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Garden Gate:  My Gamble didn't pay off/ Trying again  |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 28 2010 : 9:52:55 PM
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I was hoping it would, but it didn't. I gambled on the weather, hoping that it would stay nice and we would have a long mild spring.
The next 2 days we are supposed to get snow. Really? Snow! Ugh. So the dozen tomato seedlings that I planted are pretty much toast... or is that freeze dried?
Between the howling winds we have had, then days of scorching sun, and now snow- the poor things I really feel bad for them.
But on the other hand my other gamble DID pay off! I planted 4 seedlings into garden soil at a young age and parked them in an eastern window. Guess which for plants are now over 12 inches high and with stems thicker than pencils? You got it! My beautiful tomato plants.
Every thing I read said "don't use garden soil for your seedlings" well...at least MY garden soil ROCKS for seedlings. So I took my remaining seedlings and planted 3 window planters with seedlings and will be planting at least one more worth tomorrow.
Now, granted I DO want lighter soil in my garden so I will be mixing in a BIT of organic potting soil but not too much as the mulch I have already started laying down is going to be doing it's thing too.
So I guess to sum up:
Don't plant tomato seedlings outside in Montana before Mother's day unless you have some sort of protection for them.
Start seedings and once they have gotten stury enough move to garden dirt with room for roots to branch out so they can grow tall and strong.
Keeps seedlings in warmest room of the house to encourage growth.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
Edited by - Alee on May 02 2010 11:14:20 AM |
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LBP
True Blue Farmgirl
81 Posts
Linda
Goodview
VA
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2010 : 05:02:36 AM
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I'm right there with you! We had a frost last night even though the weather channel didn't forecast one! They said 42 degrees. This morning I looked out and there was frost on the roof and I panicked! I grabbed my garden boots and my water hose and ran to the garden and watered everying really well, making sure that I watered the leaves really well.
This is a trick that my grandfather taught me. He said that it is the sun on the frost that kills the plants and if you can wash the frost off before the sun comes up you may be able to save your plants.
This works sometimes. Depends on how hard the frost is and how resilient your plants are. I guess I will know by tomorrow how much damage was done.
I know better than to plant before Mothers Day, why didn't I do that???? Hard headed and pushing the season, that's why!!!
Come visit me at:
http://lbpsews.blogspot.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2010 : 06:18:21 AM
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Yup! Same here! We had a rough start to March but it went out like the mildest lamb. So I started thinking Spring was going to be nice to me. April was acting pretty nice too and the night time temps were pretty balmy. I think it might have days of 40 mile an hour winds that we got shortly after I planted the seedlings. I don't think they were strong enough to withdstand that and then the temps dropped to 30 for a couple of nights. When I checked on them yesterday only about 3 were still alive and growing!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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LBP
True Blue Farmgirl
81 Posts
Linda
Goodview
VA
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2010 : 04:56:28 AM
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WHEW!!! They all lived but one!!!! Last night I covered them up and of course it was 49 degrees all night. But better safe than sorry! Sorry about losing your plants..Let's remind each other of this conversation next year!!!
Come visit me at:
http://lbpsews.blogspot.com |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2010 : 06:42:48 AM
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Well Alee, you still have plenty of time to plant more. But I know how you feel about losing them. I have lost about 7 of the plants I started from seeds. It's sad. But Montana sure sounds cold. How long is your growing season there? We seem to start ealrier every year here.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2010 : 11:23:11 AM
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It's much colder up here. We have the risk of frost until after Mother's day. Then we can get frosts as early as September. So I was taking a gamble to see if I could push the growing season a bit. I am going to get my green house set up hopefully as my mother's day gift to myself so I will be able to extend my garden that way. I just wish we had gotten it get up last fall like I wanted!!! (pout) 
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 11:13:56 AM
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In retaliation for losing 10 of my 12 tomato plants that I had planted outside (two have stubbornly held on and even got hailed on today!) I started another 40 or so seeds in cups. I have one of those Jiffy seed starters so I put the lid on and put it in a sunny window AND the room has a heater in it right now because of the cooler temps. So I am hoping the seeds sprout super quick in the warm/moist environment. If I can get them force sprouted and growing, then they might be strong enough to transplant by early June. These might just have to be my hot house tomatoes though. I will keep them in if I need to. They are the little sweet cherry tomatoes so I know they can mature a bit faster than slicer tomatoes.
As soon as the ground dries a little bit (so I am not digging in mud, I am going to plant lettuce and cabbage outside plus I have some yummy looking beet seeds and some cucumbers to plant. I think it would also be fun to have pumpkins, but I am starting to run out of space! Maybe I can have cucumbers and zuchinni cascade down the side of my wash basin tubs that I am going to plant in. What do you think?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
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Karrieann
True Blue Farmgirl
1900 Posts
Karrieann
Northeast
Georgia
USA
1900 Posts |
Posted - May 02 2010 : 11:16:34 AM
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the weather all over is just wacko!
Good luck on tryin again.. hoping for better result for you!
Karrieann ~ Farmgirl Sister #766 (29 Sept 2009)
My Blog: ...following my heart, dreams and Jesus
...http://karrieann-followingmyheartandjesus.blogspot.com/
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Edited by - Karrieann on May 02 2010 11:17:22 AM |
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Garden Gate: My Gamble didn't pay off/ Trying again |
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My Gamble didn't pay off/ Trying again
