By Katie Markheim, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
When to Start Plants – While cool-season crops can go in the ground in late April, it is best to wait until after our last frost to plant transplants of warm-season crops into the garden. It takes about 6-8 weeks to grow tomatoes and peppers from seed, so count backward from Mother’s Day to determine when to start the plants indoors. Since Mother’s Day this year is on May 12, you could have kicked off the indoor growing season for tomatoes and peppers in early March. Peppers can be planted 7-8 weeks prior to outdoor planting with tomatoes 6 weeks prior to planting as they will grow faster.Â
Don’t fret, if you missed the indoor planting date or have found it difficult to keep those seedlings alive, plants for purchase from a retailer or local grower may be your solution.