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I've Got Tomatoes!

13 years ago

The seeds weren't winter sown but I was winter sowing when I planted them and set them in my south facing window back in March. They grew fast and I put them outside in April. They've been outside ever since, protected whenever there was frost in the forecast but otherwise hardened off early. I grow mine in containers for convenience and yesterday I found three tiny round green tomatoes on the plants.

I bought grape tomato seeds from Diane's Fower Seeds as well as a regular size tomato called Stupice that she said had good flavor and was a short DTM. These are by far the healthiest tomato plants I've ever grown but keep in mind I never grew them before last year and then only from nursery plants my son gave me for Mother's Day. These are the first I've grown from seeds.

I'd post pictures but (a) I'm posting photos challenged; and (b) they're WAY too tiny still!!

My guess is our unusually mild (for New England) winter plus the high 90's temps in April may have wreaked havoc on their growing cycle but I'll take whatever they produce and enjoy it!

Ever hear the weather in New England is changeable? Yeah...97 degrees April 7 and 29 degrees May 11. In the dictionary under "adaptable" you'll find pictures of millions of people, critters and plants right beside a map of New England. Chances are the people are huddled together for warmth, the critters are burrowed deep and the plants are coated with ice...in July!

Did I say don't get me started?

Is it also somehow against natural law that lettuce and tomatoes ripen at the same time? I love the lettuce...crave the tomatoes go with it! Is that so wrong?

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Comments (4)

caryltoo Z7/SE PA
13 years ago
Congrats. It also seems against natural law that the cilantro bolts way before the tomatoes are anywhere near ready.
loisthegardener_nc7b
13 years ago
Congrats, gardenweed!
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token28001
13 years ago
Cilantro lasts about 2 days here. It grows two leaves and sets seed the next day. Even in the shade, it can't be done.

Congrats on the tomatoes. I have two romas right now and tons of blooms. This is my second year sowing from seed. Last year I started them all indoors and had huge plants when I put them out in mid April. This year, I wintersowed them all and had tiny things in late April. They'll make, but it's going to be later than last year. I ate my first ripe tomato last year in Mid June. I might have one by July 1 this year.
noinwi
13 years ago
Stupice is not a large tomato(2-3"), but has good flavor, is early and produces well. This is the first time in several years that I haven't grown it, as I had too many new(to me)varieties to try, but it's usually a staple for me.

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