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Growing Tomatoes

July - too late to start another?

14 years ago

I'm a first year novice tomato gardener growing a few plants in pots on the patio - enthusiastically I might say but with mixed results. I cut down a Big Boy which got a bad case of blight; and have had better luck with a Better Bush which is producing nicely. I also have a pink Brandywine which is growing great leaves and blossoms but with no tomatoes! Oh well... I'm having fun.

My question: Is it too late to start another tomato plant in mid-July - if not, what variety? I know this sounds snarky...

Comments (8)

mojavebob
14 years ago
I think it's worth a shot if you're enthusiastic. I just put a Sungold cutting in the ground. A cutting is better than a seedling is better than germinating seed for this purpose. I'd probably avoid starting seed in late July. A lot of people growing a fall crop plant right at the first of August. I assume that's a well developed young plant. If you can find an early determinate you'll increase your chances of a decent yield from such a late start. Good luck.
socks
14 years ago
I really don't know, but I just ripped out a Roma bush with lots of tomatoes because they were awful tomatoes. Put in a Razzleberry. I don't know anything about your zone but you may have a long growing season like we do (me and Mojavebob). Hey, nothing ventured nothing gained is what I say. It's the way we learn too. Go for it! Like you say, we're having fun.
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I often start perennial and biannual seed in July. Right now I have shasta daisy, sweet william, foxgloves, painted daisy already germinated and am waiting on delphinium, columbine, salvia and sage to get started. I find it much easier to get them started outside when the soil is already warm and the temps make germination faster. If you start seed in July you can expect the plants to flower the following year. Some perennial and biannual seeds are very easy and some are hard. I follow directions on back of packet as far as if the seed needs to be covered or needs light and some need to be frozen for a while, set them on wet miracle grow potting mix, water well, but gently and put in a shady place until germination starts and then I move them to an area that gets a few hours of morning sun a day. Once their first set of true leaves is out I will move them into a place that gets 4 or 5 hours of morning sun. When their second set of leaves shows up the seedlings will be moved to either a nursery bed in my veg garden or for some into their permanent spot right away. The bulk will go to the veg garden and those I might cover with shade cloth if it is very hot (it will be in Arkansas in August). The hardest thing is to keep the soil moist while germination is going on and when they are vey small. Sometimes I have a complete failure, but for some like shasta, sweet william, foxgloves, painted daisy, gillardia they are so easy you will get dozens of plants. Almost always I get at least a few. Well worth the couple of bucks the packet of seed costs. Hope this helps.
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platys
14 years ago
I'm planting a stupice and a tigerella tonight in five gallon buckets. I found a person giving them away, and figured that it wouldn't hurt to try. I figure stupice will have time, but I doubt tigerella will. It's more of an experiment with the 5 gallon buckets for next year.
tn_veggie_gardner
14 years ago
I don't think it's too late for a Cherry variety. =) I started some of my "Monster Cherry Tomato" seeds as a test (didn't ferment for this test, but will with the rest of the seeds I save). I started them about a week & 1/2 ago and the plants are already 3 or so inches tall! Anyways, I guess i'll find out if it was too late to start them.
opal52
14 years ago
I'm in metro Atlanta. I think it may be a little late to start new tomato plants. We can see frost in mid to late October and overnight temps can turn cold. We were seeing morning temps in the 30's by the end of Oct. last year.

That said, seems to me we most often don't see heavy frost before mid November. And with the crazy weather we have been having over the past few years, if may turn out this year that November acts more like May. We had cherry tomatoes bearing nicely into December a couple years ago. No harm in trying especially if it's just for fun. You may get lucky.
azruss
14 years ago
If you can find a seedling, preferably a reasonably early one (70 DTM or fewer)that is reasonably cold tolerant why not give it a shot? Stupice, Cold Set, Matina, Bloody Butcher are a few examples.
tn_veggie_gardner
14 years ago
Yea...true...I wouldn't (and am not for my test) start mater plants right now for your main ones, but if it's just for fun or for a test of sorts, go for it. =)
star_stuff
14 years ago
Also zone 7 here~ if I had more containers and more room, I would definitely take a nice cutting and see what happens. I would choose a relatively compact, cold tolerant variety, in a container, and would haul it inside in the event of an early freeze in October. Our average overnight low temperatures don't get into the 30s until mid November (but that's just averages). :-)

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