Cold snap setback -- Curses! Foiled Again!

I put WAAAAY too much faith in my little plastic-coated greenhouse shelves, and my poor Amish paste tomatoes paid the price. This first year in my seed starting education has been an experience in what NOT to do. I give new meaning to the expression: Learn from your mistakes. LOL At least I can say that next year can only get/be better. (Hey Kim, you bake yours this year and I freeze mine. Between the two of us, there's a happy medium, eh? : )

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• seed starting
• gardening
• lasagna gardening
• self-sufficiency
• homesteading
• hobby farming
• zone 5 gardening
• preparedness
• prepper
• economic collapse

[Hopefl1]

Most of them look savable.

[Michigansnowpony]

@Hopefl1 - I think I'm going to come out with about half of them, maybe 75%. Luckily, I have the little back-up seedlings.

[fatpius]

think most of your tomatoes will make it...just re-bury deeper. those 'cold frames??'

are very neat. where did you get them? are they expensive. (looks a LOT easier

than recovering w/plastic nightly;)

[Michigansnowpony]

@fatpius - I got the larger of the two on clearance last year from our local farm store for about $30. The smaller of the two was a display model from this Spring that I also got on sale (because it was the last one) from the same store for $15! They work pretty well for what they are. I am going to be fitting them with casters so that next year, I can roll them in and out of the garage.

[Richardofdanbury]

Cut them down to about a 1/4 to 1/2 of the soil line. They may make it because the roots haven't been frosted.

Richard of Danbury

[Michigansnowpony]

@Richardofdanbury - I normally bury my tomato starts deep, so

will do. I think I'm going to be able to use at least half of them.

[raskel71]

Snowpony, great vids, where have you been hiding? Great family. Thanks for your contribution to help us that desire to be self sufficient. As a newbe I really appreciate your contribution. Unfortunately (maybe fortunately) many of us will need to provide for ourselves, and we have no clue how to live without the credit cards & big stores. People like yourself are aware of the need to be independent & provide for your family. Thank you sharing your experience and advice with us.

[heartache2010]

This weather is crazy!!!! So sorry about the tomatoes!!! Michigan weather...go figure!!! 90's this week!!!! Perseverance will prevail I am sure!!!

[Michigansnowpony]

@looseal22 -- yeah, if they are the bare-root crowns, they are pretty tough. The plant starts, however, tend to be more fragile in my experience.

[Michigansnowpony]

@woodswoman783 - I've decided / learned that I don't need to start tomatoes until April and then just put them in the garden at a smaller stage. The smaller seedlings in my greenhouse "thing" weathered the cold (no pun intended) just fine, but the larger plants couldn't take it.

[Michigansnowpony]

@outofworkbum - Yes, there's Praxxus throwing tomato starts away on his recent video and here I am with my wilt-y ones. This has sure been a learning experience!

[outofworkbum]

that's unfortunate, happens to me every year I end up buying tomatos from the nursery I hate it...I need Praxxus5517 the tomato whisperer 's help

[woodswoman783]

I'm so sorry. I've been scrambling the last few days to keep everything from freezing. With all this wonderful weather I've gotten waaayyy ahead of being wise. This cool down is a pain. I'm sorry about your amish paste-they are such sensitive little things. I hope at least some of them bounce back. Good luck.