Without a doubt, the tomato is the gateway into vegetable gardening. Tomatoes are the most popular plant grown by home gardeners, and I understand why: they're easy to care for, and so versatile! While I love tomatoes in salsa, sauces and ketchup, I rarely eat one off the plant. I have a daughter like me. And I have a son who eats them like apples. He loves them in any form. My husband loves them on sandwiches.
When we found this house, we fell in love with all the natural light in the kitchen and the room off the kitchen, which we affectionately call the sunroom, thanks to the wall of west facing windows. It was perfect for seedlings.
Last year, I was a bit behind on starting my seeds since we were just moved and still getting settled. Then spring took it's time showing up. Normally, seeds need started about 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. We are in Zone 6, and that's usually around the first week of May for us. If you have the space to let seedlings grow 8 weeks indoors, I strongly encourage you to do so. They'll be as big as the transplants you can get at the store, and more ready to face the outdoor elements.
Not starting soon enough was my first mistake last year. The other was thinking I could get by with only the south facing kitchen windows and the west facing sunroom windows to grow seedlings in. I used no supplemental lighting, and many of my seedlings became "leggy" and I spent a great deal of time turning and moving trays of seedlings around to make sure they didn't stretch too far to the light. It took longer for them to get strong stems.
This year, with Robb as my enabler, I added more portable greenhouses to put inside, and took a trip to Home Depot to get shop lights. They have made ALL the difference. The seedlings are only in their second week, and some have 2 sets of true leaves already. Their stems are thicker and stronger than ever. And it's not just tomatoes that are rewarding me for the investment of the supplemental lighting! I won't ever start seeds without the extra light again. Seedlings need about 14 hours of light a day, and March in Ohio just doesn't get that. The daylight balanced fluorescents are working miracles around here.
Next week, I will be potting up the seedlings, moving them in t larger pots where they'll be able to be fertilized and establish a strong root system before transplanting them outside when the weather allows. From there, depending on if they are determinate or indeterminate, I will be getting their supports ready, working on pinching out suckers, and using my tried and true fish fertilizer to help them get the best start they can.
Robb has it in his head that I should do some videos on growing tomatoes and other educational things going on here at the farm this year. It's not a bad idea, although I hate how I look on camera and am a little scared of public speaking. However, I would love to see you all take a step to growing some of your favorite veggies and fruits, and if doing videos to help you learn how is what needs to happen...well, honey, get out your camera! Mama O is getting ready for her close up!
In the meantime, is there anything you'd always wanted to know about growing tomatoes or some great thing you've learned to help you succeed with your own crops? Post it here, and we can all learn from each other!
When we found this house, we fell in love with all the natural light in the kitchen and the room off the kitchen, which we affectionately call the sunroom, thanks to the wall of west facing windows. It was perfect for seedlings.
Last year, I was a bit behind on starting my seeds since we were just moved and still getting settled. Then spring took it's time showing up. Normally, seeds need started about 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. We are in Zone 6, and that's usually around the first week of May for us. If you have the space to let seedlings grow 8 weeks indoors, I strongly encourage you to do so. They'll be as big as the transplants you can get at the store, and more ready to face the outdoor elements.
Not starting soon enough was my first mistake last year. The other was thinking I could get by with only the south facing kitchen windows and the west facing sunroom windows to grow seedlings in. I used no supplemental lighting, and many of my seedlings became "leggy" and I spent a great deal of time turning and moving trays of seedlings around to make sure they didn't stretch too far to the light. It took longer for them to get strong stems.
This year, with Robb as my enabler, I added more portable greenhouses to put inside, and took a trip to Home Depot to get shop lights. They have made ALL the difference. The seedlings are only in their second week, and some have 2 sets of true leaves already. Their stems are thicker and stronger than ever. And it's not just tomatoes that are rewarding me for the investment of the supplemental lighting! I won't ever start seeds without the extra light again. Seedlings need about 14 hours of light a day, and March in Ohio just doesn't get that. The daylight balanced fluorescents are working miracles around here.
Next week, I will be potting up the seedlings, moving them in t larger pots where they'll be able to be fertilized and establish a strong root system before transplanting them outside when the weather allows. From there, depending on if they are determinate or indeterminate, I will be getting their supports ready, working on pinching out suckers, and using my tried and true fish fertilizer to help them get the best start they can.
Robb has it in his head that I should do some videos on growing tomatoes and other educational things going on here at the farm this year. It's not a bad idea, although I hate how I look on camera and am a little scared of public speaking. However, I would love to see you all take a step to growing some of your favorite veggies and fruits, and if doing videos to help you learn how is what needs to happen...well, honey, get out your camera! Mama O is getting ready for her close up!
In the meantime, is there anything you'd always wanted to know about growing tomatoes or some great thing you've learned to help you succeed with your own crops? Post it here, and we can all learn from each other!