Tomato Queston

What month should I sow my tomato and bell pepper plant seeds.

After the risk of frost....so April/May....or later. You can scatter the seeds over time to get a steady crop too . Good Luck

Where is Plantersville?

Most folks I know start their seeds inside in January-February due to our wonky growing seasons.

Canada?? Oh, Plantersville, TX? Nevermind, need to google...

This message was edited Mar 16, 2010 11:07 PM

By the way, since you might be late for a spring harvest you can always plan for the fall! A harvest from seed, that is. Someone more knowledgeable will come along and tell you for sure, but I will shoot from the hip and say you could sow sometime in June more or less.

I sowed my tomatoes/ peppers in early/ mid January and they are doing well.

Yeah , your not far from Gymgirl... You might look into what she's doing at the present moment...

Generally they are started inside 6-8 weeks before your last frost date.

Gymgirl (linda) is going crazy right about now with all her jugs and winter sowing and ebuckets! LOL I know she winter sowed her tomatoes in jugs inside in January.

What zone are you in? If you live in zone 8 or warmer, direct seeding tomatoes and peppers is not a problem.

You can directly seed tomatoes in the garden provided the nighttime soil temp doesn't drop below 50 and the average soil temp is above 55. I have been direct seeding my tomatoes and peppers for a few years with quite a bit of success. Direct seeded tomatoes are hardier than transplants. They are better at taking temp extremes. They also produce smaller tomatoes. The amount of fruit more, though, making up for the difference. (Starting out at cooler temps forces tomatoes to develop larger root systems and produce more flowers.)

I try to create a micro-climate with raised beds next to a warm wall - paving stones or bricks around the bed will work too. Cover it with hoops, row cover and plastic (on cold nights). I also put a thin layer of compost over the bed. The composts dark color absorbs additional heat.

At 55 degrees it takes about 3-4 weeks for them to sprout; 2 weeks at 60 degrees; a week or less for temps over 75. Peppers need at least 65 degrees and eggplants 70. The nighttime soil temp should be at least 50.

Try to focus on getting the temps as close to the 65-75 degree range as possible. Don't stress if the temps are close but not exact. A few slight flucations will not stop them from sprouting, just set them back. The seeds are not like corn. They won't rot in the ground. Eventually, they will sprout. They will suprise you by how fast they grow in late Spring. Eventually, the seedlings will catch up to transplants started indoors.