When you get to be my age you have been suckered in by the antsy desire to get your fingers dirty and the misleading weather so many times. Finally you decide its best to just stick with the tried and true timing. And seldom regret doing so.

But if you have the time, the materials and can stand the disappointment if it fails then sure give it a try. You might luck out and beat the odds. :)

Or try a compromise approach - start just a few now with the plan to do more at the proper time.

Good luck.

Dave

I started early. I am in Southern California and it's been a mild winter. I have a volunteer that came up and it is 2 feet tall with flowers - that encouraged me to get the seedlings started. Last year I planted plants in April so this is early but I have back up plans.

I've been tempted in the past and ended up scrambling to cover plants in the garden when a late freeze is forecast. I did keep one tomato plant in the garden this winter. Just pulled it today. It gave me about a dozen tomatoes the past two months. Whenever the temps were forecast for the high 30s or lower I covered it with a couple sheets and stuck a grow light inside for warmth. Worked great!

I'll start my seeds next week, but won't start transplanting in the garden until mid March.

When you say mild winter and transplanting early (March or April) is this just for areas with mild climates where they typically receive no snow (FL, AL, GA, etc.)

The reason I ask is because I live in the northern part of the country and live in the northern part of my state.

The whole not being able to plant in the ground cause of it being frozen, doesn't apply to me, because I use container gardening.

The other things is what about transplanting early with areas where the main growing season arrives later in the year (end of May).

This is in comparison to southern areas, such as GA, FL, etc.

If I do stuff earlier, it would be hardy things that love cold weather and germinate and grow well in cold weather (spinach, lettuce, etc.) I'm not saying they would be direct sown, rather transplants. I might direct sow them earlier, depending on the weather.

As long as you are prepared to cover the plants up, then I would say GO FOR IT!

About five years ago here in Nebraska, we had an incredibly mild winter. I put out four of my tomatoes under walls o' water in late FEBRUARY.

Three of them survived. The one that didn't died because it was ripped out of the ground by a deer.

I had tomatoes by the end of May that year!

My seeds are already in their soil cells for this year, and I am eagerly awaiting the first little seedlings! :)

I'm already putting out squash transplants. Melons and cucumbers will follow in a few days. The tomatoes will be transplanted to larger containers tomorrow. I plan on transplanting the tomatoes into the garden February 15th. Our long range forecast shows nothing but mid 70's and low 80's for the next few weeks. If the weather man is wrong I have plenty of burlap to cover everything if I have to.

Thanks, all. This is food for thought. I believe I will start just two or three plants a couple of weeks earlier than normal this year (which is week after next) and then start the rest at the normal time. That way, I can take advantage of whatever comes without major losses.

Wow, natal. I am really fascinated with your results. Makes me wonder how my Sungolds would have done under row covers this winter. We have have had a zone 9 winter this year. They continued to bear even after our first few light frosts out in the open.