when to start peppers, eggplants inside?
Just for what it's worth, I'm in central/N.E. Pa. and last year it
gave the last frost date as early May. I started my pepper plants in late Feb. to early March, and didn't wind up putting them in the ground until Memorial Day week, because it was too cold. Things were screwed up because of the excessive heat and drought, but I was glad I started as early as I did. The plants didn't begin to produce until late in the growing season (some never did), and I didn't get fully ripe peppers until way after labor day. And, the bells didn't produce that much. This was a mix of hot and bell peppers, some of which take a pretty long time to mature. The bottom line is, I thought I'd started them too early, but it didn't hurt at all. In fact, this year I'm going to start some in early Feb., just to see what happens. On Wed, 15 Jan 2003 04:46:06 GMT, "Jean S. Barto" wrote: Hello-- When should I start my pepper and eggplants inside (from seed)? I'm in Zone 7b, almost Zone 8--and this will be the first time I'll be growing these from seed. Last frost here is supposed to be around April 15, but has been sooner. It gets consistently warmer the end of April. I've also ordered 3 eggplant plants from Burpee and I suppose they'll be sent to more or less when they're supposed to go outside? Thanks in advance, Jean Barto Newport News, VA |
when to start peppers, eggplants inside?
"Bill Shoemaker" wrote in message... Just for what it's worth, I'm in central/N.E. Pa. and last year it gave the last frost date as early May. I started my pepper plants in late Feb. to early March, and didn't wind up putting them in the ground until Memorial Day week, because it was too cold. We're not all Americans. When is Memorial Day? Is this the same weekend as Canada's Victoria Day? (weekend preceding May 24) That's the traditional planting weekend here. Thanks, Jo Zone 4b, New Brunswick |
when to start peppers, eggplants inside?
We're not all Americans. When is Memorial Day? Is this the same weekend as Canada's Victoria Day? The last week-end in May........Memorial Day for planting was really established many years ago when it was the last day of May and a somewhat more realistic planting date than today when the actual date fluctuates. Here, on Cape Cod, the general bottom line safe planting date is May 30th/June 1st/.......sometimes Memorial Day is as early as May 26th. (this year being one of them)......at this time there is a constant danger of a killing frost potential and generally is not considered a totally safe date.......about four years ago the local nurseries lost thousands of plants due to an unforecasted killing frost on May 29th. ...........I tend to plant mine out around the 15th. but have plenty of time to observe the weather conditions and more than once have be seen with my flashlight at midnight covering the plants......HW. |
when to start peppers, eggplants inside?
Bill Shoemaker said:
Just for what it's worth, I'm in central/N.E. Pa. and last year it gave the last frost date as early May. I started my pepper plants in late Feb. to early March, and didn't wind up putting them in the ground until Memorial Day week, because it was too cold. Things were screwed up because of the excessive heat and drought, but I was glad I started as early as I did. The plants didn't begin to produce until late in the growing season (some never did), and I didn't get fully ripe peppers until way after labor day. And, the bells didn't produce that much. I wonder if trying to hold the plants so long before transplanting might not have been part of your problem with lateness, along with the weather... I always start my plants in early April, usually set out in late May (very late, last year) and was picking early tomatoes in late July (usually I start getting them in mid-July), green peppers in July, the first ripe ones in August, and eggplants in late July. My paste tomatoes were only a week late, though I did loose about half of one variety to BER when they were small. Mulching with compost or a mix of shredded leaves and coffeegrounds might have helped to give the plants a boost. I also watered *a lot* even with the mulch (though not enough, or consistantly enough, for that one susceptible paste variety). -- Pat in Plymouth MI Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced. (attributed to Don Marti) |
when to start peppers, eggplants inside?
On Thu, 30 Jan 2003 23:05:48 GMT, Bill Shoemaker
wrote: Just for what it's worth, I'm in central/N.E. Pa. and last year it gave the last frost date as early May. I started my pepper plants in late Feb. to early March, and didn't wind up putting them in the ground until Memorial Day week, because it was too cold. We're in north central PA (Tioga County) - we still had snow on the ground last year on Memorial Day. The year before we had a killing frost in MID-JUNE. Yikes. Things were screwed up because of the excessive heat and drought, but I was glad I started as early as I did. The plants didn't begin to produce until late in the growing season (some never did), and I didn't get fully ripe peppers until way after labor day. And, the bells didn't produce that much. This was a mix of hot and bell peppers, some of which take a pretty long time to mature. The bottom line is, I thought I'd started them too early, but it didn't hurt at all. In fact, this year I'm going to start some in early Feb., just to see what happens. I bought pepper plants at a nursery last year, and set them out in pots on the deck (my 'container garden'). They did well, we had lots of peppers. Pat -- Pat Meadows CLICK DAILY TO FEED THE HUNGRY United States: http://www.stopthehunger.com/ International: http://www.thehungersite.com/ |
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