Planted out today. - Page 3

kayrobbins · February 23, 2014

I am happy for you already seeing a tomato. And maybe just a little jealous. It is interesting how several of us observe phenolgy but with different trees. Red Buds are one of the first trees to bud here and I have never trusted them as a planting guide. No one I know has a tulip poplar. I have never even seen one so I had no idea that was a good indicator. No buds on the pecan trees yet so I am planting only what I have spares in case we have more extreme cold.

Worth1 · February 23, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayrobbins

I am happy for you already seeing a tomato. And maybe just a little jealous. It is interesting how several of us observe phenolgy but with different trees. Red Buds are one of the first trees to bud here and I have never trusted them as a planting guide. No one I know has a tulip poplar. I have never even seen one so I had no idea that was a good indicator. No buds on the pecan trees yet so I am planting only what I have spares in case we have more extreme cold.

The trees aren't a guarantee there wont be a frost or freeze.
They are an indicator that I can deal with what ever the weather puts my way.
I have had to pile hay 2 feet high over plants in mid march to protect them.
Anything not under the hay got killed.
It is something I just have to do to get a tomato here and something I was raised to do.
Even if the weather kills everything in the ground I wont care too much and just replant and hope for no more freezes.
Farming even mini farming is a huge gamble if you win the payoffs are humongous and worth every bit of the chance you take.

I look at those weather updates like some people look at the score on a ball game.

Worth

kayrobbins · February 23, 2014

You are right and I feel empowered to do what I want to do. When I do workshops I am always required to go by University of Florida's recommendations even if I don't agree with it. I think I have let that bleed over to my own gardening. I always use hay in the winter as frost protection so I have enough of it to protect my tomatoes and peppers. If it doesn't rain tomorrow I am going to start planting out. Thanks Worth.

Worth1 · February 23, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayrobbins

You are right and I feel empowered to do what I want to do. When I do workshops I am always required to go by University of Florida's recommendations even if I don't agree with it. I think I have let that bleed over to my own gardening. I always use hay in the winter as frost protection so I have enough of it to protect my tomatoes and peppers. If it doesn't rain tomorrow I am going to start planting out. Thanks Worth.

I hope I'm not being burned in effigy a month from now.

I can see it now 1,000 tomatoville members in my front yard with pitchforks and a wagon with hay, sticks and a pole in the middle to tie me to.

Worth

MikeInCypress · February 23, 2014

I planted about a dozen today. The plants had been in a Harbor Freight 4 shelf Mini Greenhouse and when I grabbed a Kimberley I noticed 4 flowers. I planted it along with 4th of July, some of the Dwarfs, and Orange Minsk, Dester, and OTV Brandywine. All are in either Earthboxes, Global SWC's or 5 gal. pots. Have about 40 more in containers and 10 to go in the ground. BTW- my old Earthtainers from Tony K Orlando's GW design (2003) are finally giving up the ghost. The plastic is just crumbling. Not bad - 11 seasons.

MikeInCypress

Cheryl2017 · February 23, 2014

I know people who swear by the pecan tree. I only planted a few that I could cover successful. But am itching to get the rest in.

March 1, 2014

Worth,

Probably another week before I can plant out. Sunday night is supposed to drop too eighteen degrees in north Texas. Monday night will be in the twenties. My plants are anxious to be planted and I'm anxious to plant them. I don't see any reason to sacrifice them to the weather demons though. I think I can wait a little longer. I would guess the Austin area as well as the Gulf coast and east Texas have seen the last of winter weather. Good luck!

Ted

Worth1 · March 1, 2014

I wasn't home the night it got cold here and was unable to protect them, go figure.
I might have to replace maybe 3 or 4 plants.
No big deal.

It was a good indicator that my soil is right where it needs to be they were growing like wild.
When I left the weather said 37 then in a day they said 31.
I have no idea how cold it got here.
Tomorrow night is supposed to be 32.

Worth

vintagepatch · March 2, 2014

Worth Your a wild man! I'm itching to plant. I'm shooting for st. Patricks day. It has been way too cold this year. I will just keep moving them up into bigger pots for now.

Worth1 · March 2, 2014

I have them covered tonight but I dont have much hope.

We shall see.
This year goes against every bit of logic.

Worth

MikeInCypress · March 2, 2014

Here in Cypress it was 73 degrees at 5 PM and 33 degrees at 8 PM. I've covered my babies and zipped up the greenhouse, but I am worried. Will let you know tomorrow.

MikeInCypress

newatthiskat · March 3, 2014

Wow 18 degrees here this am! Ice on ground. Brand new lettuce and broccoli did not stand a chance.

Worth1 · March 3, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by newatthiskat

Wow 18 degrees here this am! Ice on ground. Brand new lettuce and broccoli did not stand a chance.

24 here, feels like summer with a cool refreshing breeze.(NOT)
I'm even letting an old wild tom cat that comes through and sits in my lap eat in the garage.
Poor baby.

Worth

Doug9345 · March 3, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by newatthiskat

Wow 18 degrees here this am! Ice on ground. Brand new lettuce and broccoli did not stand a chance.

Wow That's the temperature it was here yesterday, it's colder today. Down to around 25°F you stand a chance of protecting plants, below that it isn't going to help.

hornstrider · March 3, 2014

I planted a few seedlings out here in Central Texas on Feb 14th........they survived the freeze last week, but not yesterday. I wrapped the largest plants yesterday morning w/ blankets before it got cold, and by the time I got back to the house at 4:00 it was 26 deg, and all plants (17) are frozen solid. It got down to 19 deg last night. It is 10:00 am Monday morning and still below freezing. If anyone in Central Texas survived yesterday, and last night............please tell me how you did it.

February 23, 2014	#35
MikeInCypress Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 963	I planted about a dozen today. The plants had been in a Harbor Freight 4 shelf Mini Greenhouse and when I grabbed a Kimberley I noticed 4 flowers. I planted it along with 4th of July, some of the Dwarfs, and Orange Minsk, Dester, and OTV Brandywine. All are in either Earthboxes, Global SWC's or 5 gal. pots. Have about 40 more in containers and 10 to go in the ground. BTW- my old Earthtainers from Tony K Orlando's GW design (2003) are finally giving up the ghost. The plastic is just crumbling. Not bad - 11 seasons. MikeInCypress __________________ "Growing older, not up"

March 2, 2014	#41
MikeInCypress Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 963	40 degree temp drop in 3 hours Here in Cypress it was 73 degrees at 5 PM and 33 degrees at 8 PM. I've covered my babies and zipped up the greenhouse, but I am worried. Will let you know tomorrow. MikeInCypress __________________ "Growing older, not up"

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February 23, 2014	#31
kayrobbins Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 820	I am happy for you already seeing a tomato. And maybe just a little jealous. It is interesting how several of us observe phenolgy but with different trees. Red Buds are one of the first trees to bud here and I have never trusted them as a planting guide. No one I know has a tulip poplar. I have never even seen one so I had no idea that was a good indicator. No buds on the pecan trees yet so I am planting only what I have spares in case we have more extreme cold.

February 23, 2014	#36
Cheryl2017 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san antonio, texas Posts: 174	I know people who swear by the pecan tree. I only planted a few that I could cover successful. But am itching to get the rest in.

March 1, 2014	#37
tedln Guest Posts: n/a	Worth, Probably another week before I can plant out. Sunday night is supposed to drop too eighteen degrees in north Texas. Monday night will be in the twenties. My plants are anxious to be planted and I'm anxious to plant them. I don't see any reason to sacrifice them to the weather demons though. I think I can wait a little longer. I would guess the Austin area as well as the Gulf coast and east Texas have seen the last of winter weather. Good luck! Ted

March 1, 2014	#38
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I wasn't home the night it got cold here and was unable to protect them, go figure. I might have to replace maybe 3 or 4 plants. No big deal. It was a good indicator that my soil is right where it needs to be they were growing like wild. When I left the weather said 37 then in a day they said 31. I have no idea how cold it got here. Tomorrow night is supposed to be 32. Worth

March 2, 2014	#39
vintagepatch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Central Texas Posts: 38	Worth Your a wild man! I'm itching to plant. I'm shooting for st. Patricks day. It has been way too cold this year. I will just keep moving them up into bigger pots for now.

March 3, 2014	#42
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	Wow 18 degrees here this am! Ice on ground. Brand new lettuce and broccoli did not stand a chance.

March 3, 2014	#45
hornstrider Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hutto, Texas Posts: 230	I planted a few seedlings out here in Central Texas on Feb 14th........they survived the freeze last week, but not yesterday. I wrapped the largest plants yesterday morning w/ blankets before it got cold, and by the time I got back to the house at 4:00 it was 26 deg, and all plants (17) are frozen solid. It got down to 19 deg last night. It is 10:00 am Monday morning and still below freezing. If anyone in Central Texas survived yesterday, and last night............please tell me how you did it.