On Feb 2, 8:05*pm, jeff wrote:
Phisherman wrote:
On Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:28:24 -0500, jeff wrote:

* I'm a beginning gardener looking forward to this years garden and
would like some idea of what I can start and when.

*I'm in 7b and have a small homespun "greenhouse" (8' * 8'), this keeps
the night time temps about 10 degrees off the outside and daytime temps
upwards of 30 degrees warmer. I've added thermal mass and insulation,
and if needed I can raise the temps 10 degrees by turning on a 250W heat
lamp.

*Would this be a suitable enviornment for germinating seeds for my garden?

* Should I start about a month or so before the last frost date?

* Daves Garden:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze...php?q=30315&su....

* Gives me mid Feb for an average last 24 and March 24 for the average
last 32.

* I had too late a start for snow peas last year, they did well until
it warmed up and I'm thinking I need to really get an early start.

* Jeff

Some plants start well indoors, but others will do better planted
directly into the ground (some plants do not transplant well). * I've
started tomato and pepper seeds indoors, usually 4-5 weeks before the
average last frost date. * If started too early you may get weak
spindly plants.

* *OK. I have a couple weeks to gather what I want. If I just get
peppers and tomatoes started, I'll be happy. That and snow peas! Thanks.

* *Jeff

I have not tried melon in the greenhouse. Actually what I did was
another "why not" thing. I have a sandy beach so I took big black pots
and buried them. I planted the cantalope and watermelon in the pots. I
figured that the vines could spread and go where ever they wanted to
and they did. I also put some winter squash in. It worked, in theory,
and I did get some produce but without irragation, even less rain and
lack of attention they didn't do as well as they could have. THIS
year, I promise !!
It sounds like you are started on hydroponics. The medium I have is a
clay pellet. I am not real fond of it and hope to change when it is
worn out.