Information about tomato sprouts (and other warm weather starts)
This distribution is TENTATIVELY scheduled mid to late May each year, if nighttime temperatures continue to be 50 degrees farenheit.
We chose to plant a diverse variety this year: in part because our summer weather is uncertain. Here’s what they are:
TOMATOES: in general, plant out when nighttime temperatures are reliably at or above 50 degrees F. Apply about ¼ c of complete fertilizer into the soil around each plant, add bone meal if the soil is acidic. Water when dry and fertilize monthly (some instructions recommend fertilizing twice a month). All seeds started between March 3 and March 22.
Slicer: Beefsteak Determinate may be planted in a large pot or raised beds. Seed is from Livingston Seed. 65 days to maturity. Plant 18-24 inches apart. 2-4 feet high.
Slicer: Beefsteak: Indeterminate plants begun March 3 are 90 days to maturity. This seed is an heirloom from Territorial. Red slicing tomato. Plant out about 3 feet apart.
Cherry: Gold Nugget Determinate plants from Territorial Seed can grow in a large pot; 60 days to maturity
Slicer: Siletz: sets fruit in colder weather, and many of the earlier fruits are seedless. 52 days to maturity. Plant two to four feet apart. Certified Organic Seed is from Irish Eyes, and is an heirloom.
Slicer: Summer Feast Rainbow: Indeterminates up to 6 feet high. This packet of heirloom seeds from Renee’s Garden includes Black Krim, Sweet Persimmon (big/meaty/orange); Costoluto (deep-red, juicy for fresh eating.) We recommend you take a significant number of these to increase your chances of getting some of each variety. 80 days to maturity.
Cherry: Sungold F1 Indeterminate from Territorial Seed. 65 days to maturity. Plant 18-30 inches apart.
Cherry: Sweetie from Burpee. Plant 12 inches apart; grows 3-4 feet high. 70 days to maturity. Can plant in a pot.
Cherry: Tasty Treat Indeterminate from Burpee; plant 3-4 feet apart. 65 days to maturity.
PEPPERS: in general, peppers can be grown in pots – which are warmer than soil, generally – and I keep the pots next to a concrete rockery. I also bring them indoors to continue to ripen if the autumn rains arrive before harvest. Watch for and aggressively treat for aphids and slugs. Water generously, but let soil dry out some between watering. (I use saucers under the pots, and tend to water from the saucer so the plant can take up its own water.) They do not like our shorter day-length winters. Excellent source of Vitamins A and C.
Jalapeno hot pepper from Mountain Valley Seed Co. Certified Organic seed. The elongated fruits ripens from green to red and is hottest when fully ripe. Space plants 12 to 36 inches apart; grow about 24 inches. May be grown in pots against a concrete wall in good sun. Will not overwinter outdoors. 70 days to maturity (approximately the end of June.)
Habanero hot pepper (by reputation, 50x hotter than jalapeno); heirloom from Bounty Beyond Belief seeds. Space 18-24 inches apart; plant grows about 36 inches tall but peppers are not large. 98 days to maturity (it will eventually mature to right orange-red but it is spicy even before maturity.) Prefers soil temps of 75 degrees when transplanted. Fertilize when plants are 6 inches tall and again in mid-summer.
Happy Gardening — Dianne with SGGN
