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Ray, North Dakota

I have three plants that are two weeks old in the house in peat pots. All have their first true leaves and are wanting to run. Our temperatures have been 55F and 40's at night.

If I put them out now with some Wall o Water tomatoe protectors, will they die? We still may have a frost up here in the north country, and with the effort I put into these things, I don't want them to die. I plan on putting them out today with the Wall o Waters surrounding them, and plant my backups in something bigger and keep them indoors another week. Any advice would be helpful, should I put them out or leave them a few more days?

5/14/2006 3:03:45 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

Plant them! Murphy's law says the hardest freeze will happen the day you plant them. Just prepare for it. Wall-o-water, blankets whatever it takes. Doesn't matter what the weather man says, planting pumpkins is a sure bet to bring on the frost. Getting root bound is a big problem as well particularly if you have them in 4" peat pots.

5/14/2006 4:38:22 PM

Gettum in the dirt,,protect them and don't forget the wind protection during the nice days they will outgrow those pretty fast once they start to take off.

If you use the wall of water an old blanket or tarp covering at night should do the trick. I still think that hoops or some type of cold frame is the best for the first few weeks. But get them planted, I had seedlings with roots touching the sidewalls in 2 days in 3" peat pots

5/14/2006 5:11:30 PM

Ray, North Dakota

I can drop them in a hole peat pot and all can't I? I would think the pots would fall apart under the soil.

They are going in in a few minutes. Thanks

5/14/2006 5:33:40 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

just break the bottom of that pot a little
doesn't take much
the roots will get outeasier

5/14/2006 6:29:11 PM

Ray, North Dakota

I popped out the bottom and dropped them into the hills in the garden. I have them protected with Wall o Water and a blanket over the top in the cooler evenings. Thanks again everyone.

5/14/2006 9:09:05 PM