New approach - who can put tomatoes in by May 15?

[JWK]

OK, so the thread on NE Nevada was interesting and helpful to my wife and me. So my wife suggests I start a new thread based on my gardening desires. I want a longer growing season, plain and simple. I don't want to need a greenhouse to do it.

So here is the question, plain and simple: Who can put tomatoes in the ground outside by May 15th? By May 7th? Earlier?

Here we have to wait until June 1st. Our summers are just too cool and short for us.

Thanks!

[Danaus29]

If I cover them with a plastic milk jug with the bottom cut off I could set them out in early May. We can get frost as late as May 31 so I have to be prepared for frosts.

[momtaylor]

We are in se NM (Carlsbad) and our tomatoes are usually in the ground by the end of March. We also have fresh tomatoes thru the end of Nov usually. We have em started inside right now and they are doing great.

[Callieslamb]

I put mine out May 11th last year. I got really tired of their mess in the house. I put down black plastic, cut holes, planted tomatoes and covered them with clear plastic on hoops. I put out 65 tomatoes and didn't lose any of them. I plan on repeating it this year. I don't know if I got ripe tomatoes earlier, but it did get me out in the garden.

When TN, I put them out April 15th....alas.....

[FarmboyBill]

If I dont have mine out by next month, this time, somebody better check on me, Im likely daid

[tyusclan]

We normally put them out around the middle of March, but as goofy as this winter has been we may wait till the first of April. It's been nice the last few days, but we've got another freeze coming the end of the week, and a lot of fruit trees have budded out already.

[samm]

right after Easter
samm

[Windy in Kansas]

Think season extension.

Wall O Water http://foxyurl.com/PB7

Saylor Caps --- well it appears that Saylor Caps are no longer available. http://www.saylorsfarm.com/index.htm

Kozy Coats http://www.millenniumfarms.bizland.com/id9.html

and other methods from low tunnels to whatever.

This site shows a tomato inside of a Kozy Coat inside of a wrapped tomato cage.
http://www.millenniumfarms.bizland.com/id10.html

[wally]

I set my plants the first week of may and have tomatos till 1st of november..normally

[Rainy]

We plant our's around the first of May also. We are in Kansas. I do keep a sheet ready for any unexpected frost.
Linda

[Alice In TX/MO]

Right after Easter in South Texas.

In southern Missouri, we're hoping May 1 this year. Waaay cold winter.

[Starlighthill]

We plan on getting some out earlier than we've tried before. They're started under lights right now. Probably will put them in the old pig pen with plastic down first to warm the soil and straw bales around them in a "U" shape to serve as a heat sink and an anchor for the plastic that we'll have to put over them at night. We will also remember to keep extra plants inside in case this fails. One morning in early June we awoke to about 1/8th inch of ice coating everything.
Starlighthill

[texican]

I thought, from reading your post, you were talking about putting tomatoes in.... the refrigerator, or in canning jars.

This dang old global warming is wreaking havoc with my garden plans... should already have my 'first planting' of tomatoes in the ground. 1/4 of the time, I lose, when planting early... but if they do make, I get tomatoes... If I wait till it's surefire safe, I usually lose 3/4 of them, to drought and insects.

And it's supposed to snow again, tonite and tomorrow. Three times in one winter season.... unheard of....

[duckidaho]

We use wall of water and get them in in mid- May, although we've had snow as late as June 5th. That's in N. Idaho.

[FarmersDaughter]

My tomato plants went into the ground on April 27th last year.

[MariaAZ]

Here in central AZ we can start putting out transplants with protection, but mid March is the usual time. Our tomatoes will go until June or July before the summer heat stops them from setting fruit, at which time we get ready to plant more tomatoes for fall harvest.

[poorboy]

Anyone can, but they May not if they want a crop..to quote my English teacher from the ancient days..I usually plant mine bout tax day here in the Ozarks...Oncet in a while will have to replant but not often..

[mnn2501]

usually mid April, but by July you need to water daily to keep them alive. I'm getting indeterminate tomatoes for 5 or 6 months usually.

[geo in mi]

I put mine in the ground when the water in the lake hits approximately 62 degrees. That's when the bluegills get active in the shallow water. I use the fish heads and entrails in an Indian planting method....(or Native American?)

[GoatsRus]

Here in Middle TN our last frost date is 4/16 and I usually set mine out after that date. They produce until early October.