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Post by macmex on Mar 13, 2020 6:50:48 GMT -6
Okay, I thought I'd post this here for posterity's sake, and to help all of us to remember just how fast tomatoes grow from seed. Here are some photos of my tomatoes. I started the larger ones on February 17. The Black Cherry tomatoes, I started on February 20. These photos were taken a week ago, tomorrow. I'll have to get more pictures today.
This is Black Cherry, started THREE DAYS later than the plants above!
Okay, that's all I'll put up for now. Needless to say, the plants have grown a lot since these photos were taken. The larger ones are perfect for transplanting into the garden now, but the problem is that "now" is a month too soon!
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Post by mountianj on Mar 13, 2020 20:51:43 GMT -6
I have been in same place starting too early eager to get garden stuff goin then pay for it taken plants transplant to bigger pots till weather breaks to plant.Those are some very nice looking tomato plants.I have got to transplant pepper plants to bigger pots this weekend but they are look good just growin faster than i thought they would especially the cayenne peppers.
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Post by john on Mar 14, 2020 8:34:48 GMT -6
They do grow so fast. I like to plant them at least a couple of weeks after my peppers have been sown. If you have a greenhouse or another large space to grow your transplants you can pot them into 4" pots or larger. The extra husky transplants will bear earlier and also be a little tougher when finally set out. In the past when my tomatoes have grown too fast and I need to stall them a bit. I have pinched the tip, this will slow them down and also have them bush out. I grow in cages so the more branches I have the better.
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Post by macmex on Mar 14, 2020 8:57:53 GMT -6
Here are the same plants. I took the photos today (March 14). I will have to do some potting today. You'll notice that one of those trays has plants which touched the lights and got burned.
John, I agree, though I personally prefer just to use smaller plants and skip all the extra work
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Post by john on Mar 16, 2020 16:09:06 GMT -6
Less work is better! Anytime you can skip a step in the garden and still get good results. That is what I am all about.
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Post by mountianj on Mar 20, 2020 20:44:55 GMT -6
finally got peppers transplanted into bigger cups hopefully next year i start couple weeks later but their looking pretty good.maybe wont have to re pot again this year.
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Post by macmex on Mar 22, 2020 5:59:34 GMT -6
Hope you can get through without potting up again. I have to get busy and do the same with some of mine. I think I'll also start my peppers.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Feb 7, 2021 13:48:30 GMT -6
George,
I'm sure glad you started this thread. I get the 'itch' to start seeds every year about this time and reading your statement from last February helps to lessen the urge to plant quite so soon.
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Post by theozarkan on Feb 7, 2021 22:18:44 GMT -6
Yep. It's supposed to be single digits next weekend. Time to stop day dreaming for awhile and just make sure me and the animals don't freeze to death.
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Feb 21, 2021 7:27:30 GMT -6
Our low temperature of 15 degrees below zero was an unwelcome surprise last week, but now that day has safely passed, does anyone feel like sharing their 'ideal' tomato seed starting date?
I've started mine anywhere between Martin Luthor's Birthday in mid-January, all the way to the eve of Easter Sunday with varying results over the years (not all good results either).
Is there a date somewhere out there that is reliably consistent, that could be referred to as a "Best Tomato Seed Starting Date?"
Anyone's thoughts along those lines are welcome here.
Thanks, Ron
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Post by Deleted on Feb 21, 2021 22:54:27 GMT -6
This year I decided to wait. I think that starting time depends upon individuality and what folks want. I once followed Dawn (RIP) basic seed starting dates, but I don't have a greenhouse, don't need early raw tomatoes to eat off the vine and I haven't anywhere near the light setup she had.
Over the years I found that tomato seeds started later by me do just as well if not better than those I started in January, because by late February I can start putting them on the porch to receive indirect sun occasionally. I'm guessing, but it's as if 2 hours ourdoors on a warm sunny day in late winter is equivalent to an entire week beneath my rickety light system.
I also bag germinate all my early seeds which cuts off a week or two of early starting times. My tomato seeds germinate within 2 to 3 days almost always and only 5 days for peppers.
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Post by macmex on Feb 22, 2021 7:53:56 GMT -6
Ron, I'm glad you asked. I've been so busy that I didn't really want to think about it. Just sat down and did some calculating. I think I'd like to set out my plants on April 15, so looks like I can start plants any time now. I need to set up the heater in my green house again, since I took it down during the subzero weather. No point running it when there was no hope of keeping anything warm in there. Anyway, I'll probably start my tomatoes this coming Saturday, February 27. I'll probably start my peppers soon afterwards, depending on what the long range forecast says.
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Post by buzoval on May 18, 2021 1:51:42 GMT -6
I made the same mistakes when I was very young. But I needed them so that I wouldn't make them again. Even if I planted tomatoes at the same time, they grow differently in the same conditions.
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Post by woodeye on Jul 8, 2022 9:43:48 GMT -6
I know I'm always late to the party, but I keep finding threads that interest me. And yes, this lesson applies aptly to my own experiences.
For me, I have decided that about the first week of March is about right, I think.
Like everyone, I'm always anxious to start seeds, the plants in the photos were started February 1st...Oops...I have always set my plants out in the garden on April 15.
I also learned another lesson, the 20 oz. clear plastic cups are great to use to pot them up into. You can watch the root growth easily, no guessing...
If I remember right, this is an Indian Stripe plant, which has been accessorized with a baby tomato on it too soon...
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Post by hmoosek on Jul 8, 2022 11:01:43 GMT -6
I need to hide under a chair. I’ve started them as early as the day after Christmas, but usually sometime in January. I try to get mine out in early March. It’s a gamble, so I never set them all out that early because I’ve been burned more than once.
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