Do you grow Tomatoes from Seed? When do you start them?

Hello Everyone,

I can never find the variety of Tomatoes that I want locally, so I'm going to start them from seed. I use to do this all the time, but have gotten out of the habit.

When do you think is the best time to start Tomatoes inside here in zone 5 Michigan?

I hope everyone is keeping warm and safe,
Kathy

Hi Kathy
I'm starting mine under lights this weekend. They will get moved into bigger pots at least twice before I can plant them out. Hope that helps and don't forget to pinch them out for stockier plants. Helen z5

Thanks Helen, that does help. I was getting tempted to start some, but was afraid it was too soon.

What varieties are you growing?

One of my favorite is "Aunt Ruby's Green"

Hi Kathy,
I've always started mine March 1st. This was an easy date to remember and the plants were as big as the stores, but not too big since I grow them in the basement. I'm not growing any this year.
sharon

Thanks Sharon,

March 1st would be easy to remember. I like easy.

Kathy

Hi Kathy
I'm trying very hard to cut back but I'm doing Celebrity, juliette, a yellow pear, red cherries of course. Two new ones from a gal in the Netherlands - Honey Jade and Olive. I'm sure there are a few more but that's all I can think of off the top of my head. If you like the roma type for canning you can't beat Healthkick. I haven't found seeds available for this one so I buy the plants but I've never found a more prolific tomato.

I've never heard of Aunt Ruby's Green; tell me about it please. Regular flavor? Heirloom? Determinent? Helen

Here's what I have in my notes about "Aunt Ruby's Green"

Green tomatoes are particularly appealing because they have a spicy-sweet taste. But this wonderful taste can only be appreciated if the fruit is completely ripe, and that determination takes a bit of practice. (The cherry tomato Green Grape is easy in this regard because it has so many fruits that if you do pick an unripe one and find the flavor is not sweet and tangy, you'll still have lots of others to sample.)

I love the Green Grape tomato too !!!!!!

Most green tomatoes have an amber blush on the blossom end when fully ripe. In addition to this, Aunt Ruby's German Green usually froms a pink blush on the blossom end that extends into the core. When the tomato is cut, you'll see a lovely mixture of neon green and pink.

Aunt Ruby's German Green is the only true large green beefsteak.
Heirloom beefsteak variety from Ruby Arnold of Greeneville, Tennessee who passed away in 1997. Slightly flattened, 1 pound fruit that ripens to a pale greenish-yellow ("lime jello green") with a slight pink blush that extends to the inside. Superb, fruity sweet and slightly spicy taste.
Days: 80
Type: Heirloom
Size: Indeterminate
Late Season

For me is has a wonderful tomato taste that is hard to beat. Sure was a surprise the first time I tasted one.

Kathy, Aunt Ruby's German Green sounds like a wonderful tomato. I haven't seen seed for that one available. I also start my tomatoes during the first couple weeks in March. I grow mostly heirlooms for myself and to sell at the Croswell flea/farmers market. Maybe we can work out a trade this spring. Would love to try one. I'm still deciding on some of the varieties for this year, but will have Striped German, Cherokee Purple, Brandywine, and Great White. I grew Black Prince last year and wasn't real happy with it. I also grew Green Zebra, am still considering it. I love the good taste of the older tomatoes. But I always grow Celebrity too, at least for myself, as well as Rutgers.

We have such a short season I always try the early ones. Can't say I've had much success though. I've tried cold set and oregon spring and they weren't strong enough to make it here. Do you have any experience with Honey Jade or Olive? I just got seeds from a gal in the Netherlands and can't wait to try them.

Kathy - your Aunt Rubies Germans sounds very good but I've never seen seeds listed for that one. Where did you get them? Helen

In the past, I've traded for "AUNT RUBY'S", but I found them at www.vermontbean.com this year. ($2.10 for a packet of 30 seeds) Now I just have to see if I have any seeds left for "green grape"

I always get our favorite bean from Vermont Bean too. We have never found a bean that we like better than "Dragon Tongue" It's suppose to be good as both a snap bean and a dry bean, but we have only eaten it as a snap bean. Even when the pods get a bit large, they are still tender and delicious.

I'll look through my seeds, and see if I have extra seeds .... they will be a few years old if I do, but my experience with tomato and bean seeds is that they are viable for several years. If I have extras, I'll offer them to you guys.

I was very big into heirloom vegetables a few years ago. Another favorite tomato is Aunt Gertie's Gold :

75-85 days - Indet. potato leaf - Large plant, high yield of 8g-1# gold fruits. Some may be blemished but the taste of this variety is superb.

Aunt Gertie' Gold- This is the best yellow tomato I have ever tried. Great production as well as flavor.

my first batch are sprouted!! i plan to do more next week
i grew over 40 different kinds last yr and plan to do just as many as i can this yr

i start mine a tad early becuz i have my lil gh to put them in before they go in the ground in May!

go for it!!!!!!!

40 !!!!! You must can Dori, or have lots of hungry relatives. ;)

So, what are your favorite varieties?

cherokee purple ****
andrew R
peace
celebrity
any heirlooms!!!

Thanks for the link Kathy. I just ordered seed for Oregon Spring. Sorry to hear you didn't find them very strong, hissunny. I'm also trying olive this year.

Hi Kathy,
I start tomatoes on 4-5 using dome covered flats and Pro Mix Bx as the growing medium. 85 degrees bottom heat is supplied by a thermostat controlled propagation mat. Germination takes 3 to 5 days. Plants are grown under 14 to 16 hrs. of flourescent light a day. Transplant to 2" and later to 4" or larger pots after the first true leaves develop. Growing medium is the same, but with 10% ( Clare Co. produced ) composted cow manure and Mycorrhizae fungi added. Weekly fertilizing starts using liquid seaweed and fish emulsion. 4 to 5 weeks later plants are ready to harden off ( harden off for 7 t0 10 days and stop using fertilizer ) .

Tom