Early plant out??

gssgarden · March 29, 2017

Is anyone in zone 7 or the South planting out early? Down here in Charlotte, I don't see a frost in sight.
Usual last frost date is April 15th or so.
I'm in raised beds so dirt is more than ready.
Lowest temp for the next 10 days is 46 and that's just in night. Day Temps will be in the high 70's.

Thoughts?

Greg

weaselbean · March 29, 2017

I'm near Greensboro and was wondering the same. Really don't think it is worth the gamble. Weather around here can change on a dime and you really don't gain a lot putting them out early in my opinion.

bigpinks · March 29, 2017

Might have to after getting in too big of a hurry seeding my plants. They should be ready by first of May which is 15-20 days before the last frost here in SC Ohio. Once every other yr I wind up spraying off the entire crop due to seeing frost on roof tops and in the lawn. I've never had frost damage though. Recent yrs early springs give us a chance for an early start but its rolling the dice as I've seen frost on May 22 and 18th that I can remember vividly. Hope for the best but don't count on it.

garyjr · March 29, 2017

I am in Central VA and usually plant out April 25-30, but it has been so mild this year I plan on April 15 which is our last frost date. And it just so happens to be a Saturday..

oakley · March 29, 2017

You usually do not gain much but time management. Staring at a prepped bed on a Sunday
afternoon aching to plant...with a ten day forecast that looks perfect...overcast and good temps.
No major storms. A week or three from your safe date, go for it.

Full work week ahead. I plant, just a minor amount. As long as a plan is in place just in case the
weather turns. Back up plants helps that decision. (need to cover if some crazy cold comes along)

Often the seedlings get so advanced and a mess to tend, so in they go. Hardened off and waiting.
Different growing zone here but planting early is similar. I've gained 4 to 6 weeks at either end since ten yrs ago.

Back in the day it was June7 tom planting.

. First fall frost August 25.

The past 5-6 yrs i've planted mid May and had no Fall frost until mid October....

We work full time so no tears shed if it does not go well. Planting early does not gain much usually.
Planting later with warmer soil will often catch up quickly and surpass the early planting in my experience.

Last year i planted 25% early, then went out of town for 6 weeks. The leggy starts in a sunny barn window
with a rigged wicking system survived. barely. Those leggy barn starts did very well. The early plantings
suffered but did fine also. One of the best seasons in recent memory. Luck and risk. I take risks because of
lifestyle and choices.

shelleybean · March 29, 2017

Greg, my forecast is just like yours. I've started hardening the tomatoes and peppers off and I don't have any worries about another frost. I have raised beds, too, so the soil is a little warmer.

As for the cool weather veggies, lettuce and kale seedlings look happy. I sowed sugar snap peas, beets and green onions and they're all starting to come up now. I'm happy to get the season started!

Gardeneer · March 29, 2017

I am farther south in NC ( West Columbus County , zone 8a ) and I have been planting out .
Our LFD is around April 10 and the 15-days-forecast ( to April 12) shows no lows under 51F.
Most of my plants are now either flowering or have bids.
The bottom line is that you have to be able to take a calculated risk ( based on probability and statistics ) and/or be prepared to protect your plants in the worse scenario. I did just that by planting some on March 7th and then we got killing freeze ( on 3/14 , 15 , 16 ) and I lost 5 plants ( about 25% loss). So I did not come out as a winner but my loss was well within what I could take.
Average Frost Dates is a statistical game played on the past. It does NOT guarantee that the future will be the same. AN average man buys 3.5 pairs of jeans per year. I wanna meet that man to find out how he does it.

Spartanburg123 · March 29, 2017

I planted out 18 today in the ground, some of which also have flowers. I have another 5 in pots, and 6 pepper plants. I decided to go for it this year- Gardeneer has led the way for us Carolina growers and I'm falling right in line

gssgarden · March 29, 2017

Been hardening off for few days so a few more to go before they're ready. I honestly think I'm gonna go for it over the weekend. Of course I'll triple check the weather.

Greg

AlittleSalt · March 29, 2017

I planted tomato plants out March 16-20th which is the average last frost here in zone 8A Texas. I didn't have much choice because the plants were getting too big for their party cups. The ground temperature is 77F at 4" deep. I think ground temperature is just as/or maybe even more important as air temperature. I have read that tomato plants can be planted out in soil temperature of 55F, but they do not grow much until the soil warms up.

Sometime this weekend, I will plant summer squash (Yellow crookneck and Zucchini) and okra. It is early for okra here, but with the soil temperature being so warm - I think they'll germinate. Okra prefers soil temperature to be between 75 and 90F at 4" deep. However, I have read that it can germinate in soil as cool as 60F. I just remembered the site http://growingtaste.com/vegetables/okra.shtml "The minimum soil temperature for okra seed germination is about 60° F., but the optimum germination temperature is 95° F. The temperature really makes a difference: at soil temperatures of about 60°, germination takes 27 days, whereas at about 75°, germination may take only 13 days, and in ideal conditions perhaps a week."

BigVanVader · March 29, 2017

It looks clear for weeks here so I'm going to plant tomatoes this weekend.

Gardeneer · March 30, 2017

I think the danger of any serious frost is over. I just checked my 15 day forecast extending to April 13th. All systems GO.

Yesterday I planted a row of ten (10) plants for STRINGING - LOWERING - LAYERING. my first time to try this support system.
Anyway, back to planting:
I have still about 20 more to go but they can wait . They are less than 8" tall. I'll plant them whenever I am not too lazy.

I have also direct sowed : CORN, BEAN , MELON, WATERMELON, CUCUMBERS. they are just about to poke though the soil.
AH ! my cole crops are growing like crazy. can't keep up with. Gotta give some to the neighbors.

ilex · March 30, 2017

I plant April 10-15 and I'm in zone 9. We've had 2-3 frost days per season last 5 years or so, but I do remember one year with just two frost ... one late November and another first week of April.

I don't risk my precious plants. Even if they don't freeze, cool humid weather is a potential problem.

I should plant a couple rows to take the gamble , but only with plants I don't need.

gssgarden · March 30, 2017

Btw, I forgot to mention, I have a couple of each variety I'm growing so IF we do get a frost and there is damage, I can always replace with the back ups!

Greg

SteveP · March 30, 2017

I live in Zone 7 (SW Missouri) and our 10 day forecast show a couple of morning at 40-41f. I am going to hold off a little longer to plant. Patience is not my strong suit. I don't start from seed,
so I am going to start selecting my plants from local sources which runs me all over the county, but is something I enjoy.

March 29, 2017	#1
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,827	Early plant out?? Is anyone in zone 7 or the South planting out early? Down here in Charlotte, I don't see a frost in sight. Usual last frost date is April 15th or so. I'm in raised beds so dirt is more than ready. Lowest temp for the next 10 days is 46 and that's just in night. Day Temps will be in the high 70's. Thoughts? Greg

March 29, 2017	#4
garyjr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Mechanicsville, VA zone 7a Posts: 97	I am in Central VA and usually plant out April 25-30, but it has been so mild this year I plan on April 15 which is our last frost date. And it just so happens to be a Saturday.. __________________ "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts." C.S. Lewis

March 29, 2017	#6
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	Greg, my forecast is just like yours. I've started hardening the tomatoes and peppers off and I don't have any worries about another frost. I have raised beds, too, so the soil is a little warmer. As for the cool weather veggies, lettuce and kale seedlings look happy. I sowed sugar snap peas, beets and green onions and they're all starting to come up now. I'm happy to get the season started! __________________ Michele

March 29, 2017	#7
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	I am farther south in NC ( West Columbus County , zone 8a ) and I have been planting out . Our LFD is around April 10 and the 15-days-forecast ( to April 12) shows no lows under 51F. Most of my plants are now either flowering or have bids. The bottom line is that you have to be able to take a calculated risk ( based on probability and statistics ) and/or be prepared to protect your plants in the worse scenario. I did just that by planting some on March 7th and then we got killing freeze ( on 3/14 , 15 , 16 ) and I lost 5 plants ( about 25% loss). So I did not come out as a winner but my loss was well within what I could take. Average Frost Dates is a statistical game played on the past. It does NOT guarantee that the future will be the same. AN average man buys 3.5 pairs of jeans per year. I wanna meet that man to find out how he does it. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

March 30, 2017	#12
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	I think the danger of any serious frost is over. I just checked my 15 day forecast extending to April 13th. All systems GO. Yesterday I planted a row of ten (10) plants for STRINGING - LOWERING - LAYERING. my first time to try this support system. Anyway, back to planting: I have still about 20 more to go but they can wait . They are less than 8" tall. I'll plant them whenever I am not too lazy. I have also direct sowed : CORN, BEAN , MELON, WATERMELON, CUCUMBERS. they are just about to poke though the soil. AH ! my cole crops are growing like crazy. can't keep up with. Gotta give some to the neighbors. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

March 29, 2017	#2
weaselbean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: nc Posts: 57	I'm near Greensboro and was wondering the same. Really don't think it is worth the gamble. Weather around here can change on a dime and you really don't gain a lot putting them out early in my opinion.

March 29, 2017	#3
bigpinks Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: SC Ohio(proctorville) Posts: 192	Might have to after getting in too big of a hurry seeding my plants. They should be ready by first of May which is 15-20 days before the last frost here in SC Ohio. Once every other yr I wind up spraying off the entire crop due to seeing frost on roof tops and in the lawn. I've never had frost damage though. Recent yrs early springs give us a chance for an early start but its rolling the dice as I've seen frost on May 22 and 18th that I can remember vividly. Hope for the best but don't count on it.

March 29, 2017	#5
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	You usually do not gain much but time management. Staring at a prepped bed on a Sunday afternoon aching to plant...with a ten day forecast that looks perfect...overcast and good temps. No major storms. A week or three from your safe date, go for it. Full work week ahead. I plant, just a minor amount. As long as a plan is in place just in case the weather turns. Back up plants helps that decision. (need to cover if some crazy cold comes along) Often the seedlings get so advanced and a mess to tend, so in they go. Hardened off and waiting. Different growing zone here but planting early is similar. I've gained 4 to 6 weeks at either end since ten yrs ago. Back in the day it was June7 tom planting. . First fall frost August 25. The past 5-6 yrs i've planted mid May and had no Fall frost until mid October.... We work full time so no tears shed if it does not go well. Planting early does not gain much usually. Planting later with warmer soil will often catch up quickly and surpass the early planting in my experience. Last year i planted 25% early, then went out of town for 6 weeks. The leggy starts in a sunny barn window with a rigged wicking system survived. barely. Those leggy barn starts did very well. The early plantings suffered but did fine also. One of the best seasons in recent memory. Luck and risk. I take risks because of lifestyle and choices.

March 29, 2017	#8
Spartanburg123 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Spartanburg, SC Posts: 1,262	I planted out 18 today in the ground, some of which also have flowers. I have another 5 in pots, and 6 pepper plants. I decided to go for it this year- Gardeneer has led the way for us Carolina growers and I'm falling right in line

March 29, 2017	#10
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	I planted tomato plants out March 16-20th which is the average last frost here in zone 8A Texas. I didn't have much choice because the plants were getting too big for their party cups. The ground temperature is 77F at 4" deep. I think ground temperature is just as/or maybe even more important as air temperature. I have read that tomato plants can be planted out in soil temperature of 55F, but they do not grow much until the soil warms up. Sometime this weekend, I will plant summer squash (Yellow crookneck and Zucchini) and okra. It is early for okra here, but with the soil temperature being so warm - I think they'll germinate. Okra prefers soil temperature to be between 75 and 90F at 4" deep. However, I have read that it can germinate in soil as cool as 60F. I just remembered the site http://growingtaste.com/vegetables/okra.shtml "The minimum soil temperature for okra seed germination is about 60° F., but the optimum germination temperature is 95° F. The temperature really makes a difference: at soil temperatures of about 60°, germination takes 27 days, whereas at about 75°, germination may take only 13 days, and in ideal conditions perhaps a week."

March 29, 2017	#11
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	It looks clear for weeks here so I'm going to plant tomatoes this weekend.

March 30, 2017	#13
ilex Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Spain Posts: 416	I plant April 10-15 and I'm in zone 9. We've had 2-3 frost days per season last 5 years or so, but I do remember one year with just two frost ... one late November and another first week of April. I don't risk my precious plants. Even if they don't freeze, cool humid weather is a potential problem. I should plant a couple rows to take the gamble , but only with plants I don't need.

March 30, 2017	#15
SteveP Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 1,398	I live in Zone 7 (SW Missouri) and our 10 day forecast show a couple of morning at 40-41f. I am going to hold off a little longer to plant. Patience is not my strong suit. I don't start from seed, so I am going to start selecting my plants from local sources which runs me all over the county, but is something I enjoy.