I have my container tomatoes under a tree with dappled shade. Its just too hot for them in full sun and I am getting my first ones now finally.

Getting homegrown tomatoes is always good!

I'm trying to find someone who started new plants in July or so for a fall harvest. I know this works fine in the ground, I'm not so sure about in a container.

I've started mine inside in containers. I think it's just too hot out now for them, what with the total lack of rain and all. I'll plant mine outside when it gets a little cooler. This is my first year doing it, so I'll let you know how it goes!

I'm just hoping to hold my summer ones over till fall. All they have done is get tall and leafy.

mommyfox - I'll look forward to hearing you yours do. I may start some seed myself. A month ago I thought it was too late! But I'm really not confident that the 2 plants I have will make it.

prairiepaintbrush - that's what I used to do. I always got lots of fall tomatoes from them. I didn't plant any this spring. :(

I planted some from seed inside and some in the garden. It was recommended to plant from August 1st - 15th for a fall planting. Even so, not a single seed came up that was planted outside. Nearly all the seeds I planted indoors came up. I now have my plants in a shaded area outside to start hardening them off early and they're doing great. At least they were before I had to take them to my mom's house to 'sit' for me while I'm away here on vacation.

I think it's just so hot here in Texas that for fall you really should start the plants indoors and slowly move them out to eventually the garden. As long as the high for the day is 95+ degrees, I will not have my poor tomato plants in the garden suffering.

~Angela

I'm new to veggies so this is a question. Why wouldn't you put them in the ground. I planted two home depot tomato plants in late June, mulched heavily and watered, and they are heavily ladden with fruit. Picked 7 or so yesterday. Just curious.

Hi Willy. There are two reasons. I recently moved to a heavily wooded neighborhood. My only good sunny spot is on the deck. We really don't want to cut down more trees! I also have a lot of health problems, which tend to worsen at the most inopportune times. In order to care for my garden consistently, I need it to be as easy as possible. I hope that a container garden right outside the door will accomplish that. And since I plan to live here 'til I'm 100, I want to be able to garden here that long also. ;~)

Liz, that is encouraging news - that your summer maters produced in the fall. Mine have always been worn out from MAKING TOMATOES all summer, but this year they are just lounging around on the sofa with the clicker, watching TV. I gave my father one (1) Sweet 100 and told him that was his harvest. Then we had another one! I figure it's about $5.00 per cherry tomato at this point.

Willy dear, where do you live? Unless you bought those tomatoes in 5 gallon containers with tomatoes on them already, I cannot imagine that you live in Texas. Do enlighten us.

Julie

Julie, LOL, did you find a reverse fertilizer for your plants? I always grew indeterminates, which I think tend to give better fall yields than determinate plants.

Another newbie here to planting maters for Fall, I have mine started inside from seed right now. Figured I'd put them out to harden once the temps go down under 95. My summer maters didn't do worth a flip, they all look like deep fried maters now. I too have been having medical problems so I had planned on placing them in containers that I can have better access to right outside my back porch...I'm keeping my fingers crossed and will report back later on my luck...or lack there of...*lol*

Liz, I think I've always grown indeterminates. Don't quite see the reason to grow the ones that come on all at once and die. I guess if you are a large scale farmer, that might make sense.

Again, the garden I have now is in a bit more shade than it really should be, but I'm finding shade, at least this year, is not so bad. :)