I'm wondering if it's a good strategy to put heirloom tomato seeds directly into the ground as the weather heats up. Would this work well, or are there better options for planting?
3 Answers
It really depends on how much seed you've got and your growing conditions. I've seen folks in my area (Zone 8b) direct seed around mid-March. While nowadays most of us use transplants, direct-seeding can yield plants with deeper taproots, which might help them in the long run. Not sure about the yield differences, but for home gardeners, it might not make a big difference either way.
Your planting strategy will definitely hinge on your climate zone and growing season length. I'm in 7b, and if I wait until April or May to plant, my tomatoes won't mature in time, and I'll be waiting until October for any fruit! So timing is key!
If you're in a warm enough climate, direct sowing is definitely possible. I get volunteer tomato plants popping up each year from squished tomatoes that dropped in my garden last fall. But if you're too far north, they might not grow much before summer ends. It's all about your local climate!