WX forecast permitting, our tentative tomato plant out plans are: Batch #1: 4/16, Batch #2: 4/30, Batch #3: 5/14. All subject to change.

Shell 6A

My main batch that I sowed on St. Patty's day just started to sprout yesterday. I have a few that I started a week earlier too. I won't be planting any out until at least 4/25.

I planted out last Sunday - we are just at the tail end of some storms here in Santa Cruz and are supposed to be starting our normal warmer spring weather - I doubt we will get any significant cold snaps now.

Last year I waited until May and by the time the plants were starting to try to set fruit we had our hot summer weather followed by cold fog and we never got decent fruit set - just tons of vigor.

This year I am hoping that an earlier plant out will change that...

TODAY IS THE DAY .

Plant out time !

Now it is warming up ( @ 38F) .I think we won't see any 30s this spring. The lowest of lows in the 15 day forecast is 49F. April 10 being our average LFD, it is statistically unlikely for a frost to happen.

Sey

Maybe I should plant out too!!!!!! My average LFD is April 15. Look at my forecast!

Just Kidding. No hurry here. Still thinking the 1st batch goes in the ground 4/16. I think that's risky enough.

Shell 6A

I think you can plant out too, Shell.

The lowest in your 15 day forecast is 44F and that is just fine . Anything above 32 won't harm tomatoes. Contrary to popular belief tomatoes are pretty tough and cold tolerant.

OK. Here are some of my before and after pictures.

my pepper seedlings

Tomatoes (from first batch) and eggplants

Tomatoes, second batch: To be planted in 2 weeks

In the upper section, beyond garlic : Tomatoes , peppers and eggplants

Top : salad garden : Bottom : peppers and eggplants

Wishing you a nice plant out weather.

sey


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I hear ya Sey. It's just that I think the probability = 1 (for the last 4 years) that there's going to be a 30 degree or lower event in April based on the historical data.

The goods news is that all the potatoes, cabbage, radishes, carrots, romaine lettuce, spinach and leaf lettuce are in.

BTW: You've got some healthy looking pepper plants. I've got 80+ in process but they're little babies under the lights right now. Your garlic looks great too.

Shell, I think you know your climate better than anybody else. Do as you feel comfortable.

Thanks for the complement. Garlic was the first thing that I planted in my new garden. That was back in November , just before Thanksgiving.. Not much , just a token. I did not have enough spaced prepared then to plan more. I usually plant over 100 of them.

I also have little bit of each : carrots, cilantro, lettuce (various varieties/colors ) , parsley, chives, scallions, spinach, radishes, onions (from set) and sweet peas growing nicely. We are harvesting radishes, spinach and parsley.

Have a great season !

sey

Sey .... we have some of almost everything as well. Here's a couple of our garlic beds.

Shell 6A

Looking nice, Shell.

After planting out my first batch of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, I planted followings , from seed in another location :

- CORN, BEAN, MELON, WATERMELON, CUCUMBER . sort of a 3 sisters arrangement. That was 2 days ago.

I have 4 tobacco seedling that I will plant out once they get bigger.

Thats all, folks.

Amazing Silvery Fir Tree.

One of my SFTs has already fruits on it . It has always given me the first ripe tomato of the season, ever since I started growing it. Maybe 5 or 6 other varieties have flowers. SunGold is leading in that group.

FINAL FROST KILL TALLY

At first it appeared that I was going to have a big casualty. But not so quick ! Four of them with toasted growing tip, came back to life and are growing side branches very nicely. . So I ended up losing only 4 out of 12 plants.

sey

Here are some the survivors of my adventurism.

Here are few from after freeze planting:

SunGold