It's time to start seeds indoors for springtime planting. (Interested in swapping? click here.) Before getting to work, though, you should consider past successes and failures. Experts at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County say the only way to control certain diseases, like wilt in tomatoes and mosaic virus on cucumbers, is to stick to resistant varieties.
Vegetable specialists from Cornell University have prepared a list of suggested varieties for 2007 that perform well on Long Island. Recommendations for early tomatoes include Cascade, Sunrise, Early girl or Lemon Boy. For cucumbers, try Marketmore 76, Burpless Hypbrid ll, Orient Express, Spacemaster or Sweet Slice.
For the complete list of suggested vegetable varieties and heirlooms, consult the Nassau County CCE's Home Grounds fact sheet.
Comments (5)
what is the best tasteing
tomato/ disease resistant..
where may I buy seeds or plants ?
Hi, Phil.
Check out the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County's list of suggested vegetable varieties for a list of tomato plants that are recommended for Long Island gardens. The varieties on the list have been chosen for their disease resistance and performance in our local climate.
This year, I'm trying Burpee's Porterhouse Beefsteak Tomato, which promises fruit weighing from two to four pounds apiece! The seedlings I'm growing under fluorescent lighting aren't doing as well as I'd hoped, though. It's too soon to tell whether it's a troublesome variety, or just bad luck.
I've also started San Marzano plum tomatoes from John Schepper's Kitchen Garden Seeds catalog, and those are thriving.
Of course, I won't know for sure which perform better until the growing season gets underway and I'm slicing some for my burger.
In the past, I've had success purchasing plants at Martin Viette Nurseries in Oyster Bay and at Hicks Nurseries in Westbury. Don't forget to look for disease-resistant varieties. Last year, the wet weather contributed to all sorts of nasty blights on my tomatoes that might have been avoided had I followed by own advice.
Good luck!
When does planting season start on Long Island
Well, technically speaking, it's considered safe to plant outdoors after the danger of frost has passed -- no matter where you live. On Long Island, that date usually falls around April 15. I prefer to wait longer, though, to ensure the ground is warm enough and to eliminate the possibility of a freakish late-season cold snap. So I don't recommend planting outdoors before Mother's Day.
Thanks for reading! -- Jessica Damiano
where I can buy vegetable plants beddings in long island or NYC. thanks