A Zone 5 WS Tomato Surprise

12 years ago

I had big plans for growing tomatoes from seed this year. I wanted to try new varieties and I wanted to grow my own big plants to set out in the garden. I'm also cheap, so I the Wintersown.org tomato seed offer really piqued my interest.

Mostly I thought it was just plain nuts. Who puts tomatoes outside in March in Zone 5? Heck, who puts tomatoes outside in early May in Zone 5? Didn't all the tomato growers I knew start indoors with elaborate light setups? Surely this couldn't work. But I figured since I wasn't paying for the seeds it couldn't hurt to try.

My mother, who lives in Zone 4, was also interested. Sort of. She was mostly interested in the fact that there were a number of short season varieties on the list. We agreed to each put in a request for seeds and that I would start things down here and she would grow on what she wanted at her house.

I now have 16 varieties in my garden and 1 Tiny Tim in a hanging basket. She has 4 varieties at her house.

And did they ever grow! This must have been one of the coldest, longest and wettest springs in ages. I was kicking myself for picking this year to try the WS experiment. But today, June 1st, is right around the time most people in my area put tomatoes out. And mine are gorgeous. Here are three pictures - these are the three biggest plants, but the others are not far behind (except the tiny Tiny Tim). We suffered some minor insect attack - flea beetles?

I'm so impressed by the method and so grateful for the free seeds from Trudi and the guidance on wintersown.org and here.

Thanks! Carrie

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Comments (6)

gardenweed_z6a
12 years ago
Congrats on some great-looking 'mater plants! Yes, WS is one amazing method of growing toms. I only grew two types last year--Stupice and grape--and the plants were the healthiest I've ever seen. One grape tomato plant grew 9 ft. tall by end of season! My skeptical-that-WS-works neighbor walked over often in the evenings once they started to ripen and would stand near the plants chatting while he plucked ripe ones and ate them on the spot. With the drought we had last year they were a lot of work but I enjoyed every red, ripe tomato they produced. I wish you many ripe tomatoes this year to enjoy in your favorite dips/salads/sandwiches/casseroles & sauces!!
mastergarder2003
12 years ago
What did I do wrong I tryed this yr. to Ws. heirloom tomatoes in milk jugs was I supose to tape the cut part? I didnt get anything but moss. so sad and Weeds. I so wanted what you have here.
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gardenweed_z6a
12 years ago
mastergarder2003 - what type of growing medium/potting soil did you use in your milk jugs? Taping the cut edge of the jug simply helps when you need to pick them up and move them for whatever reason. Did the soil in the jugs dry out? Given most everyone's success WS tomatoes, I'd look for other reasons why you didn't get any germination.
kqcrna
12 years ago
Taping the cut part shut also holds humidity, which fosters germination.

My WSown toms are still pretty small, but growing. A few are getting their first blossoms.

Karen
northerner_on
12 years ago
I wish I could WS tomatoes here in our Zone 5A, but we just stay too cold too long. I've tried several times, but the toms. don't have time to set ripe fruit. My indoor-grown toms. are about the size of yours and I am hardening them off. It seems they have become infected with something during the process and I still have two more days to go. I hope to get them in the ground soon. With WS, you avoid all these problems. Very good work,Carrie. Spread th word!!!
cab321
Original Author
12 years ago
I planted my tomatoes in styrofoam cups, stuck a stick in each one and covered with a plastic baggie. The stick kept the baggie from smothering the sprouts. I didn't have a tray to put the cups in, so I semi-buried them in a bed so that they wouldn't blow away.

I planted 2 seeds in each cup, 2 cups of each variety. My germination was spotty. That Brandywine plant is fantastic and I had to cull its cup-companion. But neither of the seeds in the other cup sprouted. I thought I'd treated every cup in the same way.

northerner_on, we have about 135 frost free days here. I just started gardening last year and was looking at blogs for inspiration. Initially I was really disappointed in myself for not being as far along as fellow Zone 5-ers from around then country. This spring it hit me - some Zone 5-ers have growing seasons that are weeks longer than mine! Now I can't understand why Zone is so important for vegetable gardening.