| Growing tomatoes is a popular hobby, and there | | | | tomatoes from seeds or by transplanting |
| is lots of tomato gardening tips and advice out | | | | greenhouse plants whenever you want to! The |
| there. You must be sure you are reading advice | | | | local gardening store, or nursery will have all sorts |
| about the climate you live in if you are wondering, | | | | of tomato gardening tips for you that are geared |
| "When should I plant tomatoes?" General care and | | | | for your particular no-frost climate. |
| maintenance advice works for anyone, anywhere, | | | | Anyone from hardiness zones where the last |
| but different parts of the country are divided up | | | | frost isn't until late April, May or early June can |
| by the USDA into hardiness planting zones. This | | | | enjoy growing tomatoes from seeds only if you |
| information is a valuable detail to know and | | | | begin them indoors and plant outdoors when that |
| understand, and will be discussed here. | | | | magic no-frost date comes. Otherwise, you will |
| You have got to be aware of your hardiness | | | | transplant your tomato plants grown in a |
| planting zone or you can be in trouble. These | | | | greenhouse when that date arrives. To find out |
| zones are based on normal winter temperatures. | | | | your hardiness zone, search online or go to the |
| Each zone is organized around the usual winter | | | | United States National Arboretum Website |
| temperatures that are 10 degrees higher(or | | | | Folks do not always think about the effect that |
| lower) than their nearby zones. They use winter | | | | the sun has on a recently transplanted tomato |
| temperatures since trees and shrubs must be | | | | plant. It is another aspect of when I should plant |
| able to live through winters and annual flowers | | | | tomatoes to think about. The hot sun can make a |
| and vegetables should not be planted until all | | | | new seedling shrivel up in front of your very eyes |
| danger of frost is gone. | | | | if you are not careful. Hazy days work the best, |
| The most valuable hardiness zone information on | | | | or coming up with some kind of temporary shade |
| the subject of tomatoes is when that magical | | | | for a day or two. If you use good tomato |
| date for the last frost is. For instance in the Mid | | | | watering practices you can prevent them from |
| Atlantic states it is early May, but in Upstate New | | | | drooping away, but the sun will still deplete energy |
| York it will be nearer to June. Tomatoes need | | | | needed to send energy to nurturing the |
| warm soil to grow. The tomatoes themselves will | | | | developing plant. |
| not really grow until the overnight temperature is | | | | To compare hardiness planting zones for deciding, |
| in the 60's, There are some clever tomato | | | | "When I should plant tomatoes?" is most useful |
| gardening tips for beating the system and plant a | | | | for getting the last frost date. Then if you are |
| week or two earlier, but you should not push it | | | | growing tomatoes from seeds or transplanting |
| much earlier than that. | | | | nursery plants you will get them in at the right |
| If you live in a place that either gets no frost or | | | | time. This among other useful tomato gardening |
| the temperature only goes below freezing in | | | | tips will get you off to a good start. |
| January or early February, you can be growing | | | | |