This is the projected dates for seed starting that I have marked on my calandar (the one just for my gardening).
On Feb 3rd I will plant my artichoke and pepper seeds.
On Feb 10th I will plant my tomato and cuke seeds.
On Feb 16th I will start my eggplant, pumpkins and melons, including my watermelons seeds.
On March 9th I will plant all my beans and legumes and that type
On March 10th down goes my okra seeds
On March 17th I will plant my cantaloupe seeds
On April the 8th or abouts I will plant my corn seeds directly into the EB.
February 3rd, the artichokes and pepper seeds are going into Bob's coconut coir seed starting kit, as these two plants are probably the fussiest of the group. Then come the 10th, I hope my Park's bio dome is here, if not, then I will probably have to use the Garden Supply's APS system and just before I leave for south Florida I will plant the eggplants, pumpkins and melons in Burpees seed starting kit.
The rest speaks for itself right?
TPlant, Boca Bob and everyone else, does that seem like a fair planting schedule? I have 11 GPs and EBs combined, I have 2 square footers, the 8 hanging ones (revolutionaries and topsy's), and this next week shall have at least 15 more HEBs and 3 HE buckets.
Did I mention Burpees is sending me their collection of tomato startings and RH Shumways is sending me 8 pepper (green sweet bell plants) in case a catastrophe happens I will have my peppers and tomatoes folks.
joy112854
My proposed planting schedule
Woo-hoo! Joy and I are starting tomatoes on the 10th (my second tray).
Wow Joy, what a prolific garden! You go girl! I'm so envious of all the planters you have! I will be buying my first containers ever in the next month and have decided on 10 EB and some of Bob's grow bags. Good luck with your seedies!
Darkmoon and Moonglow: Did not realize how many seeds I had, nor the containers I will have. This is gonna be great, of course, I'm hoping Park's gets that biodome here, if not I might have to buy a Boca Bob coconut coir seed starting kit II. LOL
joy112854
Joy, gotta have a plan. Proud of you.
Devota: Always, Plan A, Plan B and Plan C if A or B don't work right? LOL
joy112854
You are going to be one busy little bee. Bzzzzzzzzzzz
Jaywhacker: I hope so, some construction guy I know called yesterday and I met him on the job site as his boss left me have all the left over concrete blocks, they helped me get them in the car and then my daughter and her boyfriend helped me get them out and where they will be for the new HEBs. (smiles) Coming along nicely thus far.
joy112854
Joy, Yippee for the concrete blocks. How will you use them? Are you going to raise your HEBs up on them?
I just planted pepper and tomatos this time last weekend, and some during the week. Aunt Gerdies Gold is up this morning, so that makes me so happy that this might work.
Joy - what route do you take to S.FL
Devota: I will get boards to put on them then put the EBs on them.
GardenGlory: I'm taking I-10 to the turnpike and then straight down all the way. I checked the yahoo map and it says a little over 8 hours; but, I've driven it and I say around 10 hours and that's pushing it. LOL I'm leaving early anyways, that way I can take my time and not be rushed.
joy112854
I see many of you elevate your EB's on some sort of platform or another, and was wondering if this is any real benefit to doing this other than just for your comfort. I was planning on just placing mine on the ground. If a tomato plant grows 7 ft, you will just about have to use a stepladder to pick tomatoes won't you? (certainly not trying to sound smart, just really wondering)
darkmoondreamer: I elevate mine as it keeps them off the soil and grass, where diseases can come in, and it also gets them further from any crawling insects, easier to get to, and easier to keep level. Those are my reasons anyways. LOL
joy112854
I think Joy has a good point. Seems like the farther up from the ground you get......the less buggier it is. Nothing has ever got me free of the aphids but otherwise, bug problems have been minimal when the plants are mounted higher.
Thank you for the information! I guess mine will just have to be bug accessable this year. I have 10 EB waiting to order and no way I could buy/find materials to elevate them all :(
This is what simple EB elevation could look like...scaffold boards on cement blocks. I usually sit between the boxes...and standing on the scaffolding allowsme to reach down into the plants from above to pick all the fruits.
Thanks Gymgirl! I fear however I've already spent so much so far I may have to start out on the ground and add elevation later in the season....
Some of mine are on mulch, some on the driveway and some just on the dirt and leaves. You wont be the only one with no elevation.
Darkmoondreamer: Any construction going on in your area? If there is those guys might be willing to donate their left over concrete blocks to you, they do me in this area. LOL That's how I got all mine.
joy112854
Karen, you can also simply lay down some weed barrier, [the kind that lets water go through,] and put the boxes directly on them with several inches framing them. I does help to keep some bugs at bay and is a nice surface to walk on. Newspaper will do the same thing but isn't as attractive. Devota
Be sure and stob that weed barrier down, Karen, or the wind will blow it away!
You and your stobs, J. Have you considered marketing them? LOL
Joy, if you remind me, and its not to late. I have something to bring you that was just the ticket for me last year holding down the cloth for the melons. Im not messing with those meolons this year.
Thanks Joy and Devota! Hey guess what Jay? I found me some O-FFICAL STOBS right there at Ace Hardware! Imagine my excitement to find out that some are man made! I think Devota girl uses the same ones ☺
LOL Karen
Geeezzzzzz!! Nobody chops their own stobs anymore. I dont know what the world is coming to!!
Jaywhaker: Apparently, you haven't seen the reason I have maintenance men? I mean, I know I hold the hammer with the right hand and place the nail in the left; but, if I did that to hang a picture on the wall, there'd have to be a picture put there, as there'd be a hole in the wall before I was able to hit the nail on the head. LOL Much easier for me to groan and get into my wallet or cook some starved man a home cooked meal.
joy112854