Does it really matter when you start plants from seed ?
Here in the middle of Oklahoma, I've always started my tomato seed about this time. Then I get the plants in the ground around the first of April. Depending upon 7 day weather forecast I might go as early as last week of March, while our average date of last freeze is April 7 .
Almost always, I get my first tomato to eat around Memorial Day.
The " Days to Maturity " on tomato seed packets means the number of days from the time a seedling is put in the ground. I've also planted nursery plants. But it seems no matter which, I get my first tomato in last week of May.
In past years, my largest problem with starting from seed at this time, is the plants get tall and leggy by mid March. They're difficult to deal with indoors and I don't like planting tall plants. I have to lay them in sideways.
Sooo, if I wait a couple more weeks, will it really matter as to when I get my first tomato ?
Also here in Oklahoma, my plants quit producing by the first or second week of July. It gets too hot for them to set fruit and the early blight takes the entire plant.
So as far as tomato production, I've got the month of June. If delaying planting seed means I get my first tomato mid June, its not gonna be a good year. But I can't see that it does.
Here in the middle of Oklahoma, I've always started my tomato seed about this time. Then I get the plants in the ground around the first of April. Depending upon 7 day weather forecast I might go as early as last week of March, while our average date of last freeze is April 7 .
Almost always, I get my first tomato to eat around Memorial Day.
The " Days to Maturity " on tomato seed packets means the number of days from the time a seedling is put in the ground. I've also planted nursery plants. But it seems no matter which, I get my first tomato in last week of May.
In past years, my largest problem with starting from seed at this time, is the plants get tall and leggy by mid March. They're difficult to deal with indoors and I don't like planting tall plants. I have to lay them in sideways.
Sooo, if I wait a couple more weeks, will it really matter as to when I get my first tomato ?
Also here in Oklahoma, my plants quit producing by the first or second week of July. It gets too hot for them to set fruit and the early blight takes the entire plant.
So as far as tomato production, I've got the month of June. If delaying planting seed means I get my first tomato mid June, its not gonna be a good year. But I can't see that it does.