I honestly don't think you are far behind - maybe a week, 2 at the most. Many in your zone are just planting this weekend according to their posts. Maybe last weekend for some.

As you know DTM are just a guess at best anyway so I wouldn't worry about them too much. And your plants, even the small ones, should take off quickly once in the garden. They grow much faster outside than they do inside.

Late July to early August sounds about right since I don't think any of your varieties are "earlies". Some are late varieties so likely late August for them.

Dave

I agree with Dave, I don't think you're very late at all. You are in the same zone as me and I transplanted mine outside 1 week ago. Just barely 1 day after we had a frost warning. Last year I transplanted 3 weeks earlier and they just sat there and didn't do much for a couple weeks until we had consistent warmer temps.

I'm just above you in true upstate NY on the VT border and mine won't go out until next weekend or the next week.

Lordy, frost is predicted again for tonight. Sigh.

Being in zone 5, roughly, I never expect peak tomato production until late August/early September, and we have no idea what the weather will be like this summer, which is the deciding factor on how well and quickly plants grow and mature fruit.

So go for it.

Carolyn

Remember that there are lots of ways you can extend your harvest - I collected all of the green tomatoes in November and had some ripe ones left over in January...

I wouldn't worry too much - as others said, the way this year has been so far, you're not that far behind.

I put a bunch of seedlings out about a month ago here (northern VA), and they promptly got hit with 3 days of 90+ temps followed by almost 2 weeks of rain.

A picture taken three days ago.
I am in NY zone 6 also.
Using a removable greenhouse system, I have already eaten a few Stupices.
dcarch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzDqDBw_F54

I'm with you, Dcarch. Everyone north of the Mason-Dixon Line should use some kind of season extension technique for tomatoes. I've seen an Aug. frost in NW PA a few years back. Nobody deserves to go through the ordeals of growing the plants only to have the season ended before anything is realized. With just a little more expense per plant than a fancy tomato cage you can extend your seasons by 2-3 months.

My only dilema is deciding what to charge for tomatoes when our farmers' market opens this week.

I am in Michigan, so similar to you. I get very few tomatoes in early August outside of my "cherry" varities. Most will start to come in late August. I planted plants in a sheltered area two weeks ago this year, but usually will plant the middle of May.

Interesting, dcarch! I'm jealous. How did you make that?

Very simple, actually.

1. 4mm poly panel (Twin-wall). You can cut it with a knife.
2. Combination of Velcro and packing tape for the assembly.

I have used this removable greenhouse about three seasons now. It has gone thru some high wind tests.

dcarch

Hmmm, I thought about doing something similar this year. I think next year I will definitely build some kind of portable greenhouse because I just don't have the room inside the house. Can't be too hard to make and cheap as well.

I have planted most row crop items and my peppers and tomatoes go out this weekend, god willing.

I consider myself behind by one week, but ahead of last year(heavy rains and flooding) by 3 weeks.

You Should be fine!

Dean

hi, everyone thanks for all your help. I'm glad I'm not to far behind. I may have a mijor setback though. a few day ago my garden was invaded by leafhoppers. theyve only attacked weeds my coneflower (it's almost to the point of being dead) and they started to attack my sweet 100 tomato but a covred the whole thing with a net (the plant will out grow in a week or so) I'm trying to get this invasion under control once I have done that I will plant out until then the tomatoes will have to stay in there pots.

I thought the removable greenhouse was interesting but how do you use it when the tomatoes are large in the fall.

Sorry to hear about your bug problem! I put a link to a thread I had bookmarked. I am interested in this twin-wall stuff. Not having many powertools is a constant hinderance, so being able to cut it with a razor knife would be an awesome thing. I wonder if I could somehow attach it to my PVC greenhouse frame (which is currently useless because I tried to cover it with plastic construction sheeting and it fell apart). I will try to find it the next time I'm in home depot.

Insectiside soaps:
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/organic/msg0811021528979.html?29