Southern gardeners need to talk about spring!

I have lettuce in the ground since september ...

Now that you mention it Terri, I want to say early-mid March. I'm pretty sure it was around spring break because I just worked outside all week.

Perfect weather for lettuce. Some will not germinate if the temps are too high. Like Pod said I have it all winter, sometimes a freeze will burn it but it comes right back.
Hey Pod havent talked to you in too long hope all is well.

I have notes that I planted lettuce same time last year (under plastic/hoops set up). No hoops or plastic this year as the weather is a bit warmer. Keeping my eye on the skies, as they say!

Aslan89, corn wants the soil temp's to be at a minimum of 50-55 degrees (depending on which reference) consistantly. Sweet corn always seems to want it to be a little warmer. I usually wait until 65-70 degrees. (I grew up listening to the Samuelson Farm Report on WGN radio every morning at breakfast). It doesn't matter if you plant early and then after two weeks the soil warms up, the sweet corn will lolly-gag around and not catch up. Corn is very finicky that way. There are numerous studies out there on the affects of soil temps on corn. Most of them are for farmers, but its the same for us little ole' veggie gardeners, too. So I am wondering if your soil temps were too frisky in March for sweet corn.

Oh well I live in the southern tip of Texas. By the time spring break rolls around we are already high 80's and 90's

Maybe too hot then?!? LOL, I didn't know where Harlingen TX is. Maybe Calalily can help?

All this conversation is making me drool! It's still much to early in zone 6. The weather has been lovely, but I know how quickly that can change. Kansas seems to have every climate in a weekly rotation! Spring fever in January?

Asian89, I live in Bayview, and the local farmers have corn already up and growing. We're 25 miles from Harlingen. Our farm fields are also planted (big fields, corn, cotton, grain sorghum)

Wow it just seems too early still. The fields near my house were just tilled and planted a few days ago. Nothing growing yet though. I know we have nearly a zero chance of a freeze now but still, a week of 80's will give you better germination rates

Last year we had a freeze on Feb 8th, unusual I know, but possible. It was 80's right up till the day before the freezing weather hit!

And, a couple years before that, we had a freeze on Palm Sunday, in mid-April!

Just have your protection ready!

Oh yeah, I love cold weather but I did not enjoy covering all my raised beds and roses. It was in the 20's then right? I remember it being very early February and we had nearly a half an inch of ice on everything. Plus we forgot to turn the sprinklers off that night :p We have about two acres full of queen palm trees and it looked so cool when all the ice started to fall off.

Almost forgot, Calalily you were absolutely right about planting the corn already. I was a little skeptical but the farmers almanac actually says good days to plant corn with by this Saturday and Sunday so I guess that is what I will be doing, and watching the super bowl of course ;)

Btw if you have a variety you would recommend I would greatly appreciate it. I bought a SE2 hybrid last year from burpee called 'Sun and Stars' which sounded great on paper but did not grow well for me. Of course I now know I planted the corn way too late so who knows.


This message was edited Feb 1, 2012 11:06 AM

As usual, I'm running behind. I've THOUGHT about planting my tomato and bell pepper seeds, but have done NOTHING about it! LOL I'm blaming it all on my husband. He had to have surgery this past Monday and was been out of commission for several weeks prior to his surgery. He's back in the saddle again, but has to limit his actions and such. We may only get garlic, potatoes, and onions from our garden this year! LOL

Oh yes! And we adopted a new cat last week, so that's been consuming some of my time, too!



This message was edited Feb 1, 2012 12:42 PM

I'm just now planting tomato, pepper and eggplant, Stephanietx. Get those seeds out - what's the worst? I need company, on those days when Gymgirl, drthor and a few others are picking and I'm still wishing on little yellow flowers.

LiseP,
I only have half my batch going, so far. I took Drthor's advice and sowed the seeds for the longest season tomatoes first. Once they're out, they'll still take upwards of 90 DTM, which would put my harvest around mid-June. I'm ripping anything that hasn't set fruit by the end of June. Just not worth the hassle, and the stinkbugs and fungaluglies start moving in on heat-stressed plants.

BUT! I'll be sowing the SECOND half of my seeds this weekend, with you and Stephanietx! Depending on your DTMs, you may not be waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind at all. Rather, right on time!

I'll be sowing seeds for Sioux (NOT Super Sioux). These are extremely drought and heat tolerant!. This was the workhorse of my drought-stricken garden last season. Cranked out tomatoes until I just ripped it outta the dirt!

I also plan to sow seeds for the following this weekend: Kimberly, Eva Purple Ball, Costoluto Genovese, Galina, Beauty, Chello (yellow cherries), and Tumbler (red cherries).

My targeted plant out dates for these is 3/10 and 3/17.

I have bell pepper and eggplant seeds to sow soon, for proposed plant out somewhere in mid-April. Early Sunsation and Chinese Giant Sweet Bells, Pingtung Long, Hansel & Gretel Hybrids, Listada de Gandia, and Pot Black Eggplants.

Also, gonna try for some BEANS (Southern Peas) this season for the first time.

Trying to get my neighbor to grow the vining crops in HIS yard where he's got running space...cooperative farm...er, gardening! LOL!

Linda

You sound very organized! Good on ya, Linda. Me, I'm more 'catch as catch can,' lol. I have a few things already started (tomatoes), but I'm leaving tomorrow for a few days out of town. I'm going to try to get a few seeds going today and put them in lightly closed plastic bags with directions for my son. But I'll sow more when I get back. Lise

I just planted 4 12 foot rows of sweet corn and planted 76 onions in a raised bed :p I felt like being proactive today since everyone else is starting.

The USDA just "promoted" me from 8a to 8b, but my average last frost date is still April 8.

And I don't think we EVER got up to 80F last summer!

But I;m not really complaning. It also means that we never got up to 110F.

Wait just a minute, you never got up to 80F last summer? Is your thermometer broken? Haha Gosh, someone at church just told us its nicer here than northern texas but I just can't stand so much heat all the time! I'd rather be freezing than sweating :)

Here's what I'm doing right now - the pepper seed I've planted in the last couple of days:

Pinocchio Hybrid (Cayenne), Mucho Nacho Hybrid (Jalapeño), Tepin (Bird Pepper), Mirasol, Chimayo Hot, Chaco Yellow, Criolla Sella, Purrira, Wilde Grove, Tabasco, PI 555634, Rocoto Red, El Incendio, Cantina, Short Yellow Tabasco, Bishops Crown, Aji Golden, Guyana PI 199506, Lemon Drop, Thai Barupa, Anaheim Sahuaro Hybrid, Ancho Gigantea, Ancho Poblano Meek and Mild, Ancho Ranchero F1, Ancho Tiburon F1, Cubanelle Key West X3R Hybrid, Corno di Toro Giallo, Corno di Toro Rosso, Dulce Italiano, Goccia d'Oro, Italian Gourmet, Marconi Rosso, Rosso Dolce Appendere, Pasilla Holy Mole Hybrid, Aji Dulce Amarillo, Aji Dulce Long, Cacho Negro, Manabi Sweet, PI 439416, Tobago Seasoning, Vicentes Sweet Habanero, Canario, Rocoto Manzano Amarillo, Naga Morich, Bhut (Bih) Jolokia Improved Strain II, Chocolate Bhut Jolokia, Orange Bhut (Bih) Jolokia, Trinidad Scorpion, Blushing Beauty Hybrid, Orion Hybrid, Socrates X3R, Early Sunsation Hybrid.

These are from: Semillas La Palma, Gourmet Seed International, Tomato Growers Supply, Seeds From Italy, Park Seed, Thompson & Morgan, Peppergal, and Cherrygal.

Still some more peppers to go, then on to the eggplants, tomatoes and early start herbs.

-Rich

Oh, man! rjogden, all those peppers. All those beautiful colors once they all start to ripen! If you have time please send photos. I bet that will be a wonderful sight!

Lise, I'll get my seeds started today! My taters started growing on the counter after I harvested them last summer, so I just decided to make them my seed potatoes for this year! LOL

I have planted so much in the last few days, just worked outside for 5 hours yesterday planting corn and onions and now it decides to get cold, cloudy, and rainy in south Texas... Ugh. I hope everything does ok, starting Saturday it's suppose to be in the 60's and 70's and very cloudy for about 8 days :(

Rick all that zone thing means is you dont get as cold. It doesnt have anything to do with when or for how long. Im zone 8a (sometimes 7b) my last average frost date is March 22, but a week after that it could be 8* but only for 1 night just long enougth to kill everything.

Rich-can you let us know how your germination is for T?S. I tried to germinate some seeds from there and the germination was terrible. Yes, it could have been me but other seeds from other places did well. Im not a newbie either so now I'm wondering...

>> Wait just a minute, you never got up to 80F last summer? Is your thermometer broken? Haha Gosh,

70 was "warm" last summer and I wouldn't swear we went above 75 very often or for long.
Last spring was not extra-frosty, but long and cool for months longer than expected.
Yet this has been a very warm winter.
Global wierding indeed!

>> my last average frost date is March 22, but a week after that it could be 8* but only for 1 night just long enougth to kill everything.

Similar here: we'll have long warm spells 4-8 weeks before the last average frost date, but the coldest weather can hit (briefly) on or after that date! There seems to be as juch as 2-3 months during which you might THINK it was time to plant out, but could be surprised

>> it could be 8* but only for 1 night just long enougth to kill everything.

I'm thinking "low hoop tunnels". Predict when a night will be cold, and put the tunnels in place the previous day, hopefully trapping some heat but not cooking anything. vent or remove them as soon as it warms up or the sun comes out from behind the clouds.

I'm gonna try a double hoop system this year.

Once I set out the seedlings, I'll make a short 2' hoop over the beds that I can cover with sheets if the temps are dipping below 45° at night. I'll have a taller, 4.5' hoop over that and cover with the perforated plastic. Long as there's an airspace between the two covers, there shouldn't be an extreme heat build-up.

The more I think about it, covering both hoops with the perforated plastic would ensure at least SOME heat build-up, which would be welcome...

Linda

I must've got a bad batch of pepper seeds from them last year. I had something goin on with all my peppers. Was advised it Could've been BER. Didn't know peppers could get that.

This season, I've got only about 30% germ on my purple perfect tomatoes.

Everything else looks ok.

OK just wrote a response and it disappeared. Ive been having this happen a lot on DG anybody else noticing it?

Anyway, yes it was TGS I have to have my glasses on to do everything. LOL These were seeds I tried to start this year. My client bought the seeds and I tried to start them it was a mixture of Peppers and Tomatoes. Nothing unusual, off the top of my head I can remember Wht and Brown Habs. I finally sowed my own seeds and they came up fine. I cant find a date on their packet either. Yes, Im wearing my glasses.

Of the first batch of 24 pepper varieties I planted, about half were seeds held over from last year, and I'm not seeing any difference in the germination rates. Then again, all but two of the 24 were sourced from Semillas La Palma, and they come completely sealed in little poly bags. I have 5 more varieties up today, a total of 13 so far. This first batch is a mixture of Baccatum, Chinense, Frutescens, Pubescens and Annuum. I'm still waiting on the first Pubescens - all the other species have representatives up.

-Rich

Linda, Eva Purple Ball did well down here. Costoluto Genovese didn't impress me, have tried it two years in a row and have yet to get any decent tomatoes from it. I absolutely love Silver Fir Tree this year. It is short with finely cut, very pretty leaves. I set out 12-18 inch seedlings, planted 6 inches deep less than three weeks ago and they already have little tomatoes! It can also take the wind without getting beaten up.

Asian, I have only grown sweet corn a few times. I can't sacrifice the room it needs to do well. One variety I grew was really tasty. I will have to search out the name, could have been Lucious.

I planted cantaloupes this past week. PMR Delicious, 75 days to maturity. I grew them last fall and they were pretty good. Now the temps are supposed to dip down to 48 tonight! Texas weather.

Calalily ~ I will be interested to follow your Silvery Fir Tree tomato experience please.
I remember your comment on it last year and then saw where you were trying it one more time.
Please keep us posted... Kristi

I think I'm doomed. I ordered some seeds from Baker Creek and for some reason, my order didn't make it to me. Had to contact them and they quickly re-picked and shipped my order. Finally got my order. My onions arrived this week, too. They duplicated my order so now I have double the onions I wanted. LOL I contacted Dixondale and they apologized and told me to keep the duplicate order.

Perhaps the "wacky weather" has upset their onion patch!

I was very pleased with the customer service I rec'd. I work in retail and understand the vast problems with filling orders and such. I'm just wondering where I'm going to plant all these onions!! LOL

Podster, I saw where everyone else had good luck with SFT, so I decided to give it one more try and it is such a beautiful plant. Last year was a tough year for everything, no rain and too much heat. It is loving the cooler weather and seems to take the wind in stride. The green tomatoes are golf ball size. Legend is also doing well.
I'm getting ready to place two more orders for seed (we're in the middle of prime growing season right now) from High Mowing and Territorial.

I'm setting up more t-posts and cattle panels in the beds this weekend. Getting everything ready for warmer weather. Also planting more lettuce and peas. And radishes. Oh, and cleaning out the chicken coop/run and donkey shed. Maybe find some more leaves along the way. Go go compost!

I'm still waiting for the weather to get warm enough to set t-posts. It's 39F at the moment with a high in the low 50's expected later.

I'm researching a trailer hitch for my car, so I can move gardening stuff from point A to point B!