to an experienced it is. Im in Michigan an have very similar start time as you and i start my seeds may 1 and transplant them in the garden may 20

3/25/2020 12:16:09 PM

Pittsburgh, PA

Listen to Porkchop and Wixom. You are way to early to start seeds. Why the hurry?

3/26/2020 12:23:35 PM