Mean air temperature is not a good indicator of soil temperature because it ignores solar heating and evaporative cooling, but I get what you're getting at. When the seed package recommends minimum 60F, they're basing that on germination tests in controlled environment where the temperature is constant 60F. So I'd say you want it to be minimum of 60F @1" depth for 3-4 days after sowing. But again that's soil temperature @ about 1", so it's best to measure it not go by air temp. I have a $14 digital meat thermometer that I use. I spend almost nothing on my garden except for seeds and sometimes water. I won't even use potting soil to start most seeds because it costs too much when dirt from the garden is free. My cold frame, tomato cages, and bean trellis are all made of scavenged material from my neighbor's trash piles. But $14 for a meat thermometer is money well spent.

I have planted them, sprayed them for insects and diseases, watered them diligently, poured the correct amount of miracle grow fertalizer on them every 7 days and still... Agree with Kevin that the over-watering needs to be curtailed. So does all the heavy feeding. Both are stressors for the plants. You don't mention if they are in the ground or in containers and if containers how big are they? Plus do they have pests or diseases? If not why are you spraying? The sprays, when not needed, are just another cause of damage and stress. And just incase you didn't know, there is a Growing Tomatoes forum here. It is direct linked from this forum front page. Dave

I can believe that it's National Mail Order Gardening month. The catalogs are pouring in. However, the trade organization of organizational products is obviously not on the ball. Nowhere in your list did I see a National Organize Your Life week although that's all I've seen advertised in the newspaper circulars for the past few days.

I have a Maytag French door refrigerator (two doors on top) that is stainless steel, 35 1/2" wide with a bottom freezer drawer and refrigerator drawer above that. It has a door water and ice dispenser. It is about 6 years old with no problems yet. It is also very quiet. I don't know if a similar model is available now but I'm very happy with this one. The one thing it is missing is bins, but I have no problems storing my meats and vegetables. Good luck!