Question by ktrio730: Is it too late to plant seeds for my garden on long island or should I just buy established plants?
I have a bunch of plant seeds for things such such as tomatoes, peppers, and pumpkins. is it too late for me to plant the seeds or should I just buy the small plants they sell at places like home depot and plant them in the garden? thanks.
Best answer:
Answer by waters
check the back of the seed packet for the days to maturation information. If you have that many days before first frost in your area then seeds are still ok. I would still get one or two tomato plants so you can start enjoying them sooner while you wait for your seeded plants to start producing.
What do you think? Answer below!
It’s pretty late to be planting tomato and peppers from seeds. I would suggest just buying the plants at this point. You need a good 6 weeks to grow them before transplant. Pumpkins are fast growing and they can still be started now…but do it soon. I live in zone 4(Minnesota) and just planted pumpkin seeds in pots, with plans to put them out in early June. You can also direct seed them were you are now.
I too waited late to plant seeds, but have found that in this area(eastern PA) it is paying off well. I planted the bulk of my seed within the past two to three weeks and everything is growing like mad. I have fifteen tomato plants already to transplant within another two weeks and five mature tomato plants(bought them at about 6 inches tall) doing well that I planted at the same time. Spinach seed is spread all over the place and taking over, Squash plants about 7 inches tall in 3 weeks, etc, etc. Get your seeds out now without delay and you will see a late summer harvest with the weather we are having. You can offset doing without through the summer by planting some starter plants along with your seeds. All my seed has sprouted from three weeks ago and with this constant rain weekly it has turned into the best year I have seen in years.
Your cutting it close. You can plant your tomatoes, and pumpkins seeds (if it ever stops raining), but you’re better off buy pepper seedling because pepper seeds take a long time to germinate. Your tomato plants will obviously start producing late, but that’s a good thing. You’ll be the only one in the neighborhood that still has tomatoes on the vine in November, and the first week, or so in December. Don’t forget we’re in zone 7.
I live in Dix Hills, and have four vegetable gardens – none of which are planted yet. I normally start planting the first week in June. I start all my vegetables at the end of March in my greenhouse.
You need to look at how long it takes the seed to germinate to the time it matures. If it says 21 days to germinate and 69 days to mature to bear fruit, it will be 90 days from today. You will be harvesting in late August.
Most people start getting tomatos in July when they plant established plants. The question to you is – can you wait until late August to start harvesting your crop?