Planting early-questions?

Tracydr · December 30, 2012

Planning on getting an early jump on my garden this year. I think last year, part of my problem, besides the fact that the humidity was less than 5% and we had a really, really early summer, hitting triple digits in mid-April, is that I also got my tomatoes planted late, first of March.
I have some tomatoes that could be planted out soon, although they are a bit small. Soil is cool but not cold and we have some light freezes as always. I've ordered row cover, which I can double or even triple if needed. What would be the best way to use it? Should I put it on top of the supports or wait to add supports until they get bigger and lay the row cover on the plants or on a low hoop?

saltmarsh · December 31, 2012

I'm using modified temp controlled shipping boxes to get an early start on mine. They are designed to keep the contents between 65 and 72 degrees while in transit and are used to ship medical supplies. Claud

Tracydr · December 31, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltmarsh

I'm using modified temp controlled shipping boxes to get an early start on mine. They are designed to keep the contents between 65 and 72 degrees while in transit and are used to ship medical supplies. Claud

Great idea! I'll see how many of those I can snag from work.

dipchip2000 · December 31, 2012

Tracy

I think the most important thing to get a good crop when weather will get to high temps, plant out early. You must have fruit set before temps get to 100degrees.
My last frost is around April 15th. Last year I set out on Feb 18th and only had to protect them two times. I had lots and lots of green tomatoes set prior to the high temps which arrived in early May. If you wait till the frost free date you may still get tomatoes but not the bumper crop possible from planting early. I use the rowcover on low hoops with the ends left open and close them only when frost is imminent . By April 15th to May 1st I remove the rowcover completely and already have many tomatoes already set. I do think it is important to leave the ends of rowcover open so that wind and breezes can stimulate the blossoms to pollinate.
Works great for me

ron

checkerkitty · December 31, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tracydr

Great idea! I'll see how many of those I can snag from work.

If you have a saltwater aquarium shop in town, you may be able to get styrofoam boxes from them. Corals and fish are always shipped in lidded styrofoam boxes and many stores toss them. If you can't get enough from work, it might give you another source.

Christy

MikeInOhio · December 31, 2012

Those shipping boxes are fantastic!

Your row covers should work fine. Put them on the supports now.

I wanted to mention the importance of soil temperatures. You need to make sure that your roots are kept as warm as possible since your soil temps are pretty chilly:
http://www.greencastonline.com/tools/soiltempmaps.aspx

I find that my plants are better off left out of the ground until the soil is 55F. You get better root development when the plants are developing in pots indoors.

You can certainly warm your soil considerably by watering several times a day with warm water, and keeping them covered.

December 30, 2012	#1
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Planting early-questions? Planning on getting an early jump on my garden this year. I think last year, part of my problem, besides the fact that the humidity was less than 5% and we had a really, really early summer, hitting triple digits in mid-April, is that I also got my tomatoes planted late, first of March. I have some tomatoes that could be planted out soon, although they are a bit small. Soil is cool but not cold and we have some light freezes as always. I've ordered row cover, which I can double or even triple if needed. What would be the best way to use it? Should I put it on top of the supports or wait to add supports until they get bigger and lay the row cover on the plants or on a low hoop?

December 31, 2012	#4
dipchip2000 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Muskogee, Oklahoma Posts: 664	Tracy I think the most important thing to get a good crop when weather will get to high temps, plant out early. You must have fruit set before temps get to 100degrees. My last frost is around April 15th. Last year I set out on Feb 18th and only had to protect them two times. I had lots and lots of green tomatoes set prior to the high temps which arrived in early May. If you wait till the frost free date you may still get tomatoes but not the bumper crop possible from planting early. I use the rowcover on low hoops with the ends left open and close them only when frost is imminent . By April 15th to May 1st I remove the rowcover completely and already have many tomatoes already set. I do think it is important to leave the ends of rowcover open so that wind and breezes can stimulate the blossoms to pollinate. Works great for me ron

December 31, 2012	#6
MikeInOhio Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 132	Those shipping boxes are fantastic! Your row covers should work fine. Put them on the supports now. I wanted to mention the importance of soil temperatures. You need to make sure that your roots are kept as warm as possible since your soil temps are pretty chilly: http://www.greencastonline.com/tools/soiltempmaps.aspx I find that my plants are better off left out of the ground until the soil is 55F. You get better root development when the plants are developing in pots indoors. You can certainly warm your soil considerably by watering several times a day with warm water, and keeping them covered.