Deanna, I am in zone 7A and wouldn't try it here. But zone 8A I dunno? I hope you get other 8A's to relate their opinions, experiences and ideas. Mother nature is really in charge and maybe you'll have a nice mild winter. AND... it's fun to experiment!

I've had a fall crop of tomatoes survive into late December until a freeze wiped 'em out. Can't imagine a tomato plant in the seedling stage at this time making it through the winter. Then again, nothing ventured nothing gained.

Maybe put some row cover over the tomatoes AND do the greenhouse thing over that? That's a popular four-season-gardener method to protect stuff when it gets really cold, although I don't know about tropicals like tomatoes... but maybe in your zone... hey, the worst that can happen is you lose them, right?

I like the way you guys think, I should just try it and maybe next spring I can report back with early crop of tomatoes. vikingkirken Thanks for telling me about covering them with row cover also, I think I will try to find some black plastic jugs and fill with water to get warm in the day and maybe retain some heat for the night, I don't know though the broccoli might object with the extra heat lol. I know this seems like I am going to the extreme for tomatoes but we SO very much enjoyed them fresh and not to mention the price of produce so its settled I am going to give it a shot. Thanks :o)Deanna

Eyes Wolf,

you can probably get them through winter alive with the green house thing. note that each layer of glazing will give you more protection.

if they are alive come spring you will have a great start for next year.

i live in zone 4 and we have to deal with cold winters, springs and falls.

i have had young tomatoes frozen in the spring and as long as the root didn't get frozen they come back stronger.

one man plants his tomatoes on the south face of his heated garage. he covers the wint straw. the tops die back and next spring they start to grow again. in lives in the city and i think there is more protection from the cold there.

last year we built what we call seed ovens. they are Styrofoam boxes with a heating mat in the bottom that we cover at might. we start the cold weath plants the 1st of Feb, the tomatoes peppers and corn the 1st of Mar and cucumbers and squash the 1st of Apr.

our last frost is around the last of May.

we have grow tunnels in the green house and in the field.

the only heat we use are the grow pads.

if you don't try you will never know.

Dean

What great encourgement wiringman if you guys can overwinter in zone 4 I think it will be ok for me to give it a try thanks for also answering a question I didn't post about them, ok to have top damage and still make it through to produce. Thanks :o)Deanna