The advantages and disadvantages of starting seeds early - Page 3

Oliver · May 11, 2021

simmran,

Just did some reading about that today. I kind of wish I didn't throw away some of those plants. I still have 2 of them. NWS Sioux Falls forecasts more seasonal temps the end of this week. Planning on planting the rest of my tomatoes and peppers this weekend.

Greatgardens · May 12, 2021

Zone 5b here... It is not safe to set out unprotected plants before ~May 15th. It was 36 F. last night. We've had some light, patchy frost several times in the past week. Supposedly this is about to change with a warming trend. I do have a cold frame which helps a lot on these cool spring mornings. I use LED/Fluorescent lights that take care of the early lighting. I like "pink" bulbs, including the T8 fluorescent tubes. I have poorer results with "daylight" tubes.

I plant micro-dwarfs (Aztek, Red Robin, etc.) about Feb 15th
Early dwarfs (Dwarf Arctic Rose, Dwarf Pink Passion) around March 7.
Other larger plant varieties around March 21. (regular Det and Ind and larger dwarfs)

In a good year, I'll have cherries from my micros in late May to early June.
Small slicing tomatoes from the Dwarf Arctic Rose, etc. by the 3rd week in June.
Main crop tomatoes start by around the second to third week of July.

And of course, so much depends on the weather. 2021 has given us a cool spring. I suspect my tomatoes will be around a week later than normal this season. And the varieties are so important -- the early Project Dwarfs can be started earlier because many stay small. Fourth of July does well for me here, but the early dwarfs can beat it by a week or more, since they were started earlier. Dwarf Arctic Rose is the earliest dwarf I've found. Dwarf Pink Passion is several days later, but produces more. YMMV, but this works well for me.

-GG

Oliver · May 12, 2021

We had patchy frost too. Covering helped most nights but came out one morning to find pillow cases frozen solid over the top of my plants and literally broke them off the ground. I had two plants covered with jars and they were the only survivors.

slugworth · May 12, 2021

I bought 2 red robin plants today.
About 5 years ago I found them locally,then nothing.
I found them again today so I took advantage.
I believe I was able to clone the plants back then,I may try
when these get bigger.I found an aerogarden 100304-blk growlight
in goodwill today,so they are under that right now.

Greatgardens · May 13, 2021

Quote:

Originally Posted by slugworth

I bought 2 red robin plants today.
About 5 years ago I found them locally,then nothing.
I found them again today so I took advantage.
I believe I was able to clone the plants back then,I may try
when these get bigger.I found an aerogarden 100304-blk growlight
in goodwill today, so they are under that right now.

Just curious -- Red Robin from Bonnie or local seller? In our area, Bonnie crowded out most of the competition, but recently more stores are picking up alternatives like Burpee and generic. Kroger seems to have dropped Bonnie (at least locally), and have some very nice lower-priced plants from a brand I had not heard of. One neat thing about this seller -- they use the "locking labels," so it is nearly impossible to get plants with labels that have been switched!

Nice find on the Aerogarden!

slugworth · May 15, 2021

Red robin rolled down hill from canada,sweet valley by jolly farmer.
They should barcode/label the containers-instead of a stick label.
People pull the tags out to read them and they sometimes don't get put back.
Labels used to say determinate/indeterminate.They don't anymore.

Quote:

https://www.sweetvalleyherbs.ca/products/

@$4 ea they should plant themselves when you bring them home.

May 12, 2021	#32
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	Zone 5b here... It is not safe to set out unprotected plants before ~May 15th. It was 36 F. last night. We've had some light, patchy frost several times in the past week. Supposedly this is about to change with a warming trend. I do have a cold frame which helps a lot on these cool spring mornings. I use LED/Fluorescent lights that take care of the early lighting. I like "pink" bulbs, including the T8 fluorescent tubes. I have poorer results with "daylight" tubes. I plant micro-dwarfs (Aztek, Red Robin, etc.) about Feb 15th Early dwarfs (Dwarf Arctic Rose, Dwarf Pink Passion) around March 7. Other larger plant varieties around March 21. (regular Det and Ind and larger dwarfs) In a good year, I'll have cherries from my micros in late May to early June. Small slicing tomatoes from the Dwarf Arctic Rose, etc. by the 3rd week in June. Main crop tomatoes start by around the second to third week of July. And of course, so much depends on the weather. 2021 has given us a cool spring. I suspect my tomatoes will be around a week later than normal this season. And the varieties are so important -- the early Project Dwarfs can be started earlier because many stay small. Fourth of July does well for me here, but the early dwarfs can beat it by a week or more, since they were started earlier. Dwarf Arctic Rose is the earliest dwarf I've found. Dwarf Pink Passion is several days later, but produces more. YMMV, but this works well for me. -GG Last edited by Greatgardens; May 13, 2021 at 07:30 AM.

May 11, 2021	#31
Oliver Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Monroe, South Dakota Posts: 50	simmran, Just did some reading about that today. I kind of wish I didn't throw away some of those plants. I still have 2 of them. NWS Sioux Falls forecasts more seasonal temps the end of this week. Planning on planting the rest of my tomatoes and peppers this weekend.

May 12, 2021	#34
slugworth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: connecticut,usa Posts: 1,152	I bought 2 red robin plants today. About 5 years ago I found them locally,then nothing. I found them again today so I took advantage. I believe I was able to clone the plants back then,I may try when these get bigger.I found an aerogarden 100304-blk growlight in goodwill today,so they are under that right now.