Fran, your research is super! If Trudi's reading, I think she should ask you if she can capture your post and put it on her site. Germination results, time of fruiting, healthiness of plants are extremely important to a lot of folks (me, I just needed the space in the house, and I do get healthy plants and tomatoes out of the deal, so "when" doesn't bother me).

Good job!

Drippy, I know that Trudi has read the post and responded on it.

I kept the records as it was my first attempt at WS tomato seeds and really wanted to note how it went. My neighbor joined the fun to prove that I was totally nuts.
We know who still is laughing about that one.

I don't mind waiting a little longer for my ripe tomatoes either, especially when they are still going strong well into Oct.

Interesting that the post on the tomato forum has been totally ignored except for Trudi.

Fran

Winter sowing is great, it works but tomato folks are die hards. They also produce alot of wonderful seeds. Being very very frugal really enjoy winter sowing my tomatos. Just want way over board with seedlings. Something could never do with garden center or green house raised ones.
I also planted mine out far ealier then other years, cause I had 100's of extras so the experiment was worth trying.

This year they went out way late due to silly weather here. Lots of rain and cold. Been ages since planted this late.

Think most that winter sow will not go back to the garden center seedlings, most of us have to cut down on a few containers cause it works so well.

I about died this year one seedling was $2.00( tomato plant) at the garden center. 9.99 for some others. If any thing would make folks try would be that.

ML