SP>  You may get a real surprise if you keep a diary of both soil and air
SP>  temps, which I urge you to do, Ack. At least till settled summer
SP>  weather arrives. Evaporation of moisture from soggy ground in a warm
SP>  drying wind may cool the temperature as much as 10 degrees below what
SP>  you might expect. And tomatoes planted in such chilly ground may still
SP>  be shivering, while the sun bakes their leaves and stems. For those
SP>  always pushing the date for inground planting (like me), that may
SP>  explain why my early-planted tomatoes don't apparently grow at all for
SP>  a couple of weeks. The ridge planting gets away from this "stalled"
SP>  growth.
Good points Sandra, thank you.
Here in Paul Revere country, there is a local race to see who can
produce the first tomatoes before 4th of July, from plantings done
April 19th (anniversity of Paul's ride to warn the Red Coats were
coming). Some less ethical participates have been known to bury
electric heating cables in their garden beds 8-). I rely on epson
salts in the fertilizer and hormone dust on the blossoms to enhance
setting fruits.
Ciao, Ack.
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 * SLMR 2.1a * An optimist smells the manure and looks for the flowers.
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