When do you start your tomato, pepper and eggplant seeds?

I think it would be interesting to hear when all of you start your seeds, and how you do it. Do you use cups, peat pellets flats, how many you start, when do you plant out? Successes and failures.

Last year I found that the plants I started later actually did much better when they went into the garden, grew faster and produced first.

It also seemed like planting peppers and eggplant when the temps were very stable (no threat of freeze) was very advantageous, even though it was hard to wait.

Please, share your experiences and knowledge.
Thanks,
Lisa

Hi Lisa,
I do 7-8 weeks for tomatoes and eggplants. Last year I used wall of waters for the first time and planted tomatoes and eggplants early. The tomatoes did great, produced much earlier than the ones planted 2 weeks earlier. The eggplants did not benefit, grew and produced just as much as the ones I planted later.

This year I will also try warming up the soil 3 weeks before last frost and planting the tomatoes 2 weeks before frost with wall of waters and row covers.

I start my seeds in gardens live seed starting medium, really like that better than other mixes I have used, I use one of those seeding trays with the self watering bottom, it really helps me as I don't have to water everyday :-)
Happy gardening,
Yara
GA zone 7b

I am trying winter sowing this year for the first time, and I sowed Big Bertha and California Wonder in several 2-liter plastic soda bottles filled with a few inches of potting soil. I set my bottles outside on Jan 3rd and will be monitoring progress closely and taking notes as well. I sowed five seeds per bottle.

I need to sow more peppers, though, and once my tomato seeds arrive from Park's I will WS those as well. As far as tomatoes go, I bought Margherita, Supersweet 100, Costulto Genovese, Brandywine, Cherokee Purple and Big Beef.

I WS'd summer glory lettuce on Christmas Eve and the seeds sprouted on Dec. 31st, so I am off to a good start with WS'ing. My lettuce seedlings look good, too, even after the freezes we've had recently.

Keeping my fingers crossed...

Tomatoes should be seeded 6 weeks before the set in the garden date.
Transplant to bigger containers a couple times to get the best plants. By the end of the 6 weeks the plants should be about 10" tall with stems about the size of a pencil. Ours are in a 2½" sq pot by that time.

Peppers seed maybe 8 or 9 weeks before planting in garden. Transplant them once from seedling tray into a 2½" sq pot.

Eggplant are very different. Variety has a lot to do with how fast they grow & how big they get. Roughly 8 weeks should work.

This is all sowing indoors with good heat & light. I don't think winter sowing this far north would work. This year they would be under 36" of snow with temperatures down to -30º.

Bernie

I've used wall-o-waters for years and can start tomatos up to six weeks early with them. I didn't see the benefits with eggplant either, although taking them off the tomatos and moving them onto the eggplant on my frost date did seem to help a bit - eggplant really likes to be warm. With wall-o-waters I've done peppers 3-4 weeks early, and pumpkins 2 weeks early (any earlier and they get too big and out grow it) - but w-o-w's seem best with tomatos.
I usually don't plant anything before the first day of spring (Vernal equinox) on the theory that plants don't like to grow when the nights are longer than the days. Crucifer/broccolli family seems to be the most day-length sensitive - I couldn't get them to grow in the winter in the Mediterranean, but they grew like crazy in the summer in North Dakota.

i start all my seeds in 2 inch containers. my last frost date is may 15th

i start my tomatoes 6 to 8 weeks before that date
ultra hot peppes i start 12 weeks before
eggplants get started 10 weeks before

after each plant gets its second set of leaves and they are about 4 inches tall i set them into 4 inch containers and they stay there until i put them out which is always on june 1st.

I just started mine today. It takes the peppers forever. Decided to go ahead with the tomatoes. Worst I can do is wheel the EB's into the garage if we get a mid march freeze.

WOW, by may 15th the daylilies are almost at peek and the cherry tomatoes have already started being picked. Of course, its all over by July. Im trying some new varieties and staggered planting to try to extend that this year.

Gotta do SOMETHING cooped up in this weather.

Hi Lisa,

Being zone 5, I'm with Bernie. I don't get in any hurry to get tomatoes, peppers and eggplant out. They stop growing if it's cold. I repot a couple of times, taking the bottom leaf off and burying the tomatoes and peppers. I haven't done eggplant since DH built the shelving, but am trying Black Beauty this year. I'm also going to try cabbage and brussels sprouts.

I sell the plants and that is my big problem convincing people that its better to wait to plant out. Many want the plants around the middle of March, I don't plant out until April when I can be pretty confident the weather is stable. How many do most of you start?
BP-good luck with the Eggplants they can take forever to germinate and like bottom heat.
I start my plants in anything thats avaliable, plastic tops for store bought cakes work great.

I'm doing Winter Sowing with John above.

So far, I have 26# milk jugs with 2 varieties of Bell peppers, Wando Peas, Southern Broadleaf mustards, and 12 varieties of tomatoes, as of yesterday.

Will sow more veggie seeds in milk jugs this week...My plant out target date is:
anywhere from February 20th - March 27th for the tomatoes and bells
March 13 - April 10th for the heat lovers (eggplants, okra, squash, cowpeas, etc.)

Linda

When you're selling, let them plant early. They will be back for more!
Double your sales. Then when blight hits them in the summer, sell them your tomatoes.
I know, I am mean!

I have a small garden and plant enough for two people and for canning. I do a lot of tomato juice, frozen stuffed peppers and brussels sprouts. I'm going to try sauerkraut again. My first attempt didn't work. I plant peas, spinich, radish, turnips, kohlrobi, potatoes, onions, etc. in April. Green beans and the rest in late May. Fall planting didn't work for me last year either.

Gymgirl, your cabbages last year were beautiful!

Here is the larger half of the garden. I did get the Hollyhocks out last fall ;o)

Nice garden. Is that your garage & the garden behind it ?

Veggie newbie here--what's 'wall-o-waters'?

I've never used them, but they are a plastic thing that holds water. You put it around tomato plants to raise the temperature. I guess they work.

Thanks Bernie, yes it is! Also my arborvitaes. Here is the east half. Hand turned by me, but I must admit I was mentally picturing a rototiller! The rhubarb is right next to the arborvitaes and I got them moved too.

I can't wait to replace this old slow computer! I'm 4 minutes behind everyone.

Bernie, gorgeous tomatoes and broccoli!! I forgot I ordered broccoli seed too. I planted basil once and DH didn't like it, but the lemon looks delicious! (You're not mean! They just learn a valuable lesson!)

Lisa - I prefer to direct seed everything, including tomatoes and peppers (in January - crazy I know)... I also start peppers and Basil inside the first of January and start the maters 2-3 weeks later. I like to have my babies in the ground by mid-February. We do still have a chance of frost (rare) until the end of Feb-early March, but it is so rare I'm willing to take a chance and cover the plants as needed.

The biggest challenge here in the desert is getting a good crop before the furnace blast we call summer makes it's appearance... If the fall planted maters make it through the winter I have that much of a head start... If they don't I'm ready with transplants in February.

I start my seeds in an AeroGarden, a gift from my mom in 2008. It's a great little tool and I can start 66 different seeds in it. Seeds germinate rather quickly, and since the peppers are slower growing than the maters, I start them first. Once they have one or two sets of leaves I start the maters. After they go into the garden mid-February, I can then use the AeroGarden to start whatever else might strike my fancy...

It's a good tool for a small gardener like me - lol. I have square foot beds, currently 108 sq ft and hoping to expand...

Kelly

Kelly, have you tried planting tomatoes with a bit of shade? Mine grew volunteer in the compost pile. It was shaded by tall plants, but got east sun in the morning. They never lost a leaf, while those in full sun did.

I too start the peppers before the tomatoes.

Jung sold a small square sed starter and I think it does 49. I really like it. I bought a second one the next year.

Do you have a picture of your AeroGarden?

Hi billyporter...

Yup - my entire garden is under a 40% aluminet shade cloth structure in the summer. Still everything limps along. It's the combo of our 100°+ (sometimes 110°+) for weeks on end and the lack of rainfall. And then our nighttime temps hovering in the 90s. Stresses the plants out. Plus the maters won't set fruit when the temps get much above 90°. The perils of gardening in the desert - lol. When I first moved here years ago I couldn't believe things would survive outside in this climate in the summer... Shows you what I know, huh? Our best gardening season is fall/winter, but we can grow something pretty much year round.

On the other hand, Basil and Sweet Potatoes and Eggplant thrive in the heat. The peppers survive but don't begin kicking out nice fruit again until fall when the temps drop. Then the real harvest begins. I just pulled my pepper and eggplant plants from last February this past weekend!

This is the AeroGarden I have. My mom got it at Costco...

http://www.aerogardenstore.com/promotion/index.php?promoName=catalog&pageName=product_aerogardens&viewProduct=6000-0GE

And this is the reusable seed starter tray. You just have to buy refill sponges. I call it my lazy woman's seed starting get-up - lol... It's not cheap but it sure is convenient.

http://www.aerogardenstore.com/promotion/index.php?promoName=catalog&pageName=product&viewProduct=0069-00Z

Kelly

Great info everyone, I love to hear all the different ways that work.
Bernie-I do let them buy then they freeze and they buy again. Its just frustating when people see my garden and they think I have some secret because my plants are doing better then theirs and I planted later.
I'm starting like 2000+ plants so wish me luck.
Lisa

Kelly! I posted a message asking about the Aerogardens on container gardening -- I've seen them advertised many times in the past but got a mailing yesterday, in the midst of our frozen and gloomy northern Michigan winter, that has me sorely tempted! Do you use yours other than for starting transplants? I know it's kind of off topic, but could you just share your experience with it for me? Thanks!

Sandy

I see some of those Aerogardens on Ebay, if anyone's interested.

Sorry to hijack your thread Lisa... With 2000+ plants you'd need a lot of Aerogardens - lol..

Sandy - you can buy the kits for it or the Master Gardener kit and start your own seeds in the pods. They also have the seed starting tray that holds 66 grow sponges and I have used it to start many things. The only big failure was brug seeds. Couldn't start those any way to save my life! The AG came with 2 herb kits and when I was ready to start garden seeds, I put my AG plants (basil, mint, dill) into my outside garden and they took off. I have pics somewhere.

Personally I probably wouldn't have paid the $180 for it at the time, but it was an early birthday present from my Mom while I was home recovering from surgery. I have to say I love it! It works fabulous and is a great conversation piece to boot. You can even grow tomatoes and peppers and stuff in them. Great for someone that can't garden in the winter due to snow. If you have the chance to get one, especially on Ebay or somewhere like Costco I say go for it. I love love love mine! It is hydroponic and very easy to set up, use and clean. I'd like more than one - lol...

Kelly

Not concerned about hijacking it just goes where it goes.
BP-I'm always 4 minutes behind everybody, its not my computer its just me.

My parents bought me the aerogarden spacesaver 6 as a Christmas present in '08. I love it, but like Kelly said, I probably wouldn't have shelled out the $$$ for it. I'm pretty much growing the most expensive herbs in the Houston area with that system, but luckily it was a gift. That being said, it is pretty fool-proof (I've done it already) but I did not have success growing the chives. Basil grew like mad so any prospective buyer will just have to be mindful to prune some of the faster-growing plants as needed and enjoy the harvest.

I thought about buying the seed-starter kit, but then got into winter sowing. Actually, I thought about buying the aerogarden seed-starter kit, then wondered if I could just buy some cheap seed-starter kit from Wal-Mart or something and just place the tray on the aerogarden surface under the lights (you know, to cut costs.)

Following up on one of 1lisac's original questions, do y'all use special seed starter mix (pre-mixed stuff from the store?) or do you make your own. If the latter, what recipe works for you?

Thanks!

For the record, last year I used a mix of half compost, 1/4 vermiculite and 1/4 peat moss. It really didn't do that well, although I thought it was supposed to be a good recipe. I'm thinking it was still too heavy? And/or, I didn't sieve my compost and maybe the chunks were too big. Any comments on this would be appreciated.
Lise

I use parks bio sponges. This will be my fourth year and for me, its the ticket.

Thanks for the Aerogarden info, Kelly and JohnCrichton75 - I think I may try one of the small 3-pod ones to see how it works out, if I like it as much as you do I'll give that one to my MIL and get a bigger one for myself!

Back to the original reason for this thread -- I start tomatoes here around the middle of April to set out for June 1st (even then I have to protect them with plastic around the cages). Peppers get started 2 or 3 weeks earlier. Last year I started my onions Mar. 3rd, which worked okay, but this year I want to start some 2 wks earlier. Petunias and impatiens I start in several batches, starting around April 1st. (I give away lots of plants!)

For starting the seeds I've been using Miracle Gro potting mix - one year I tried a special "seed starting mix" and had terrible results with it, so went back to the MG. I start almost everything in 6-packs, then move them up to 3-inch pots as they get bigger. I have shelves with fluorescent lights set up in a closet, where I can fit 12 flats; in early to mid April I start moving some stuff out to the greenhouse, which I heat (with a ventless propane catalytic heater) just enough to keep things from getting too too cold, around 40 or so at night. If it sounds like it's kind of gotten out of hand on me -- it has! (Starting the plants is my favorite part of gardening, can't help myself.)

http://www.aerogardenoutlet.com/promotion/index.php?promoName=catalog&pageName=homepage&corpst=&cid=&st=

this is three pod if you can handle the hose showing, looks just like the newer model.

You read my mind, gardenglory -- I ran across that site yesterday!

;-)

That's a lot of seedlings, Sandy! Nice price on that little Aerogarden too...

Kelly, cool! I had no idea what it was. I never thought about you getting too hot for tomatoes to set. I'm not sure I could deal with 90º nights! I never look a parental gift horse in the mouth :o) It looks nice too.

Lisa, good luck!! ROTFL!!! It's me in a way too. I can get chatty, and I proofread.

Sandy, I'd love to have a spare closet like that! Nice looking plants too!

Sally

lol - most people worry they won't get enough hot weather for certain crops - we get too much. I suspect it gets pretty hot in Texas where Lisa is as well...

The Aerogarden is great because I do not have a lot of window space that gets good filtered sun. We try to keep the sun out - lol. And I have too much stuff everywhere already and 3 boys running around. The AG is safer than a grow light set up.

LiseP - all of my raised beds have a mix of 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat and 1/3 vermiculite and they are great. Refresh with compost before I replant. This mixture really helps to retain moisture, something I need in the desert, and is very loose. The only thing I can think of is maybe the big chunks of compost were not broken down enough (should have been sifted out) or your mix was not blended well? Peat is a kicker if you get a lot of it on top of your soil. When it drys out it forms like a hard crust that is hard for water to penetrate. It's a bear to rehydrate.

Its not hot here now, but during the summer it gets really hot but not like Phoenix. I was there over spring break one time and it was 116*. The guy I was dating took me on a 20 mile bike ride. He said how proud of me he was that I rode the whole way. I told him what choice did I have? I was just keeping up.
As a seeds starter I use peat pellets or flats (any container that will hold soil) filled with peat. I know its not good for the environment but its what I have.

Whew - and you survived the bike ride?!?! When it's that hot I leave the air conditioned house to go to the air conditioned car to go to the air conditioned office . . .

I was younger then and use to ride 20 miles 3x a week. I didn't have much choice I just kept up. I almost killed him though.
Lisa

Obviously he remained just a guy you were dating for a reason - lol...

Well this year i'm doing my first seedling test. Last year I bought hybrids from Lowes, nurseries, etc and direct sowed several seeds through spring. Thats all I had.

This year I bought many many heirloom seeds (peppers and tomatoes) from all over the internet, and started laying them out in the garage on Jan 1. I have bought several sizes of pots from Novosel to get the plants as big as I can before the last frost is gone. Then I am going to plant them in dirt and hay bales and hope they put out before the 100 degree days set in. I think last year we had about 2 months of 100+ temps, the tomatoes just cant take that much stress. Even if it doesn't work out, at least I am trying plants that nobody in my family has ever run across at the local grocery store. We are all pretty excited about the whole situation, so i'm sure I will find several ways to sabotage it, and end up buying bonnie bells from Walmart.

On that note, about 1 month before frost last year, my habanero put out about 30 peppers. That made my whole year after all the setbacks I had. This year, this is the picture that keeps me going.......

(and those ghost chilis that just sprouted, but i'm not counting chickens just yet)

This message was edited Jan 12, 2010 10:04 PM