We were in zone 5a in Utah, so this is a huge difference for me. Also, our elevation there was 4,600 feet, and here it is 1,750. Much better! We're also 600 miles north of where we were, so you would expect it to be as cold here, but it isn't. I rather enjoy this lack of over several months of 5 feet or more of snow on the ground! We came up here two years ago in January, on vacation, and loved it so much that we bought a house! It was raining here, and we only needed a light jacket. There was a blizzard at home in Utah at the same time. We were sold!
I usually grow all of my other veggies from seed, but tomatoes have always been a complete failure for me. It wasn't really that big of a deal though, since I could get pretty much any plant I wanted in Utah. Here though, we're in the middle of nowhere! There is a Home Depot in the city, which is an hour away, but they are about the only place to get tomato plants. I always buy the usual ones from them (Roma, Sun Sugar, Sweet 100...), but they don't sell much of a variety. Sugary has been my very favorite for years, after buying it at a small nursery in Utah, and I was determined to be able to have them again.
I agree totally about growing something from seed. It always tastes better that way!
