I've been looking at books and articles about starting seeds in doors, winter sowing, using cold frames etc. and my question is this. How successful do you think I will be next spring just sowing: cucumbers, peas & bell peppers directly into my raised bed? The soil in the bed is excellent.
I'm also considering sowing direcly into the raised bed and then creating a green house type cover with an arched frame and clear plastic.
Thanks.
Sowing directly into the ground
Cukes and peas (all types) lend themselves well to direct seeding. Bell peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower do better as transplants.
I would think that sowing peas under cover might be about as much trouble as it would be worth as peas can be direct sown in March and I don't think you would start sowing before that anyway.????
Cucumbers might work ok. I have set out watermelon transplants in the first half of April successfully under a hoop house like cover. The one problem is heat control.........cold and sunlight have to be managed very carefully. After a few times of early July melons and once in June, I decided that my goal had been met and it was a lot of trouble.
I like to direct sow whenever I can lately. I've decided I don't like vegi transplants. I use cloches, and all manner of covers to help my little seedlings make it past the spring frosts. But my garden is relatively small and I can afford the time it takes to manage the covers.
I have noticed that the tomatoes I sow directly into the soil are just as healthy, vigorous and productive as the ones I transplanted. Any advantage in time and size I gain with starts is lost as the plant recovers from the shock of transplant. These plants also make it into the fall longer. My most determined tomatoes are the volunteers that sprung up from a seed left behind the previous year. I have two growing near the compost pile and one under the eve of the house.
But peppers are a bit pickier than tomatoes when it comes to cold and they don't care for my soil so I couldn't say.
And I agree with Indy, you definitely need to watch the temps during the day.
here in new york its almost impossible to sow tomato seeds directly into the ground. there just isn't enough time.
Hey Guys; I am of course in S.CA,but I have found that direct seeding produces larger and more productive plants.I also have pepper plants from 2 or more years ago still growing and producing.We don't get a frost here.Hey Baxter-Plant some of your peppers directly and do the rest as transplants.Then next year you can base your decision on actual experience.