Starting indoors extra early

OmahaJB · November 22, 2012

Planning on starting a few things extra early to get a head start for next growing season. What I mean is I'm going to try starting seeds for tomatoes and peppers, transplant them into containers while still indoors, then put them outside once the temps are fairly warm, possibly early June. They will be left in the containers. I'm sure I'm not the first one to try this, and am wondering how effective it's been for others who have done so.

The reason I want to try this method is because I've been a dismal failure at gardening outdoors. I'm sure it's mostly a problem with the soil, and the fact I can't get to the garden very often and need to rely on my elderly mother to water the plants consistently. She does a good job and enjoys it, but the soil problem has been impossible to overcome so far. It's actually her garden, but with the exception of the past two years, I've supplied her with most of the seedlings and have tried keeping up with amending the soil with good compost and weeding, etc.

We haven't had total failure, but it's been hit or miss, mostly miss. Low production has been a problem even when the plants grew halfway decently. However, most of the plants did not grow very well. I've put some in growbags before and they had decent production, so I figured if I start the seeds in December or early January, transplant them indoors, then get them acclimated to being outside in early June, maybe we can get better production (and earlier), and not have to worry as much about weather conditions (too much rain, diseases, etc.).

I just feel bad the different things I've tried planting over in her garden have produced so little since I started helping her back in 2008. I will say though hybrids did well for a couple of years. Pink Girl was decent tasting and I may try that one along with any heirlooms I grow. Black Cherry and KBX will be used. I've tried other things like cucumbers, squash, melons, peppers, eggplant, and even radishes, and none have done well. Things like melons and squash I may as well forget about. Their vines just laugh at me and then shrivel up.

The past two years my sister has helped her more than I have, so I know it's not just me. Most of the seedlings were purchased by them.

Anyway, I thought this might be a way to get some decent production so my mother can have a nice garden in 2013. But of course, if it ends up being as hot as this past summer it probably wont matter what I do.

November 22, 2012	#1
OmahaJB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toledo, OH Posts: 1,821	Starting indoors extra early Planning on starting a few things extra early to get a head start for next growing season. What I mean is I'm going to try starting seeds for tomatoes and peppers, transplant them into containers while still indoors, then put them outside once the temps are fairly warm, possibly early June. They will be left in the containers. I'm sure I'm not the first one to try this, and am wondering how effective it's been for others who have done so. The reason I want to try this method is because I've been a dismal failure at gardening outdoors. I'm sure it's mostly a problem with the soil, and the fact I can't get to the garden very often and need to rely on my elderly mother to water the plants consistently. She does a good job and enjoys it, but the soil problem has been impossible to overcome so far. It's actually her garden, but with the exception of the past two years, I've supplied her with most of the seedlings and have tried keeping up with amending the soil with good compost and weeding, etc. We haven't had total failure, but it's been hit or miss, mostly miss. Low production has been a problem even when the plants grew halfway decently. However, most of the plants did not grow very well. I've put some in growbags before and they had decent production, so I figured if I start the seeds in December or early January, transplant them indoors, then get them acclimated to being outside in early June, maybe we can get better production (and earlier), and not have to worry as much about weather conditions (too much rain, diseases, etc.). I just feel bad the different things I've tried planting over in her garden have produced so little since I started helping her back in 2008. I will say though hybrids did well for a couple of years. Pink Girl was decent tasting and I may try that one along with any heirlooms I grow. Black Cherry and KBX will be used. I've tried other things like cucumbers, squash, melons, peppers, eggplant, and even radishes, and none have done well. Things like melons and squash I may as well forget about. Their vines just laugh at me and then shrivel up. The past two years my sister has helped her more than I have, so I know it's not just me. Most of the seedlings were purchased by them. Anyway, I thought this might be a way to get some decent production so my mother can have a nice garden in 2013. But of course, if it ends up being as hot as this past summer it probably wont matter what I do.