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Weather not cooperating| Member | Message |
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Posted: May/20/2008 3:13 PM PST
Maryland is having serious weather issues!!  Normally during this time of year (May 20th), it is about 75 degrees.  It has been raining just about every day this month, and to top it off, it has also been cool (60-65 degrees). I just bought some tomatoe, pepper and orka plants. Is it too soon to put them outside? How late in May should I wait? The night temps are about 50 degrees. I don't want to kill my plants but I know they can't last forever in the pots they are in. The roots are starting to grow out of the pots. Help!!!
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Posted: May/22/2008 2:04 PM PST
Go ahead and plant them. I'm having the same weather a few hours north of you but it looks like a great weekend ahead! On nights that it goes into the 40's, I cover my seedlings up. |
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Posted: May/23/2008 4:37 AM PST
They may not do a whole heap of growing, but they shouldn't die. They'll just sit there till it gets really warm and then start growing. Well, I hope so anyway. Do let us know. |
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Posted: May/23/2008 10:16 AM PST
Thank you for your responses. What do you cover your seedlings with? |
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Posted: May/25/2008 4:59 AM PST
I cover them with bigger pots I have lying around (those cheap black nursery ones) or a use those big plastic solo cups. Milk jugs cut in half or anything thats big enough to go the seedling will work fine |
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Posted: May/26/2008 5:25 AM PST
Milk jugs or 2 liter soda jugs are great under those conditions. They help warm the soil when the sun is weak, and they keep the insects off of your struggling plants. Nothing is more inviting to those pernicious plant munchers than a seedling that isn't growing! I cut the bottom off the jugs and hang on to the caps. When the night is chilly, I put the caps on to hold the heat. After the morning chill has dissipated, I take off the caps for ventilation. Chilly, clammy soil is terrible for summer crops like okra, sweet potatoes, and peppers. Not so much for hybrid tomatoes as they are more and more bred to thrive in such. If our weather were persistently chilly and damp, I think I'd be laying some black plastic. |
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Posted: May/28/2008 10:36 AM PST
Thanks so much for the good advice!! 
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