I goffed

[kritterkeeper]

Hello-my name is Donna and I live in the middle of Michigan abouts...

I grew up in the city and have lived on my husband family dairy farm for about 20 yrs... BUT have refused to learn to garden.. But this yr my 17 yr old daughter thought it would be nice to plant a garden, well in Feb I saw a lady from our church in Home Depot buying her stuff to start planting her garden inside- she said she starts them in the house then when it is warm puts them out in the garden... Okay sounded easy

So about 3 weeks ago I went and bought a Jiffy Professional Greenhouse
it is a tray with peat pellets in it... I bought seeds too, a few days later we put one or two seeds in each peat pellets and covered it.. put it in a warm place and things began to grow.. Hubby comes home a few days later (took him that long to notice it) and says don't you think it is a little early- I said Betty was buying stuff and he said ya but not planting yet..

So my question is I have these plants that I started on March 4th, and they are getting pretty tall, when can I plant them outside and how long can they live in those peat pellets in the house..

Thank you
Donna B

 

[vfem]

Well here's a simple way to look at it. Most seeds like to be started in the house where its warm either 4-6 weeks or 8-12 week before the last frost outside. Once the threat of the last frost has passed you can move your plants outside.

In the meantime, keep them moist and well lit... either with a grow light (I was told about 40 watts of bulb is good) or by a south facing window.

It sounds like you planted them at a fine time.

I am guessing you are Zone 5-6.

Here's a veggi planting Zone chart for your area. Flowers are different, they usually just say after the last frost for your area. You should have a local extension office you can call for that information.

http://www.thevegetablegarden.info/resources/planting-schedules/zones-5-6-planting-schedule

P.S. -

 

[kritterkeeper]

thank you so much- you made me feel much better...

I still have hope to learn this stuff and do it right!

Donna B

 

[vfem]

There is so much to learn... and you can never get everything 'right'. Trial and error is the best learning you can do!

When I screw something up (and BOY do I screw things up!) I just smile and say I'll try it another way next year and move on. Just don't let it get you down... it happens to the best gardeners with 20 years experience!!!

You seem to be doing just fine.... if you have anymore questions you know where to find us. Everyone here is WAY helpful and they got me through my first year of gardening last year GREAT.

This is my first year doing veggies and fruit though... so I'm still WAY new too.

 

[jackiedon]

Welcome to a great website with some great people.

I planted my tomatoes back in the first of Feb and I am still babying them. I have transplanted them several times to plant deeper in cups and they are finally getting strong.

Have fun and if something doesn't work out than you will learn for next time. There is nothing better than watching your seeds grow and then see the plants produce.

jackie

 

[kritterkeeper]

That you all so much-

I only have one south window that they could go in- so the daughter needs to clean off her dresser..

besides there her plants too!

if planted on the 4th of March will I need to replant before the middle of May..

Donna B

 

[wifezilla]

either with a grow light (I was told about 40 watts of bulb is good) or by a south facing window.

I have never had luck with grow lights. Someone posted on another thread about the importance of LUMENS. A 150w equivalent florescent bulb has the required number (2000 I believe).

I can't find the 150's in my area so I am trying 2 100's instead.

When I use grow lights, unless the darn bulb is touching the plants, they get all spindly. Then if it DOES touch the bulb it gets fried.

 

[vfem]

wife, I'm only using a 100 flourescent and they are working out just fine.

I didn't bother with those tube grow lights either.

My first bulbs didn't do well and I had to upgrade Trial and Error.

 

[COgirl]

Welcome to a great website with some great people.

I planted my tomatoes back in the first of Feb and I am still babying them. I have transplanted them several times to plant deeper in cups and they are finally getting strong.

Have fun and if something doesn't work out than you will learn for next time. There is nothing better than watching your seeds grow and then see the plants produce.

jackie

So you can transplant the tomatoes. I started a bunch of heirloom tomatoe seeds and they are leggy. I asked a gardening friend if I could transplant them to deeper pots and she said no that they needed to become root bound in the peat pots so they would be ready to go in the garden. It didn't sound right to me but since I have never started them from seed I figured I better listen. My thought was I would plant most of the stem in a deeper pot like I do when I put store bought ones in the garden, am I on the right track?

 

[vfem]

Welcome to a great website with some great people.

I planted my tomatoes back in the first of Feb and I am still babying them. I have transplanted them several times to plant deeper in cups and they are finally getting strong.

Have fun and if something doesn't work out than you will learn for next time. There is nothing better than watching your seeds grow and then see the plants produce.

jackie

So you can transplant the tomatoes. I started a bunch of heirloom tomatoe seeds and they are leggy. I asked a gardening friend if I could transplant them to deeper pots and she said no that they needed to become root bound in the peat pots so they would be ready to go in the garden. It didn't sound right to me but since I have never started them from seed I figured I better listen. My thought was I would plant most of the stem in a deeper pot like I do when I put store bought ones in the garden, am I on the right track?

You know I just transplanted the rest of my tomatoes into larger pots. I read in a gardening book I borrowed today that you pinch the first set of true leaves when there is a set of at least 4 true leaves and then bury the plant deep enough to cover that area, and it forces MORE and stronger roots. This makes for an easier outside transplant with a better shot at earlier developing fruit.

Might as well give it a try. I lost 9 plants outside I did not do this too... but buried deeply outside. I didn't know I needed to do it before.