Hi Texas growers,
Over on the tomato forum, Bluekat sent out some info on places where you can order First Class Tomatoes along with other seedlings for veggies, herbs, flowers, etc. Here is the link to the newsletter that Bluekat sent out: http://www.motherearthnews.com/Organic_Gardening/2006_April_and_May/First_Class_Tomatoes#TPBM
On the recommended list in the newsletter is the Herb Garden here in Texas. The problem with growing tomatoes here in Austin is the season is so short b/c the fruit won't set in the heat. This lady who grows tomato seedlings grows heat tolerant ones and they are reasonable price..$1.75 for 4" mater plant. That's cheaper than the Red Barn Nursery. Here is the link: http://www.theherbcottage.com/vegetables.html
I'm very excited by this news b/c I'll be a new mom next year and won't have the time to grow my maters from seeds and so ordering from this place will be great.
Just thought I'd share the info with my Texas buddies!
Happy Gardening, Michelle
Texans can order seedlings from here
Michelle,
Tomatoes stop setting fruit when the temperaures go above 90ºF regardless of variety. A & M's Cooperative Extension has urbal programs for Austin. Contact them for a list of tomatoes recommended for Austin. Here in the La Grange area, the local feed store begins selling tomato plants in early February so tomatoes will have set fruit by the time summers get too hot. Skip Richter, one of the Urban Program agents, recommends surrounding each plant with 2 or 3 gallon containers full of water so the sun will heat the water during the day and keep the plants warm at night. If the plants are not as tall as the water containers, you can form a mini-greenhouse by drapping a sheet of plastic over the containers, being careful not to let the plastic touch the plant. Or, place a tomato cage over your setup then drape the plastic over it. Tie it down if it's windy. Be sure to remove it during the day if it's warm or the heat will kill the plants.
KLRU airs a program called Central Texas Gardener Saturdays at noon and again at 4:00 PM. It's alway very interesting.
http://travis-tx.tamu.edu/page.asp?o=tamu&s=Travis&p=88979
Thanks betty, well phooey, I thought that if they were engineered to take heat, that they'd keep producing even when it hits 90+. My Delicious pretty much shut down last year b/c it was so blasted hot (100+) and a drought, but once it dipped at night below 75...eventho it still hit 90 during the day, they began to produce like crazy. So I reasoned that if Delicious would still produce some maters in the heat, maybe the ones that are engineered to bear the heat would do even better? That is disappointing that they don't! boohiss. I tried to plant out earlier but I didn't start my seed until 1/31.
Yes, I've watched the Cen TX Gardener a few times..it is interesting.
Michelleb