Started my tomatoes today!

thesedays · #1 02/18/14, 09:27 PM

By the time they're big enough to transplant, the ground will/should be warm enough here at the boundary of 5a/5b.

Last year, I sold them for $1 each via Craigslist.

kazedwards · #2 02/18/14, 09:44 PM

I started mine yesterday! It is my first year of starting my own! I am in 5b/6a here in MO

thesedays · #3 02/18/14, 10:03 PM

I have them in a Rubbermaid container on a heating pad, and will transplant them to yogurt cups in a month or so. Last year was my first year doing this on a bigger scale; I made about $40 or so doing this, which wasn't enough to reimburse me for the grow light but this year, I should make a profit.

kazedwards · #4 02/18/14, 10:45 PM

Well this year I am just trying to be successful plus I use a gift card that I got for Christmas to buy it. I would love to garden on a larger market scale but that is a very long term goal. I only have a small backyard plot right now and not much more space than that. I am trying to get into seed saving though and would love to breed my own variety.

mommagoose_99 · #5 02/20/14, 07:02 PM

The most important thing is to get bright lights on them as soon as they come out of the soil. and water from below . Often if the leaves get wet the whole plant will damp off.
Linda aka mommagoose and the hightunnelgardenator

thesedays · #6 02/21/14, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mommagoose_99

The most important thing is to get bright lights on them as soon as they come out of the soil. and water from below . Often if the leaves get wet the whole plant will damp off.
Linda aka mommagoose and the hightunnelgardenator

I have a special light that I bought last year. I'll get it out when they sprout.

thesedays · #7 02/22/14, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesedays

I have a special light that I bought last year. I'll get it out when they sprout.

Which they did today, and the light is shining on them as I write this.

When the weather gets warmer, they'll go outside for some real sunlight, and to start them hardening off.

light rain · #8 02/25/14, 09:45 AM

Which varieties did you folks start?
I have a volunteer that came up in a thyme plant that I brought inside last fall. Separated them and both doing ok. I think it is probably a cherry tomato.
I will start my tomatoes around April 1. zone 4 so. WI. Good luck on in the marketplace. I love to hear people making $ on something they enjoy!

arnie · #9 02/25/14, 10:03 AM

I put a new plastic cover on the green house yesterday and am gonna wait a couple weeks if I can before seeding but I am in high hopes of starting a bunch of plants includeing melons to get a jump start on the season .

thesedays · #10 02/25/14, 10:17 AM

I have two heirlooms: Opalka, a paste tomato, and Pink Brandywine. I bought a pack of cherry tomato seeds yesterday, and will start them when space gets freed up in the tote.

I sold every one of the plants, too. This year, I'm going to take orders via Facebook and have them reserved for people who want them. Nice cash income, too.

One woman, who bought 20 plants for her father, said I had the healthiest tomato plants she had ever seen.

Kstornado11 · #11 02/25/14, 12:10 PM

Don't you just love baby tomato seedlings?

Mine are all doing really well, I start them without heat or light in a little mini-greenhouse I made out of an old metal shelf in my south window, covered w/ thick plastic. I start them all in peat pellets in little plastic clam-shell containers from salad & etc. On sunny days it gets up almost to 90 degrees in there, & I keep my home in the mid to upper 60's. Has worked really well for me for several years!

light rain · #12 02/25/14, 01:06 PM

Arnie, what mil plastic and sometime could you post some interior pictures? We use the same cattle panel set up for hoop house that holds wood but it tends to push outward from wood pressure. Do you put a fan inside when it warms up?

Stanimals2 · #13 02/25/14, 04:32 PM

Started mine last night , I have them and peppers on the heat mat just waiting on spring now !!!

COSunflower · #14 03/01/14, 09:51 PM

thesedays - what size Rubbermaid container did you use? Did you drill holes in the bottom? Do you have a photo? I would love to see your germinating set up.

thesedays · #15 03/01/14, 11:07 PM

Just a plain old 30 gallon or so tote, and they're in pots in the tote, separated by type. BTW, I started some cherry tomatoes yesterday too.

The plants I started on the 18th are already starting to get their first true leaves. First time we have a day over 40 degrees or so, I'll take the tote outside and start potting them in yogurt cups.

Sorry, I don't have a digital camera, nor do I know how to use one.

Earthling · #16 03/08/14, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesedays

Sorry, I don't have a digital camera, nor do I know how to use one.

Point it at something and then press the little round button. No charge for that helpful information.

Paquebot · #17 03/09/14, 12:46 AM

I got as far as shoveling over a foot of solid snow off both cold frames today and discovered that the weight had cracked the glass in one. That's the secondary one, anyway, while the main one can handle over 100 varieties. Tonight, got as far as selecting that many new ones to grow and made markers for each. Looking at the forecast for next week, would like about 5 hours of temperatures in the 40s, so my fingers will work, and little or no wind to keep the seeds from blowing away. Last year, it was 129 varieties in one go and took about that long. At the moment, the 100 is still tentative as there are more coming from India as well as a big swap. Room for about 20 "must grow" but anything else will join the 400+ which are waiting their chance to shine.

Martin