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daniel_ny

Did you start EARLIER (than usual) this year ?

11 years ago

I planned to, but because of a few projects I have, this year I will BUY the seedlings.

Comments (20)

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Actually I started a couple weeks later. Felt that the plants were just a bit too big prior to planting last year.

    Rodney

  • 11 years ago

    Like you Rodney, I thought I had started a little early last year and some of my plants were in flower at planting time, so I started on April 1 this year. Now I regret it because the joke is on me and the seedlings are taking SO LONG to germinate!

    Linda

  • 11 years ago

    Linda,


    I think the weather we'll be nice very soon, so I think it we'll be ok.

  • 11 years ago

    I started in couple of batches this year- one for myself for early growing and some for plant swap for later giving away. I did set up my WOW earlier and planted out some earlier than last year as an experiment.

  • 11 years ago

    Same here - - put everything off for 2 weeks beyond normal. So far it is proving to have been a good decision.

    Dave

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    You cannot be perfect.
    I started most of mine on March 1st and started planting out around April 8, 9th. But I had a few late starts that are taking their sweet old time to grow under light. They won't be ready til some time in May.. But Not to worry. Right now the temps are on the cool side and growth rate in the garden is pretty slow.

    Sey

  • 11 years ago

    Sure did, couldn't pass up the strange summer-like temperatures we had in February and March. Should have some ripe tomatoes here in the next couple of weeks (knocking on wood).


  • 11 years ago

    Started April 1st and I'm glad I did. I think we're going to have a late plant out date here seeing as we had snow flurries today!

  • 11 years ago

    Yup. It was gloomy and cold and I was a bit bored, so I started some old seeds (found some seed packets when cleaning out the garage) with the idea that hardly any would germinate and I could supplement in a few weeks with fresh seed.
    Darned if nearly all of the seeds germinated. Potted up a few, took cuttings (first time for me, for whatever reason I'd not known you could do that) from the ones that got too leggy too fast, gave a bunch away, planted the sturdiest in the garden safely ensconced in WOW, and I still have something of a tomato forest going on on the deck off the kitchen. If the forecast holds, the weather is supposed to be 60-70 during the day and upper 30/lower 40s at night, which is within the tolerance of the WOW, and I can move the rest of the plants into the cheapo greenhouse at night. Hopefully I can give most of the leftover plants away before they get big enough to need potting up, or I may have to start culling as I'm just about out of pots.
    Next year I'll sate my January/February gardening cravings by planting peppers instead, and maybe just one or two tomatoes to get cuttings from.


  • 11 years ago

    I didn't really start earlier than normal but earlier than I knew I should have. Looks like I will be potting up again.

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Started later start than usual this year, but planting out early never works for me, been bitten too many times to bother trying again anytime soon. I find that i spray less by planting later, mostly because i've dodged the heaviest rain.

    I'll have most of it in the ground by the second week of May, weather permitting. I've been known to plant singles in the first week of June. I prefer to put a little labor into extending the end of the season btw, covering with plastic etc, as opposed to trying to start earlier.

    Steve

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I started tomatoes March 23 and peppers March 7 which were both 10 days later than last year. I started hardening off toms on Tuesday with plans to plant out on May 2. 10 day forecast shows a nice warming trend starting next Wednesday with highs in the upper 70s and lows in the upper 50s. Measured ground temp yesterday and was surprised that it was 68 degrees already on an in-ground bed. May 2-3 weekend is going to be a busy one with toms, beans (Rattlesnake, Provider), sweet corn (Ambrosia), Cucs (Boston pickling, County fair), and yellow squash all going in. Shooting to plant out Peppers and Tomatillos on May 9.

  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago
  • 11 years ago

    And this...


  • 11 years ago

    Hi Daniel - I can't find a place to private message you on Houzz (or I would send this via PM)... Where did you find those bins, what is their capacity, and how long do they seem to last you?


  • 11 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    stringz,

    GRO PRO White Square Grow Pots (Plant Lighting Hydroponics)

    They have 3 sizes:

    • 6 x 6 x 8 - $ 1.19
    • 7 x 7 x 9 - $ 1.90
    • 8.5 x 8.8 x 10 - $ 2.90

    I bought the small size, and I was VERY happy.

    The plastic is sturdy, so it will last many years.

    6 pots of the small size – which I think it’s a good
    size for most of us – fit in the standard tray.

  • 11 years ago

    Yes, I started my seeds earlier than usual (for a swap a zone warmer than me). But, I wish I hadn't because they're too big and leggy. Next year, back to April seeding.


  • 11 years ago

    Thanks Daniel! Great pics, thanks for the info and links!


  • 11 years ago

    Daniel,
    That is a nice and practical mobile plant cart.

    BTW: when are you going to get plants and plant out ?
    How is your LI weather theses days ?
    Ours is fine. Highs getting to low 70s. But the lows are persistently in mid 40s and refuse to go into 50s territory. It should happen early June.

    Sey