puttin her in the ground
three weeks before planting ( around april 1st, here in ri)and after adding any additional ammendments and re-tilling the patch, we put our closures (greenhouses ) out and anchor them down.(picture your closures flying through the air if ya dont)
a week later we dig a hole approximately 2ft x 1ft deep in the area we will eventually plant our seedling.
we also install heating cables at this time.( ya gotta get that soil warmed up)we also at that time add @ mix any kelp/humic/etc, products into the hole.
on or about late april (weather permitting) we place the seedlings in the closures,keeping in mind that 90% of the time the plants main vine will drop opposite that first true leaf on the seedling (seed leaves are not counted as leafs)
pls keep in mind those tender roots when pulling off any peat potting material.etc. save those roots by going slow and easy when removing seedling from pot.
we also at the time of planting place a cutworm band around the newly planted seedling.we make our bands by cutting off the top four inches from a one gallon plastic pot, then sink the band half way down into the ground.remove same later in season ( around mid to end of june)once the base is developed
we monitor the heat each and every day.venting the closure on hot days,closing and covering the closure with blankets on very cold nights.in addition to heating cables we also will if needed, use a small hooded light laid face down onto the soil near ( but not touching young plant) for added soil warmth.
getting your plants off to a great start is half the battle.those growers that take precautions will be better served for their efforts.
