Vegetable Garden Planting..too early??

Can I plant my tomato and pepper plants now? I purchased some from Walmart.

I have all of mine planted but covered so I can keep the night temps up.

With you being in 9a I think it would be a safe time to plant but have a handy cover available if needed. See what everyone else thinks too.

This message was edited Mar 1, 2011 8:37 PM

I'm planning on putting out my seedlings this weekend (the Farmer's Almanac says March 4,5,6 is a good time for it) but setting it up so I can cover them if necessary. Last year we had a freeze in April!

You just can't imagine it will get cold again, though, can you?

I really don't want it too but I too know from years past that the very likelihood of getting another real cold snap is possibly high up on the list. Something about Easter and cold snaps seem go hand in hand.

It also happens the week after I clean and put away my winter sweaters and take the flannel sheets off the bed! ;p

lol It's totally too early but we're going to do it anyways.

It's funny cause I totally remember planting all my Chile's and tomatoes in February back in 2005 and 2006 in Ben Wheeler. Yet nowadays it seems if I don't "risk it" and plant them by March first I have to wait until the middle of April. Which then pushes me into November and December for some of the C. chinense varieties that need 120-150 days. So I now plant them in grow frames in February outside and in trays indoors in January to set out in March.

I have transplanted out my tomatoes on february 17th.
They are under a hoop house and covered with plastic with holes.
The plastic is protecting them from the wind mostly, but I found out that it is really good at night.
Two nights we went below 40s and I covered the hoop house with blankets.
NO PROBLEMA.

My tomatoes are growing really good with thick stems.

Off course we are going to have a freeze (but I hope not) by the end of march or beginning of april, but I will just cover them.
In the previous years I had tomatoes under the snow (inside my hoop house).
The good thing about our weather is that the day after a freeze the sun will be back to melt everything.

I just checked my tomatoes today and the one I have started indoors in December are making flower buds already.

I have experimented in the previous years that if I plant my tomatoes outside before March 15th I will have a huge harvest with less pest problems.

If I plant my tomatoes after that date, I will have some tomatoes ... but not as strong plants.

I have not experience with peppers so early, but I am tempted.
The peppers I grew myself are 10" tall and very strong.
They have been outside during the day in my deck for almost 2 weeks now.
I am really tempted to transplant them out by mid march under a hoop house.

I can't wait!!! I'm going to plant them tomorrow. I haven't had a veggie garden for 7 years because of a few moves and I made two raised beds this past weekend. I'll be ready to cover them if a freeze comes. Fingers crossed....

Nice backyard drthor! What clips are you using on the pvc?

Here is a pic. of my companion planted 4'x8' bed. All of this was planted first week in February and the top is sealed to prevent the warm soil from cooling to fast at night. Then in the morning I open the tops and close them around 4:30pm that is until I redo the current top to a different design.

The things that don't show in the photo are onions-4 kinds, carrots-3 kinds, tomatoes-3 kinds, cilantro, cumin, basil, calendula, and chocolate & purple bells.

This message was edited Mar 2, 2011 6:29 PM

Of course this is what it looked like on February 4 and it did not get opened until February 13. The only covering I had was the freezing rain and snow and when the top came up my spinach, carrots, garlic, and lettuce were all still there. Though they were in my smaller frame that is shabby compared to the big one that only had lettuce, tarragon, and garlic.

very nice set up perkoschilefarm.
the plastic is secured to the pvc pipes with large office clips. They do rust a little, but they are really strong in case of high winds.

drthor: Beautiful backyard! I envy you with those stone walkways. I'm putting my tomato plants in the ground today.

Dale Clark
Dallas County Lepidopterists' Society
www.dallasbutterflies.com

tomatos and peppers prefer hotter weather, some tomato plants will do alright if protected from freeze. Peppers really need hot weather.

Thanks lepfarmer for the nice comment on my walkaways.
I planted my tomatoes on February 17th. So far so good.
This year I am using AZOMITE for the first time and I honestly think it made such a big difference.
The plants are growing fantastic and with such green leaves. Most of my older tomatoes have flower buds already.
I still keep the plastic cover on them because the wind is blowing so strong here.

This is the first time I am using Azomite and I can see already the effects.
Dmail me your email and I can forward you a study on the effect of Azomite on vegetables.
Azomite is just rock dust.
Yes all I use is from the Roots Organic line.
I only spray BT if necessary.
Last year my back yard was certify by the TX wildlife as "wildlife habitat"

I went to Azomite.com and their "Where To Buy" tab doesn't have a listing for Dallas or Ft. Worth; just listed Austin, Big Sandy, Rowlett & Pinehurst. That seems strange.

Glenna