In recent years,.....I've always planted my maters in stages....usually because of my "part-time gardening"....starting most of my transplants from seed....but will buy most any heirloom transplantlet....if I find any/one.
I started planting a small percentage early....some years ago. (Always prepared to cover each of the early ones with a 5 gal bucket....if a cold front slips in.)
I haven't had to do that very often lately. I've lost a few plants now & then....no biggie
I meant to say that the soil temp affects the initial burst of growth in early spring....more so than the environment surrounding the plant above ground.....at least I think that's true......but,.....the soil temp is affected by the weather as well (duh!)......seems to me that if, coincidentally,....the weather is favorable after you plant "early"....the soil temp will elevate a little more than if the weather is not favorable for plant growth.....matter of gettin' lucky! ( I wait until the soil temp is up around 70 or more,...before mulching the plants....to avoid cooling the soil too soon)........ not sure if any of that makes much sense
Adding this comment: I think the last avg frost date for my area is Mar.11th....I've been early planting during the 1st week of March for a while (I've tried planting during last week of Feb....but the soil temp is usually still too cool for any significant growth.....a waste of time for me) I do enjoy gambling though!
