I'm rather new to gardening, and would like to start my own seed this year for a vegetable garden. I live in zone 6 (upper-middle Tennessee) Should I have seeds started by now? Thanks in advance.

-- Don Everhart (bullrock@twlakes.net), January 20, 2002

Answers

Hello Don,

I just started my tomato seeds and I live in Southern Missouri, (Ozarks).

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), January 20, 2002.

Don, research when your last frost day in the year is then figure out how long it takes for your plants to grow to transplant size. Plant your seeds so good weather and plant size match.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 20, 2002.

Exactly Mitch. I am so jealous of you southerners. I plant my tomatoes about mid April to plant out 24 May weekend, and then I have to cover for frost. Enjoy your gardens!

-- Bernie from Northern Ontario (Bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), January 20, 2002.

Hi Don, We are in the same area Zone 6 (near Monterey) and I have just planted my broccoli seeds and will put in peppers soon. They seem to take a long time growing. Then another week the tomatoes and flowers. Hope this helps.

-- Rita in Tn (felfoot@twlakes.net), January 21, 2002.

How do you know the zone you're in? I'm in Missouri, and I can't believe you're planting tomato seeds already Ernest? It just snowed the other day. The weather is supposed to get warmer for a few days, but, how can you plant things this early here? I'm confused on this. Diana

-- Diana (rock_hunter83@hotmail.com), January 22, 2002.

I just started my broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, pansies, peppers, and eggplants. I will start my maters later in a week or so. I don't want them getting too leggy before they go outside. I am almost to Missouri and almost to Arkansas, but still live in Oklahoma. I looked in my seed catalogues and it said that I was in the middle between zone 6 and 7. I like to give my peppers a little extra time and also my eggplants. They do seem to take forever to germinate, like someone up there said before! Don't get in too big a hurry....We still have a lot of winter left! It is better to have them a little small and stocky than way too long and spindley. If you just can't resist though....try broccoli, and the other types of cabbage family plants. You can put them out lots earlier!

-- Nan (davidl41@ipa.net), January 25, 2002.