No tomato seed?

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

I forgot to get seed for my Burpees 4th of July tomatoes; so I eventually found that Home Depot supposedly had them locally here in Minneapolis. I pulled on my mask and pulled on my nitrile gloves and headed out to the nearest one. They had restricted customer numbers with a single entry and exit open. One guy counting entries and another counting exits. Masks all over the place as they should have been. I got to the Burpees seed section and found ALL the tomato seeds sold out! I guess if I am going to have 4th of July tomatoes I will have to hope that Bachmans has them again this year and pull on my mask and pull on my nitrile gloves and pay them a visit one of these days. I have been growing them for some years now and really like them.

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Comments (4)

callirhoe123
6 years ago
Just checked the Burpee site and they have the seed.
OldDutch (Zone 4 MN)
Original Author
6 years ago
I know, but the mail order nurseries are so swamped right now that shipping would be unpredictable. I have been trying to grow my own starts this year and I finally convinced myself to go out not expecting them to be sold out. Local Bachman's has carried Burpee plants for a number of years now including 4th of July; so I think I have started plants available. If not I will go with what I do have, which is actually more than I have space for anyway... Bachmans has curbside pickup of online orders; so I might be able to do that with no interpersonal contact, just pop the trunk. When I am alone in my car, I think that is definitely sufficient spacing.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
I would have thought May was a bit late to be direct sowing tomato seeds in MN and your extension service tends to support that as well. Start indoors mid March for transplant out late May.

You are likely better off purchasing the started plants. Just hope your available sources carry the ones you want.
OldDutch (Zone 4 MN)
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
gg, I have three other tomato varieties well started, as well as 4 types of peppers, and 3 of eggplant. I debated with myself a long time about getting started plants of the 4th and finally succumbed. 4th of July is very very early or I wouldn't have considered this late of a start. I am pretty certain that I can get started plants of this variety and now that I have a decent set of masks, I will risk the run to the nursery. All else that I need to plant has already been started in my in home light garden. BTW the 4th is not only one of the earliest to fruit, properly staked it continues to produce all season. I had made peace with myself to forego it this year and then my sisters sent me a set of nice masks. I intend to grow it after all, along with the Glacier, Delicious, and Brandywines already started.

FWIW I intend to set out my tomatoes by mid May and then maybe peppers and eggplant too, with the sweet potatoes probably after Memorial Day, depending on the weather forecasts, maybe earlier. Space will come available as early napa, cabbages, and radishes come out.