I'm experimenting with starting them inside in vermiculite this year. I only grow a few plants every year. My husband and I can only eat so many tomatoes! And I give a lot away.

I did one container each of Snow White, Matina, and Brandywine. The Snow Whites sprouted really fast and were hitting the top of my (too short) container, so I pricked out and potted up a few of those today. Ditto one Brandywine. No sprouts yet on the Matina, though with a 58 DTM, they're usually first to produce ripe fruit.

I'm out of space under lights. Most of it is taken up by coleus which I started from cuttings last fall. I need the weather to warm up so I can kick some of these "kids" out of the house.

Karen

I have blooms on my 'Early Treats'.

Southerners are such showoffs!

Karen

I'm a little late this year. I think I will sow some tomorrow

Zone envy setting in

Karen

My Beefsteaks are not nearly so enviable, those 'Early Treats' were started on Dec. 28th 2013, they spent some time on top of the refrigerator, then under the lights then out to the cold frame. Some of them had blooms by the time I planted them in the garden. The 'Early Treat' has been a very early tomato for me the past three years.

Sprouting tomatoe seeds in vermiculite sounds good----I could do that in the house.
Space under lights or in windows is becoming scarce here too.

Seedfork, up here I can't plant out tomatoes until around mid-May. It's 30° now, and on the 23rd our low is to be 23° again.

Karen

Wow--you are really an early bird, Karen. I'll be starting some this weekend. Can't wait!

because of my lack of full sun .. I usually wait until June 1st to put the maters in the ground.. starting mine this weekend

I started early in case the seeds didn't sprout in vermiculite within a reasonable time. I didn't know if it might take a day, a week, a month... or never. So I figured if I start early and they didn't sprout, I could re-do it in potting mix.

I really, really need to get some of this stuff out of the house!

Karen

never a bad idea to be able to have a backup

Here's what I started this weekend:

For my own garden: (will donate my extra plants to the MG plant sale, as well)
Murhulu
Azoychka
Black & Red Board
Carbon
Henderson's Crimson Cushion
Sweet Ozark Orange
Blue Beauty
Soldacki (a repeat from last year---very prolific and great taste)
Black Krim
Chocolate Cherry (our favorite cherry so far)

For our Master Gardener's Plant sale, I started:
Tumbling Tom red
Oplaka
Soldacki
Chocolate Cherry
Whippersnapper
Sophie's Choice
Black Krim
Silvery Fir Tree
Hans Glebe

Other seed starters are growing for our plant sale: (I was very lucky to get lots of seed starters volunteer this year)
Orange Minsk
Purdens Purple
Napa Grape
Beefsteak
Supersweet 100's
Early Girl
Juliet grape
Jelly Bean
Big Boy
Santa Maria
Black Mountain Pink
Assorted peppers and herbs

Can't wait to hear what everyone else is getting started!

In addition to the tomatoes, I started several flats of herbs. Total of 12 flats started this weekend....probably 2 more flats within the next few weeks. I really hope the weather cooperates this year so I can get all of these plants outside in a timely manner. There will simply not be enough room under the lights once things have to be transplanted into 3 or 5 inch pots. Keep you fingers crossed for me

Good going, Linda!

The coleus that I started from cuttings last fall keep hitting my lights, so I chop them off. A few are just getting (poor) window light now, and suffering for it. I need to get these kids out of the house! but it's supposed to snow on Tuesday....

Karen

I know, Karen...we're scheduled for snow on Monday evening. This winter just will NOT end

My first to show this year is Tumbling Tom Yellow. I don't recall actually asking for the yellow, but it's what I received. Those seeds sprouted in just two days. I'm still always amazed by how fast they can be! They're liable to be pretty tall and skinny by the time I can get them outdoors.

That's for sure with this everlasting winter

Karen

Same here. It just won't end. I have some peppers up and will seed the tomatoes tomorrow

Another inch or two of snow tonight and a low in the teens tomorrow night

I broke down a bought a cheapie little mini greenhouse today
http://www.lowes.com/pd_404388...
In a few days the temps look better, then I'm going to put that little greenhouse on my deck and tie it to the rail so it doesn't blow away. Hopefully it won't just self destruct because it's pretty flimsy. I just really have to get some of this stuff out of here and the weather just isn't cooperating.

Karen

Keep us posted and show pictures of how you use it. I think you are going to really enjoy it and wonder why you haven't have one for years. I know it looks cheap and flimsy, but I really think the plants are going to do so much better when they are out getting more sunlight. I have a few home made cold frames and moving plants out from under the lights and out into the sunlight is so much better for them. You might need some type of cover (blanket etc.) on colder nights, and never forget to vent it on warm days. You can get a cheap thermometer and place inside it. When the outside temp is over 40 degrees you may have to vent it to keep it from overheating. Keep a close eye, one missed day of venting on a warm day can wipe out all your plants.