Software
Houzz Logo Print
grow_life

Tomatoes in May success

11 years ago

Just north of Cincinnati, OH in zone 6a, with a last frost day of about May 10 (this year was April 28th). 2 years ago I set out to have the first tomatoes on the block. I built a 12x32 hoop house and planted the toms in early march. It didn't work very well because while the air was warm, the soil was cold and wet, delaying growth. This year, I planted in 5 gal. nursery containers with drip irrigation...Much improved! I had a race going between Beaverlodge, Glacier, and Sophie's choice. The Glacier and Beaverlodge both turned on friday, with the Glacier ready enough for me yesterday. The beaverlodge needs a bit more time, but I'll call it a draw for now. Sophie's looks close. No supplemental heat was used, just good ole sunbeams. My main garden tomatoes outside(and everyone elses) are just now starting to grow.

Comments (8)

  • 11 years ago

    Did you say you have tomatoes? If so, good job! I'm not too far from you and still waiting for my toms to "take off". Usually by now they are growing rapidly and I am having to tuck them back in the cages daily. Very far behind here with everything delayed about a month. I didn't think the trees were ever going to get their leaves and that just happened in the last couple of weeks. Don't think I will see any June tomatoes this year, but I'm still holding out a little hope.

  • 11 years ago

    I was just comparing pic I posted on FB last year with this year results- due to weather am slightly behind. But few days of warm weather- where are you????? will help LOL

  • 11 years ago

    We had a week and a half of days over 80 which I'm sure helped pushed things along. When I first put the containers out in the hoophouse I put lightweight frost blanket over them and the soil heated really well and retained heat through the night. I left the fabric on until the plants were starting to sucker. I also have a few dozen beefsteak heirlooms in there as well, they are setting fruit now, but 100 day toms can't compete with 55 day ones. They are a foot and a half taller though. outside plants are just starting to grow now, they are following regular schedule.


  • 11 years ago

    It sure looked like I would not be picking by mid May back on April 1st when I transplanted most of my current tomato plants into my first high tunnel. But heat makes all the difference. My soil within the tunnel gets plenty warm, especially with black plastic covering the entire surface but the air temps got much too low almost every night in April and even few nights in May.


  • 11 years ago

    The soil is what killed me last year, the hoophouse is situated basically in a swale. Sadly, its the only ground I have. Learning to work with what I have.

  • 11 years ago

    I still don't know why your soil was wet since my tunnel soil was "Bone-dry" all winter and into Spring. You may have an elevation problem or a simple drainage issue.

  • 11 years ago

    Grow -life,
    That is a success story, indeed.
    I did something similar and extended my season by roughly 45 days.
    Traditional plant out is between Mothers Day and Memorial day here. I started planting out on 8th of April, right around our LFD. I don't have VISIBLE fruits yet ( except on a dwarf) but loads of flowers and buds, some already set. So I am shooting for ripe fruits by July 4th.

    Sey


  • 11 years ago

    The early maturing varieties I'm sure helped. Beaverlodge is always way ahead of others for fruit set, supposedly they can set frut without pollination or something like that. The plants load up with fruit early, which sits green, waiting for warmer weather. The Glaciers don't set fruit so early, but when they do, they ripen faster. in the end, it's a tie. Both are determinates and I'll switch them out to another variety for late summer and fall production, when the GH film goes back on the hoops. The cover is off now.