question

I noticed that some of my sprouts were touching the lid. I flipped the lid over for a little extra height and put a rock on it to keep it in place but what happens when they get to tall for even that? Is it safe to start transplaning soon. My last estimated frost date is April 15th. Thats a long ways off!
dawn

Dawn: Probably safe for a lot of stuff in your zone. Would help to know what specific plants you have in mind for planting out. What are they?

Also what kind of containers are you talking about? Milk jugs are easy to prop lids open, either with a clothespin or simply creasing with your hands.

Karen

Hi K, This is my first year at WS... The milk jugs I used are fine. I used a couple of those clear containers that mixed salad greens come in. Know which ones I'm talking about? Over where the lettuces are in the store. The ones coming up now that are tall are called money plant (I dont know the correct name, yet). The other things haven't gotten tall yet.
While I'm at it, should I be seeing my milkweed sprouting now? I see nothing in there as of yet.
Thanks
Dawn

correct spelling

This message was edited Mar 12, 2009 12:50 PM

Money plant= lunaria. Plantfiles says it's hardy to 4a. They should be fine now without a lid. I'd just remove the lid, or, if feasible, plant out now.

(It's really hard to me to relate to zone 7b weather.)

Karen

sorry, I whole zone is a big difference I guess. Thanks for all the info. I'm gonna remove the lid tonight then. (if the wind we are having hasn't done so already)

As soon as I have decent amount sprouts on a perennial I like to open them. That's one of the reasons I prefer jugs. I can open them but leave attached. Then I have the option to flip closed if it's too cold.

Karen

yeah, I'm finding that of all the things I have to use to WS in, milk jugs work the best. Actually, fruit juice jugs too well also. Tall and have an opening like the milk jugs.

Go with tough love -- take the lid off and leave it off!

Wow, I guess maybe I'll hav to do that too. (My first year also.)

funny I also have lunaria (money plant) in one of those salad tubs and worried about the lid being too close to soil top and went and used another salad tub upside down for a new lid!

works fine.

I've been waiting for two sets true leaves to plant out tho, spinach almost ready........

It is off! Thanks.

I am new to this whole winter sowing thing too. We are supposed to be a 7a, but I have noticed that our nighttime temps have been mostly 35-40 and only about once a week or so we are dipping down even to 29-30. I have taken the lids off of a few of mine because I am almost ready to plant them out. Poppies mostly, the spinach, which will be in a pot by the kitchen anyway, I know our last freeze date is supposed to be April 15th, but it seems that the regular temps are pretty consistent and if we are forcasted to be much lower I would be able to protect my containers.

I am not going to plant out anything until I have to. There are a few things that are up and look quite happy in their containers. I just have read that poppies should be transplated pretty early because they don't like their roots disturbed. Sooooo...... they are up and they are going out. I have had their lid off for a few days now and they are doing well.

I took the lid off my money plants last night. The others are sprouting but still quite small. It is forcasted to be cloudy, cold and possibly rainy this whole weekend (yuck!) so I plan on leaving the lid on the rest of them for a few more days.

I don't think it hurts them to leave the lids on or to keep opening in the day and closing at night..... at least til temps warm up enough that leaving the lid on would make it too hot in there, then it would be a problem. IMO. Being a newbie at this....

Kyla: Yes, you're right. The main probelm is neglecting to open the lids during the day when sun can raise the temp in the container way above ambient temp, 20 degrees or more higher. You have to be especially careful of this when spring arrives in a warm climate.

I like open lids though- better airflow, strengthen stems. Allows the plant to prepare itself for the cruel world out there.

Karen

Thats what I'm thinking too Karen. That's why I went on and took the lid off. I know I would forget to put back on then off then on again. The ones I left on are so small and it's gonna be so cool it can't hurt them to stay on.

Thanks, Karen. Mine when on are so not tight, most of them not even taped, it's a total gaposis! lol~ so til it gets quite a bit warmer here I am not too concerned. ;-)

Re: poppies. I am winter sowing and the seeds I through into a container on my deck (without any covering) are already sprouting, in spite of snow and low 30's...I'll do a check tomorrow to see if the winter sown ones have come up. So, poppies are one of those flowers that are hardy annuals and will sprout even in the cold.