I have lots of question with regard to direct seeding also.
Many people say that tomato seedlings benefit for being transplanted indoors, they say it changes the roots.
On the other hand some people say that a direct seeded tomato plant or volunteer will catch up to a transplant. I'm looking forward to everyones thoughts on this.

If starting seeds outdoors has worked for you in the past, by all means continue doing it that way. You are no more likely to ruin this year's batch of seeds than you were last year's, so I wouldn't worry overmuch about it.

I prefer to start mine indoors where I have a little more control over the growing conditions and can check on them at any time of day or night without having to go outdoors.

-- BC --

clspie,

Winter Sowing is not direct seeding...direct seeding has vague results because of predation by bugs and critters, dessication from winds, washouts from storms etc. Winter Sowing containers are protective environments that let in snow, rain and wind, keep out weed seeds, and allow the seedlings to germinate safely. There's no hardening off. no damp-off and the root systems are just amazing.

FYI, several years ago I demonstrated the method to the government and extension representatives--it blew their minds and they asked me to join their partnership. In 2003 WinterSown Educational became a USDA/NAL AgNIC Alliance Partner and you can nowadays find the method described in the USDA Thesaurus.

Grateful,

Please drop by the Winter Sowing forum here at GardenWeb to talk with other zone fivers about their successes with Winter Sowing tomatoes. You can also visit WinterSown.Org for tips on sowing and transplanting your tomatoes, after transplant care, etc.

Also, I'll be delighted to give you the seeds to try. Please use the link below to review the tomato list and make your selections, from that page you can link to our tomato groing information. If you wait a couple of days before ordering the tomato seeds you'll have a bigger list to choose from--I'm adding several new varieties early this week.

Trudi

Here is a link that might be useful: Your Choice Tomato SASE

Below I've linked to a search here at GW about wintersown tomatoes which may be helpful to you.

I was surprised that there were only 11 threads and noticed that I think almost all were from 2008 b'c there are many more threads than that that I can remember from previous years.

Carolyn

Here is a link that might be useful: Wintersown tomatoes

C, Winter Sowers use the proper two word phrase.

WinterSown refers to the AgNIC website, wintersown (no caps) refers to seeds germinated by the method, winter sow(ing) is the method. It's a subtle difference but one that the USDA and extension people use.

The proper boolean search of the entire GW website brings up 1500 hits....well, 1496, but that's close enough...you'll have to wittle through it but the knowledge you gain along the way is always priceless. Site wide you will find Canadians, Rocky Mountain folks, etc, you'll see that some like it and some don't and, more importantly, there is a lot of advice and experience that you won't find in C's narrow search results.

I hope you'll give it a try--WS is a no to low cost method that you tailor to use what you have on hand. Just a bit advice...in zone five you need to choose early/short season tomatoes to have ripe fruits before your first frost. Choosing anything over 80 days is iffy--to quote Mr Spock, it is not logical ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: GW Search results for

in zone five you need to choose early/short season tomatoes to have ripe fruits before your first frost

*****

That's right, and it's another reason why I start tomato seeds indoors. With a six- or eight-week head start indoors, I can grow any variety I want and I am not limited to only early/short season tomatoes (which regardless of what any catalog description says, usually don't taste anywhere near as good as the midseason/later season ones).

clspie, a lot depends on your growing season, and you didn't say where you are. I heard the same about direct-seeded and volunteer tomato plants catching up to transplants, but it's never happened here. Our summers aren't warm enough or long enough for crops that need that extra growing time. Even areas in the upper Midwest that are one zone colder in the winter warm up sooner and have warmer, sunnier days during the summer than we do here, and those extra few warm sunny days make a big difference in how you can grow things like tomatoes.

But if you are getting free seeds and have enough of them to take chances with, certainly have some fun and see how it turns out. Gardening is a learning experience and you never know what might work (or not) for you.

Trudi,
Thanks for the info and the offer of the seeds. I actually got my seeds from you this year. Like I said in the original post that I did my toms with your method (wsing) last year and they turned out fine. My cousin starts everything indoors and we have a little banter between us about the better way to do it. I was just looking for what people had to say.

I will be sending you a lot of my extra flower seeds next month. Thanks for starting your great site.

Jeff

Thank you for your kind words Jeff...I can certainly use those flower seeds. They can go out in the Six Pack SASEs and/or I can share them with organizations doing beautification projects.

Bless you!

T

PS...forward the tomato list to your cousin, I'll be delighted to send him seeds ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Your Choice Tomato SASE

I am a tomato grower through Winter Sowing. If it was not for winter sowing no way could I grow my 30 plus varieties of tomatoes. If you need to grow from seed without a green house do give it a try. Yes, it you have sprouts and you get a late 28 degree freeze night they will die. But if you put those same seedling in a non heated garage, strange they seem to live the night and go on to produce. Being a very frugal Gardner love winter sowing.

For me it is easier then my old green house was. Less money spent on heating that green house and must less worry.

Simple too for those that love tomatos and just dont have a green house you can do this. Works in NJ and this is my week to start my tomato seeds.

ML