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Rhode Island

DO - GET YOUR BABIES ACCEPTING TO THE SPRING TEMPS BY HARDENING THEM OFF BEFORE PUTTING THEM INTO THE PATCH. THE AMOUNT OF TIME DEPENDS ON HOW LONG YOU HAVE HAD THEM IN THAT NICE WARM AREA.ONCE THE FIRST TRUE LEAF STARTS TO SHOW WE USUALLY PLACE THEM OUTSIDE DURING WARM SUNNY DAYS THEN IN THE GARAGE AT NIGHT FOR 5-7 DAYS BEFORE PLANTING
DO NOT - LET YOUR PLANTS GET TRANSPLANT SHOCK BY DAMAGING THE NEW ROOTS WHEN REMOVING FROM POT,REFRAIN FROM TRANSPLANTING IN THE HEAT OF DAY ( EVENING IS BEST WHEN POSSIBLE )PUTTING PLANT INTO COLD SOIL ONLY SETS THE PLANT BACK AS WELL---HEATING CABLES WORK WELL IF YOU CAN USE THEM.

DO - AMMEND YOUR GROWING AREA BASED ON A GOOD SOIL TEST AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE REPORT IS TELLING YOU TO ADD AND THE RIGHT AMOUNTS
DO NOT - FEEL YOU HAVE TO AMMEND AND TILL THE ENTIRE PATCH IN THE SPRING.YOU CAN LAY YOUR AMMENDMENTS DOWN IN A PATH THAT THE GREENHOUSES AND NEW PLANT CAN GO IN ,THEN GO BACK A BIT LATER IN THE SEASON AND FINISH ADDING AMMENDMENTS AND TILLING THE REMAINDER OF THE PATCH. --- THIS KEEPS THE AMMENDMENTS FROM LEACHING OUT OF THE GROWING AREA BEFORE THE PLANT NEEDS THEM.

DO - SECURE YOUR GREENHOUSE FROM WIND STORMS THAT CAN AND WILL SHOW UP IN EARLY SPRING.WE STAKE AND SCREW INTO EACH CORNER.
DO NOT - LET THE GREENHOUSES GET TO HOT INSIDE ----THOSE FIRST FEW WEEKS ESPECIALLY.ALWAYS ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION. IF YOU DONT HAVE SOMEONE HOME TO OPEN AND CLOSE AS THE WEATHER CHANGES? KEEP THE TOPS VENTED OR YOU COULD END UP WITH DEAD PLANTS AS THE HEAT INSIDE A CLOSED GREENHOUSE COULD GO WELL OVER 120 DEGREES

DO - KEEP THE SOIL AROUND THAT YOUNG SEEDLING MOIST AND MILDLY FERTALIZED.IF YOU CAN SQUEEZE THE SOIL INTO A BALL AND WHEN YOU RELEASE YOUR GRIP IT HOLDS TOGETHER? ITS WET ENOUGH.
DO NOT - USE THE IF A LITTLE BIT IS GOOD A LOT IS MUCH BETTER. REMEMBER "PIGS GET FAT , HOGS GET SLAUGHTERED"

4/14/2011 10:01:14 AM

Weedville,pa

good stuff, as always, pap! thanks for helping us "greenhorns"!

4/14/2011 8:37:03 PM

West Chazy,N.Y.

Ahhh I knew Pap would come through with Part III

4/14/2011 8:51:48 PM

3 acre corner in Whittaker,Mi USA (faulkner5@msn.com)

Pap is the AG godfather!!! Always there to help and prevented me many costly mistakes last season!!!

Words to live and grow by!!

Kudos to you pap!!

4/14/2011 10:12:19 PM

Fresno, CA

Thanks for another installment Pap. I'm using all 3 parts for my start this season. I think your second do on this list addresses something I already screwed up - dealing with only part of the patch at first and filling in later so as not to leach out nutrients too early. I'll remember for next year.

4/15/2011 12:38:36 AM

Wisconsin

Pap, How long does it take for fertilizers to break down enough for the plant to use? I agree you don't want to put them down too early and leach away, but doesn't it take some time for the fertilizer to become accessible to the plant? I'm in my fourth season but I still consider myself a rookie! Thanks in advance for answering this question and thanks for sharing all these great tips!

4/16/2011 12:21:01 AM

Coventry R.I.

Pap,,,,great stuff as always good reminders
Will see you on sunday,s

4/16/2011 8:17:48 AM

Coventry R.I.

Pap,,,,great stuff as always good reminders
Will see you on sunday,s

4/16/2011 8:17:48 AM

Rhode Island

buck

if your talking about well composted leaves and manure? the benefits are pretty most immediate ( especially once the air temp gets above 80 degrees).bagged ammendments usually are beneficial rather quickly as well once watered in. water soluables ( like soil drenches )are immediately taken in and available to the plants root system.

we get a lot of rain this time of the year. ammendments can get washed away with heavy reains - even after tilling them in. but thats not the bigger issue.

nutrient additives only take some rain or watering to make them available so no need to get them all into those areas that will not need it until six weeks or so down the road.
many additives do not last in the soil for long perids of time.hence the reason for my above statements.

for example this year we will ammend and till just the areas where the greenhouses will go plus an additional eight ft or so out past the greenhouse where the main will run.

at some point before the plant reaches the outer edges of the area tilled earlier? ( and based on a second soil test of course )we will then ammend and till the rest of the growing area -- always being carefull not to get to close to the plants root hairs of course.

hope this helps
pap

4/17/2011 10:26:51 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

pap, do you soil test to a local source...to get quick responses? Where do you send tissue (leaf ) tests? Peace, Wayne
PS...thanks for another great post for us Greenhorns!!

4/19/2011 2:19:06 AM

Rhode Island

most times we tissue test with the university of mass. quicker results most times. we also have used a@l labs on the west coast as well.
depending on how busy they are though sometimes it takes longer that we would like. especially if you suspect a problem and want answers fast.

4/19/2011 8:33:10 AM

Linden, Mi.,

Peace, Wayne, check with Ohio Growers, Ohio has a great Lab
Michigan State has one of thr world best labs, not sure if they except plants from other states

4/19/2011 9:53:05 AM

Linden, Mi.,

the

4/19/2011 9:53:34 AM

Wisconsin

Thanks Pap!

4/19/2011 11:07:49 AM