Wait! Don't Plant Your Tomatoes Yet

Spring seems to have sprung and officially, it did begin on March 20th.  We are about to have some beautiful warm days and it has many folks itching to start their spring/summer vegetable garden.  However, it is still too early to plant tender vegetable plants, like tomatoes, bell peppers and squash. 

 Why is it too early?  I am sure that you have seen these vegetable plants for sale at local garden centers, but Mother Nature missed the memo.  In northwest Georgia, our average last frost date is in mid-April!  Sure, it jumps around a bit:  Last year it was on March 12th.  In 2010-March 7^th, 2009-April 8th, 2008-March 25th, 2007-April 9th.  Back in 2005, our last frost was April 24th.  So the recommendation for spring planting of frost tender crops is to wait until at least April 15th and in rare years that might still be too early! 

Don't rely on what you see on store shelves to dictate your planting schedule.  They will be happy to sell you tomato plants whenever you want to buy them, and maybe they will sell them to you twice if you plant too early!  Not only do you risk a freeze if you plant these tender vegetables too early, you usually will not see much growth until soil temperatures warm up to about 60 degrees, which can take until May in the northwest part of Georgia. 

So what vegetables should you wait to plant?  Tomatoes, beans, okra, squash, corn, eggplant, and peppers are among the popular summer crops that you need to wait to plant.  As a wise old county agent once told me, "Pay your taxes, THEN plant your tomatoes."  If that helps you remember the important April 15th date, then take note.