We all have different opinions. I grow Tumbling Toms outside in Scotland and pass many to friends. I start mine indoors on heated propagators around mid March, then move them to indoor plastic greenhouses. They are still indoors, but after May the children pick them all Summer and love them. If you understand the specific plant and their temperature tolerance level, they will fruit for you and give a lot of pleasure.
I find those predicted frost things pretty useless really. It's very misleading. In Scotland, and probably lots of other parts of the UK, it isn't even the frost that's a problem for tomatoes, it's the length of time that temps stay low. That's far more damaging. Our growing season is much shorter. It's why some plants just don't do well, and it's why it's pointless trying to grow tomatoes outdoors - night time temps in summer are often single figures.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I find those predicted frost things pretty useless really. It's very misleading. In Scotland, and probably lots of other parts of the UK, it isn't even the frost that's a problem for tomatoes, it's the length of time that temps stay low. That's far more damaging. Our growing season is much shorter. It's why some plants just don't do well, and it's why it's pointless trying to grow tomatoes outdoors - night time temps in summer are often single figures.
Apart from the fact the site goes into detail on how to understand predicted frost dates on the landing page - to make them useful to gardeners - the real use is the adjusted timings for sowing and planting. Just click on the relevant veg or fruit once the location is set. It factors in far more than just the predicted frost dates.
There is no doubt at all that for seasoned canny gardeners there is an awful lot they can do to get an early crop. For a beginner though, without large heated greenhouses, the guidance the site provides will save a lot of dead seedlings.
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In Scotland, and probably lots of other parts of the UK, it isn't even the frost that's a problem for tomatoes, it's the length of time that temps stay low. That's far more damaging. Our growing season is much shorter.
It's why some plants just don't do well, and it's why it's pointless trying to grow tomatoes outdoors - night time temps in summer are often single figures.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
There is no doubt at all that for seasoned canny gardeners there is an awful lot they can do to get an early crop. For a beginner though, without large heated greenhouses, the guidance the site provides will save a lot of dead seedlings.