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when to start seeds for tomatoes in houston

5 years ago

Hello,

I started my garden last year and i had so many tomato seeds planted directly into the garden in april, but i didnt get any tomatoes from them. I just wanna start ahead now. Please somebody let me know when should i start planting seeds in the ground for tomatoes in houston, tx??

Comments (12)

  • 5 years ago

    I don't live in the area, but I watch a Youtube gardening channel - Scott Head. He is in that area. He has already planted out his tomatoes.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Hate to tell you, but here in Texas, tomato cultivation is a race. They go in the ground (never direct seeded, but as seedlings or small plants) as soon as frost can be avoided. In Houston, that would be late February. A month ago. Yes, the ground is plenty warm by then. Get them in as early as possible, because when the heat turns on (daytime temps in the 90sF, and nighttime temps in the 70sF) fruiting shuts off, and you're done for the season. That would be July-ish. So you want them to be bearing fruit as early as possible. That's why you don't direct-seed. Because you want mature plants as early as possible.

    My tomatoes are about two feet tall right now. I'll get production in May and June. From what you describe, it's pretty clear why you didn't get any tomatoes last year.

    You could try planting out in July for a fall crop, that matures when the temperatures go down, but the heat is rough on seedlings.

    You might start thinking about peppers or eggplants.

  • 5 years ago

    Should i get small plants that you get from home depot? Will i still get any tomatoes? Or i still wont get any tomatoes? Actually i was out of country just came back yesterday.

  • 5 years ago

    You've lost more than a month, but you can try. As I said, I get tomatoes in May and June. You might still be good for June if you get good-sized plants in the ground now.

  • 5 years ago

    Its late but many people plant this late. I planted some of mine the week after valentines day and now have tomatoes on the vines. Seemed weird planting the next weekend after having 14 degrees but it worked.


    You have a much better chance of having a decent harvest than last year. Sometimes you have to just plant when you can. Also, get fast maturing plants like early girl, better boy or celebrity. It is too late to grow some of the late maturing heirlooms.

  • 5 years ago

    I guess i will plant next season in the fall. Can somebody tell me exact date to plant seeds for the fall? So I’m not late and right on time to have to tomatoes. Also which type of tomato seeds should i get? I want the ones that we usually get in the local grocery stores.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Makes no sense to plant in the fall. If you want a spring crop, you need to plant in late January, to put out at the end of February. If you want a fall crop (which I've never really done), I suspect you need to plant in June and plant out in July, hoping for production in October and November.

    There are zillions of kinds of tomatoes, and the ones you get in grocery stores are bred for transport and storage. Not flavor. You might want to start trying for cherry tomatoes. Those are a little easier. Get seeds at your local nursery.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    It would be a bummer to miss another planting season!

    Find an independent nursery (not a big box store) because they usually carry larger plants. But make sure they are in a large container (and check to make sure the pot is not filled with matted or circling roots).

    Get something easy and tasty like Sungold cherry tomatoes. This way you get to enjoy some tomatoes in June while you plan for next year.

    There are so many varieties -- some are good for slicing and eating fresh, while some are good for sauce only. Consider how you want to use them before you buy seeds.

    Here we start tomatoes inside in December and plant them out in February (with protection at night). We cut down tomatoes in early July because they shut down in the heat. I shade them and water them all summer and, if I'm lucky, they come back to life after Labor Day.

  • 5 years ago

    Naz, you are still in the window that Agrilife suggest planting tomatoes. But instead of getting 2 months of tomatoes you will probably only get one month. I would still plant tomatoes if I were you. Cherry tomatoes would probably produce for about 45 days. Just stay with the main type of productive tomatoes such as Better Boy, Celebrity, and early girl (all medium to large size). Sweet 100's cherry tomatoes do well in early summer heat also.


    Planting from seed this time of year is probably a lost cause, but planting transplants should still produce a crop, just not as big.


    For fall tomatoes plant last week in June. Plant transplant out from July 15 to August 1st. I have not had much luck will fall tomatoes. I get them to set but they do not want to ripen. I gave most to a coworker for fried green tomatoes.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Naz, your advice here is completely consistent. You can still get some tomatoes, if you go get large ones to put in the ground. A foot tall, ideally. Also, you'll do yourself a favor if you go with cherries. As noted, Sweet100s work well. Large tomatoes may get you well into July, because they would have set in May or June, and just take a while to get big.

    But you need to plan better for next year. Forget about direct seeding outdoors. Depending on how big you want them to be when you plant out, you should seed indoors under lights in late December or January, and plant out in mid-February, being careful to protect in case of an errant freeze. Remember, this is a RACE. It seems bizarre, but our tomato growing season is actually somewhat shorter than up north. Our growing season for everything else is longer.

  • 5 years ago

    Thank you so much everyone but im going to skip tomatoes this year i guess and plant something else that i will get crop from. I planted last year too this late n didn’t get anything it was just a wastage of everything. So next time i will be on time. I actually went out of country so couldn’t plant.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    With regard to fall tomatoes, it's my impression that down here the fall growing season is shorter than the spring growing season. That is, in spring, there are more days after last frost and before the heat sets in than there are after the heat ceases and before the first frost. That is, fall falls faster than spring springs. I understand that it can be done, but it takes luck.

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