Transplanting now in z8a worth the gamble?

15 years ago

Hi everyone --

I started my seeds this year on January 1st, because I wanted to have good-sized plants the first week of April to transplant. We don't have that many "warm" weeks of spring, good for pollination, before the hot, sticky weather of summer arrives and production falls off. Typically, it's possible for there to be a late frost around the first of April here (Florida panhandle).

I've had great success with healthy seedlings, and most are now in the 18" to 24" range, in 24-ounce containers, and READY to go out. I've checked the 10-day forecast, and there are no sub-45F degree nights within the realm of possibility.

So, what would you do? Is the risk worth it? I can just imagine the ball of roots I've got in those containers right now! I've been carrying them in and out every day to get them used to sun, but that's getting a bit old. ;-)

I'm hopeful to finally get a good crop this year, and don't want to blow it because I got antsy...

-Bruce

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Comments (6)

andyo
15 years ago
maybe put half out now with wall-o-water, the other half in a week or two?
cirtes
15 years ago
I put my tomatoes out in late February, but I'm in zone 10. I started the seeds in early December and stared hardening them off in early February when they were all ~ 2 - 3 feet tall. They have been just fine, filling out nicely and all have fruit on them. I had a couple of days in the high 30s and the rest in low to mid 40s. The data from my weather station is linked bellow.

If there is little risk of frost and you get good sunny days to offset the low night temperatures, I find it much easier to deal with cold than with heat.

Here is a link that might be useful: Weather History
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suze9
15 years ago
I don't know the ins and outs of growing tomatoes in Fla, but since you are in a *Southern* zone 8, I would go ahead and get them in. The vast majority of mine are already in or will be by the end of the day, then just a few more last minute odds and ends to put in on Wed. Normally, most of my plants would have already been in about a week ago, but I had to stop about midway as we got a major cold and rainy spell that persisted through most of last week.

Factors to consider might be - do you have any backups, also - how many total plants are going to go out in your garden and if it is a LOT, do you have the ability to protect all of them?

In any case, I think I would go ahead and start planting asap if I were you, unless another grower in your part of Fla (zone 8) sees your query and has other advice...
jsvand5
15 years ago
I am in Ocala which is pretty close to you and mine have been planted for 2 weeks now. I think you are definitely safe. Worst case scenario you can just cover them if a frost is forcast, but from looking at the 10 day forcast I think we are done with that for this year.
bcfromfl
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I lived for several years in Vero Beach, FL (SE coastal peninsula), and since moving to the "other" Florida...I've definitely had to change gardening habits! It gets COLD here, and I'm not close enough to the water to get the "Gulf effect." It looks like this might be the first year since moving here in 2005 that we won't get an April frost. (knock on wood!!)

I've started two each of the following varieties:

Big Beef hybrid
Cherokee Purple
Mortgage Lifter
Beef Master
Kellogg's Breakfast
Sweet Baby Girl
Sun Gold
Tami G hybrid

I suppose I could move one out of each, and keep an eye on that long-range forecast. Since I'm growing in tubs, protecting them is probably not possible -- too many gaps and cracks to seal up tightly.

I'm amazed that an otherwise long and cold winter turned mild as quickly and early as it did this year. Our first frost was in October last fall.

-Bruce
suze9
15 years ago
I suppose I could move one out of each, and keep an eye on that long-range forecast. Since I'm growing in tubs, protecting them is probably not possible -- too many gaps and cracks to seal up tightly.

You can wrap the cages in row cover if need be, and leave some extra at the top so you can seal it all up. Just be sure to do it at least a couple of hours before the sun sets to trap some heat, and use at least the mid weight thickness (not summer weight).

Some even use clear plastic, but you'd have to be careful with it, and be sure not to leave it sealed up the next day or you could cook your plants.

Milk jugs, soda bottles, buckets, etc. filled with warm or hot water and set close to the plants can also help.

Or - if you get really desperate and find you don't have anything to cover your plants with last minute and the night temp forecast looks bad, you can get up really early (4:00am to sunrise is generally going to be the coldest) and periodically mist your plants to prevent frost from forming.

These are all things I have found will work down to 29-30F or so, the plastic may even work a little below that for all I know, especially if you seal it up a few hours before the sun sets.

Also keep in mind that frost can sometimes form at temps above 32F. Anything below 38 or so, and I start to get antsy, especially considering the forecast could end up being different than actual.

It also doesn't hurt to stagger your plantings a bit - most years I end up with a delta of at least three weeks between first and last plant in. Staggering can also serve to extend your window of harvest.

Well, hopefully any late frosts or freezes won't be a concern for you this year - good luck with your garden.

Transplanting now in z8a worth the gamble?

Comments (6)

andyo

cirtes

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Transplanting now in z8a worth the gamble?

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andyo

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