Do you have back ups??? I was out cleaning flower beds this weekend, it really was wonderful.

We had 75 here near Lake Michigan on Saturday, too, but Sunday and today it's barely 40. It's rainy, windy and cold. If those tomato plants aren't totally covered they would be terribly windburned and set back by the cold. Just where along the Mississippi are you? I used to live in LaCrosse and I know there it was quite warm when other parts of Wisconsin were cold. The bluffs furnished protection there. I didn't get my greenhouse up yet, but if I had I'd have to have a heater in there today. They are talking chance of snow on top of all the cold and wind. Even my cold season veggies that I seeded out are keeping themselves hidden underground up to so far.

Frank, in my part of the state is has rained for days and had snow on the ground this morning. How are those maters of yours doing?

Well how are the mater plants after yesterday? I do hope they are doing well. The rest of this week should help them out if they made it through.

I cover them at night with the clay pots...

Right next to La Crosse, right along the river. The river valley is very mild a lot of times, while other areas can be a lot colder. Especially east towards Sparta/BRF... Only problem we have is fog, while areas on the bluff can be sunny..

The coldest we've seen has been 38F since i planted, although Sun/Mon we barely managed 50F. Yesterday was windy, but still hit 59F. Today should easily jump into the 60's, 70's tomorrow, probably low 80'sF Friday. 60's Sat.. Might have to worry about Monday and next week. Looks like more cool air is coming down from Canada.

Very little rain here, 1/10 inch with that last system. We are in a severe drought and hopefully late weekend storms can help out over here. I hate to go into summer with rainfall deficit..i'm getting sick of watering plants in April!

I use 6ft tall large metal cages for them to climb up (they are really nice, picked them out of a garbage), i just haven't put them in yet...probably in a week or two.

It sounds like this is a fun experiment for you Frank.
Will you get ripe 'maters earlier than normal?
Will you keep records to see if it worth the work?
Talk to us again in August please.
Pondy

I plan on it! Last year i don't think i had a ripe tomato until August, so i need to get some plants up to size so when the heat sets in, these things can flower and get going.

Looks like a good set up. I'll cross my fingers for you.

My 'mater seedlings are about 2" tall. Every morning this week there's been ice in my bird bath. I'm in central Racine County. Maybe tomorrow I'll be able to set them outside for a few hours.

Good luck, Frank. I hope they make it! I just started my tomatoes seeds a few weeks ago and they haven't developed any true leaves yet, so I'm a bit behind you. Of course, I'm about 1000 feet from Lake Michigan and get a lake breeze if the wind is out of the East, North, or South, so I have to wait a bit longer for the ground to warm up. I'm thinking about a planting date of May 23rd - 24th, but I remember the frost warning on Memorial day last year, so we'll see. I'm trying Wisconsin 55 for the first time this year, both the red and golden types.

Good luck!

Mike

I sowed tomato seeds outside in containers covered with plastic sheeting (with holes for breathing)...they've been outside on the asphalt all this time getting anything the weather wanted to throw at them...they have started to germinate as of the weekend. A few years ago, I did the same thing, only I started the seeds outside in early March. They were the hardiest darn tomatoes I've ever had and they produced maters well into October. I learned how to do this wintersowing from the Wintersowing Forum here on the web.

The plants in the ground are FLOWERING! Most of them... Still been plenty warm with some good rains the past week or so.

On Friday, My daughter and I planted out 5 tomatoes and some peppers and a few squash. We have more plants waiting on the front porch swing, but will wait to see if the others survive.

The planted ones are in a high stone-sided raised bed right
next to my white garage. And we have pails ready to cover them if if gets any colder.

Not as brave as FT, but we feel that little glow of daring
anyway. Pondy

I was given a tomato plant on May 2nd, and I have kept it outdoors most nights. Finally planted it about 5 days ago. Seems to be doing fine. I have it in a raised bed with layers of manure and leaves and things, so I am counting on the lasagna bed to give off a small amount of heat on its own. Had hubby cover it Monday night when it was in the 30s overnight.

While my plants are huge (some are chest tall now), not many tomatoes. I'm guessing the cold May/early June just wasn't good for the flowers. Lots of flowers now.

Probably should have planted a couple dwarf tomatoes in buckets for early fruit. I've in that past done that and one time had ripe tomatoes by the 4th of July.

I have a pretty big green tomato on my Brandywine plant! It has a defect, but I'm hoping it works itself out. Only flowers otherwise on the full size tomato plants.

I started some cherry tomatoes under lights this winter and they're loving it outside now!