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Fitchburg , MA

I just moved three atlantic giants outside to the hoophouse. I have soil heating cables, a lighting system and a small ceramic heater.
I am wondering hat the thoughts are on the lighting system the first week. I thought it might be a good idea, but i don't want to push them as i am sure they are getting over some shock.
Next year i will harden them off more. The weekend weather was so nice in Massachusetts this weekend, i had a major itch to put them in the ground after only a couple of days of hardening off.

Well thanks in advance for any advice! I am a novice. This is the first year with a hoop house,lighting, heating cables, etc.

5/5/2020 3:59:45 PM

Syracuse, NY

AGs are such stocky seedlings if they are planted out at the proper time of only < 14 days from sprouting that i have never even seen what the signs of stress ARE in them; i am very bad at getting them out in the patch anywhere within this time frame, however, lol;
that being said, all i know is that just over NIGHT, they can look as though they have grown noticeably bigger. my opinion is that they don't NEED any lighting at NIGHT unless they are in danger of FREEZING. that's all. they will grow faster in the normal day and night lighting cycle. that is what they are out in the patch for - to grow; i used to plant them out also when there was still a chance (and reality) of snow under plastic storage containers, each with a 40-watt light bulb for the above reason(s); then, i got slower and slower and...others will chime in, so don't let my first-in opinion sway you too much, but, the plants'll be fine if temperature extremes are avoided. oh, that's right, you have heating cables - no lighting needed, IMHO. Good Luck! eg

5/6/2020 3:04:18 AM

South Dakota

I have a heat lamp light I run at night just to keep temps up in the cloche,but once outside, they will be getting ample lighting for the most part.

5/6/2020 8:25:49 AM

Fitchburg , MA

Thanks so much. They are doing okay. One is doing better than the others and i have turned the lights off except when it gets real cold. Really, just in case. Its going to be colder than average the next week. Highs in forties on Mothers Day. Crazy.

5/8/2020 4:20:38 PM