How can I plant when it is STILL so cold outside?
By kaysue4
@kaysue4 (951)
United States
May 21, 2008 3:24pm CST
I am so upset because it is still getting down into the low 30s here and I am afraid to plant anything outside yet.
What would you do about planting if it was you?
Thanks much.
5 responses
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
22 May 08
I would grow inside until the soil was warm enough to plant and grow vegetables that prefer colder temperatures.
The problem is not the outside temperature. That can be easily resolved with covers and heating devices. The heating devices can be as simple as black buckets of water. 
Your problem is the temperature of the soil. Unless you would be willing to increase the temperature of the soil there is nothing you can do except wait.
Here are a couple of examples. The soil temperature should be 55 degrees before you plant corn seeds. The suggested soil temperature for some melons is 70 degrees.
I have a cherry tomato that I let grow as a weed so I'll have treats to eat while I am working in the back yard. It doesn't start growing until July. That is how long it takes the soil to reach the desired temperature to germinate the tomato seeds.
If I knew what zone you were in I could tell you if I would sink plants into the ground or not. If you are in zone 6. I would plant them and cover them or use the bucket heating method.
Your problem is the temperature of the soil. Unless you would be willing to increase the temperature of the soil there is nothing you can do except wait.
Here are a couple of examples. The soil temperature should be 55 degrees before you plant corn seeds. The suggested soil temperature for some melons is 70 degrees.
I have a cherry tomato that I let grow as a weed so I'll have treats to eat while I am working in the back yard. It doesn't start growing until July. That is how long it takes the soil to reach the desired temperature to germinate the tomato seeds.
If I knew what zone you were in I could tell you if I would sink plants into the ground or not. If you are in zone 6. I would plant them and cover them or use the bucket heating method.@kaysue4 (951)
• United States
22 May 08
I am in zone 5. I have planted plants inside, but I want to get my garden tilled also and it has been SO rainy here that I have puddles in my yard also. I can't even put fish into my ponds yet, too cold.
I will try your method because I have some black buckets also.
Thanks for the tip.
@snowy22315 (208926)
• United States
30 May 08
I think it would be easier to wait. It's almost June. these low temps can't go on too much longer. You will be more upset if you plant something and they are casualties of cold weather.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
28 May 08
I'm in midwestern America, but the weather's still crazy here and we're in LATE spring now...so it's hard.
We have to get plants in the ground, and it keeps getting cold. Alot of my plants this year, which I'm growing for profit and not necessity (like my Mom's veggie garden this year)...are so sensitive that I'm afraid to plant them, that they'd take the random chilly night ill and die.
So I'm waiting for it to get warmer and hope that my plants can deal with being inside for a while longer.
@ruby222 (4847)
•
21 May 08
Im in the Uk here and ive got tubs out in the back and the front of the garden and for the last couple of nights they have forecast frost..well i was a bit miffed because the plants are expensive to buy ..let alone lose them to a frost!!..but luckily they have been fine...My Mum has a lovely Bay tree at the back of her house and when the weather is cold she covers the bay with a duvet cover at night to protect it...
