Seedlings need to go in...but its too soon!

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merdle Lake Forest, IL Mar 30, 2010

I started early this year with my seeds. Used grow lights and heat mat indoors...with great success. My problem is my tomatoes, beans, cucumbers and melon are ready to plant. I live in Chicago and its 8 weeks out stilll before I can safely plant in my raised beds. What do I do? Should I keep fertilizing? Also, what makes " good compost"...what does that really mean?

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jannz2 Pilot Point, TX(Zone 7b) Mar 30, 2010

Maybe you should re-pot in bigger containers ??

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merdle Lake Forest, IL Mar 30, 2010

I already have...they are now 12-16 '' high...should I just keep going? The cucumber and melon and zucchini are vines!

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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Mar 31, 2010

Merdle,
Is there any way you can construct a temporary hoop house over those raised beds? It would allow daytime sun to warm the beds and provide heat to the soil for the nighttime temps. If you've got any sunshine during the days, you should be ok.

There are several EZ, EZ, EZ designs available. I put mine up just a few weeks ago. Piece 'a cake!

I bought several ten-foot lengths of Schedule 40 PVC Pipe to make the "ribs." I also bought one 10-ft length of PVC pipe (a larger diameter that the ribs fit into), to cut into "12 sinkers." I pounded the sinkers into the ground across the bed at 12" spacings. Then, just insert on length of PVC into the sinker on one side, bend it over and insert it into the sinker on the other side. Buy a roll of 4-6 mil clear plastic, cut to size and throw over the hoop. Affix the plastic with large "bulldog/alligator" clips or get a length of Polyurethene tubing and cut into little sections to slip over the plastic on the ribs. It holds snugly.

The pic is of a hoophouse the Garden Girl made.

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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Mar 31, 2010

Here's my own! Pic shows sheets because I hadn't bought the plastic -- but I have it now!

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merdle Lake Forest, IL Mar 31, 2010

Perfect...thanks!

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jannz2 Pilot Point, TX(Zone 7b) Apr 01, 2010

Good suggestion for the 'hoop house'.

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