Putting Out the Tomatoes

The chance of frost is edging towards zero so it was time to put out the tomatoes. (Actually, we have a 10 percent chance of frost after May 19 and it doesn't reach zero until mid-June, but good enough for me.) We purchased starts in early April and potted them into five-gallon nursery pots. They had been confined to the garage workbench for the past six weeks on a heat mat and under a grow light. They were getting restless and some had even set fruit. I'm sure they are as happy to be out as I am to have them out. In the past I've planted them out in late April and protected them at night, but they just didn't thrive.

This year we eight selections, including Early Girl, Black Krim, Oregon Spring, and Ruby Dawn. They are all indeterminate tomatoes and I grow them up bamboo poles in 10-gallon grow bags. I line them up on the south side of my house. It's not the most attractive arrangement, but it is the warmest place.