How To Water Tomatoes in Zone 4b/5a?
minis006
7 years ago
Featured Answer
Comments (10)
minis006
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Pinus wallichiana in zone 4b-5a
Comments (4)i have lost both P. w. Frosty and zebrina in my version of zone 5 .... i suspect hybrids as resin notes .... also ... i think there is some struggling with translation .. but you say both of the following: ------->>>>They go through the winter with no major problems. .. and It's trees get major burns on the needle during the winter, they are all like rust colored, but they survived and continue to grow very well. ------->>>>major needles browning and/or loss is a MAJOR problem ... sooner or later it is going to weaken the tree .. and perhaps lead to death ... or maybe not... but browning is not minor ... i have very young zone appropriate conifers that did it for a couple years.. then must have gotten enough roots down to be able to stand my winter .... and on the p. wall's .... they did as you note with needle browning .... eventually not being able to recover.. and one died the second spring.. and the other the third ... its hard to remember back then .... as i was very inexperienced at that point in my conifer life.. but i know at least one started extending its buds... and then died within a couple days ... i had no clue what happened at the time.. but now i suspect a late very hard frost killed it ... good luck ken...See MoreIs Papillion, NE in zone 4b or 5a?
Comments (4)I'm going to answer your question by not answering! The answer might be, that depends. I live in an area that is on the edge of zones, so I was asking the same thing myself. What I finally realized was, at that point, even if the map did say I was one thing, the actual micro-climate in my yard might be something else. So, I started to compare temps with what the weather-forecaster said my area was, and found that my minimum temperatureas are usually two degrees colder than what is recorded for my area on that day. Makes sense to me, as my house sits down in a bit of a low spot. Since making that observation, I have been making my plant purchases based on the colder zone, and have had fewer losses. I also protect my plants from freeze a bit sooner in the fall, later in the spring. That has worked well. You might find your experience is the opposite, maybe you are warmer than the surrounding area. Keeping track of you minimum temperature is the best way to figure it out. So, you might need to get up at 5 AM on a few winter mornings to determine the minimum temps. Compare your temps against that of the local weather forecast as well. Helps to know when the forecast is getting near frost temps, that it might be time to get the tomato blankets out! By the way, Papillion is beautiful! We lived in Columbus for a few years ourselves. I miss the wide open spaces, and you have the best sunsets!! There was a little farmhouse in Papillion that I just adored. Go Huskers!!...See Morehelp with heating cold frame! (growing zone 4b/5a)
Comments (19)It might help to read Eliot Coleman's books on season extending techniques. I have a high tunnel (plastic covered/wood frame) and it is amazing how warm it gets during the day when the sun is out. What I have learned is the soil inside doesn't freeze even though outside it might be zero degrees and it gets zero degrees inside at night. From the list that another poster provided, those are cold hardy plants that can take some cold temperature extremes. Local farmers start using supplemental heat when they want an early tomato crop but they don't try to grow tomatoes all year. You also need to understand that during the darkest winter days, plants aren't getting enough sunlight so they tend to stop growing. Eliot calls this the Persephone Period. Depending on what you are trying to grow you might need both heat and light. (New local hydroponic greenhouses are using a lot of light.) Local market gardeners provide extra cold protection for their plants by using Agribon. I managed to keep rosemary alive for two winters here in zone 5 NH by swaddling the plant with Agribon, removing it in the spring. By providing enough cold protection you can probably grow spinach in the winter but not lettuce. I have had lettuce roots survive and start growing in the spring. Kale, coriander, and claytonia might die but seed and/or roots survive to start growing in the spring. Keep in mind that even snow provides some insulation. Johnny's Seeds website might also have some helpful information about when to sow plants for fall/winter and when to sow in the spring for earliest crops....See MoreHow many tomatoes to grow for canning (growing zone 4b/5a, North MI)
Comments (3)I'm confused whether you want to can these or just make a fresh tomato dish. If you want a sauce tomato I'd suggest Roma, determinate, or San Marzano, an indeterminate. For canning my neighbor cans a lot and buys plants from Burpee's. She uses SuperSauce an indeterminate. I would suggest Dester and Belgian Gigant, Giant Belgium, which both produce a lot of tasty tomatoes. For fresh eating I'd suggest Pink Brandywine which doesn't produce a lot of tomatoes, so suggest for fresh eating only. I'd also suggest Mortgage Lifter because it's been my first producer the last two years. For a yellow tomato I'd suggest Kellogg's Breakfast. It's a vigorous grower with lots of tomatoes. I grow it because I have a heart burn problem. Some say not to can yellow tomatoes, but some say there's no difference in acidity. I grow two plants in case I can't eat the red tomatoes. We made a pasta dish this evening from both a canned red tomato and Kellogg's Breakfast. Sweet peppers, onions and sweet sausage. I experimented last season with planting out 4 tomato seedlings two to four weeks late so that they start producing later. I planted them in mid June and they started producing in September. Big crops of big tomatoes like I usually see when a plant first starts production. For beefsteaks I'd suggest at least 3 foot spacing, maybe 4 feet, but I've planted 4 in an eleven foot garden....See Moreminis006
7 years agotheforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)
7 years agominis006 thanked theforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)minis006
7 years agominis006
7 years agotheforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agominis006 thanked theforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)
Related Stories
EDIBLE GARDENSSummer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes
Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard
Full StoryCOLOR10 Reasons to Make a Splash With Tomato Red
You won’t duck at these tomatoes. See how bold red shades can play up architecture, light up a dark spot and add drama
Full StoryLIFEKitchen Traditions: Tomato Season Meets a Family Legacy
Somewhere a Sicilian great-great-grandmother is smiling at a bowl of American-made sauce
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN5 Steps to Selecting the Right Plants for a Rain Garden
A simplified look at selecting plants for a rain garden
Full StoryCOLORTime to Step Out of Your Color Comfort Zone?
If you always seem to pick warm tones, or you stick to the cool ones, bucking your natural inclination could bring new energy to a room
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGN7 Reasons to Give Your Bath Zone a Living Room Vibe
With a few living room–like touches, you can transform your bathroom into a practical, relaxing retreat that’s overflowing with personality
Full StoryTHE HARDWORKING HOMEA New Drop Zone Keeps the Clutter at Bay
The Hardworking Home: A clever wall-mounted station for keys, phones and more helps a family stay organized
Full StorySAVING WATERXeriscape Gardens: How to Get a Beautiful Landscape With Less Water
Conserve water and make gardening much easier with the xeriscape approach’s 7 principles
Full StoryTILEPorcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: A Five-Scenario Showdown
Explore where and why one of these popular tile choices makes more sense than the other
Full StoryDECKSA Family-Friendly California Yard Wises Up About Water
Pavers and unthirsty plants replace Kentucky bluegrass in a Menlo Park landscape for a family of 4
Full Story
Labradors