Don't Make This BIG MISTAKE Planting Cucumbers, Melons And Squash!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" and share it to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😀TIMESTAMPS here: 0:00 The #1 Mistake Gardeners Make 1:33 How Warm Weather Crops Differ 3:56 Don't Start Cucumbers With Tomatoes! 5:45 Cucurbits Hate Cool Temperatures! 6:58 Planting Schedule 9:37 Exceptions To The Rule 11:32 Adventures With Dale

[@Writer777-wanna_be.]

@The MillennialGardener Why can’t you put you example zucchini in a larger pot?

[@FringeWizard2]

Do you find pumpkins are better at handling cold than melons?

[@jasonkable1462]

I've found cucumbers can be an in ground sow and don't have to be started by seed indoors. I live in PA, zone 7a, and my cukes that get planted in ground in May outperform the ones started from seed and transplanted every single year. This year cukes are not even on the seedling list.

[@reppi8742]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@kanamexxyuki]

Same here zone 9b they start sprouting in a week be careful though I'm sticking with picklebush so it stays short in a big pot.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I would advise against that, unless you live in a place where the soil stays warm all year, like South Florida. You truly get a big jump start in the year with transplants. If you put transplants in the ground 3 weeks after your last frost date, then sow seeds on the same date, there's no way the seeds will catch up. That being said, it's a fine idea to do exactly that: put your transplants in and on the same date, sow additional seeds so you have a second crop before your first crop that will take over when the original transplants get tired.

[@monarchkitty]

I'm in zone 7. I agree and the same goes for squashes and melons, okra and corn. I think they just get transplant shock. But definitely tomatoes and peppers do better earlier started. But I will plant seeds in understory and they tend to be better producers in fall when the ones I started are puttering out. Any volunteers hands down do the best.

[@canhope1821]

I start all my cucurbits seeds inside and have never had issues with transplanting them after the last frost, but note that they all need minimal handling and no jostling.

[@brendabrenda413]

I’m in zone 5, Ontario, Canada. I gave up prestarting cucumbers, squashes and melons a long time ago. They never did well. I wait until June 1 and plant them directly in my garden. Despite my short growing season, they always do well this way.

[@ca6echka]

I used to live in zone 5, and I managed to sow my cucumbers straight into the ground, in a greenhouse, around mid-April! The secret I learned was to dig trenches, rather deep, maybe about 2 feet deep, right under the middle of my garden beds and to pile up fresh manure in those trenches, about a foot or so. Then I would return the soil back into these ditches, right on top of the manure. The heat produced by my "secret ingredient" from a neighbor's cow warmed up the soil above it and even warmed up my very no-tech greenhouse. Presoaked cuke seeds would go into the warm soil and most germinated and became extremely prolific producers. I grew more than I knew what to do with them.

[@marilynethomas4599]

By planting directly in the garden around June 1st… you mean planting the seeds directly in the garden or you start them indoor before? Thank youuuu (I’m in zone 5b so all your tips are welcome hahah)

[@brendabrenda413]

Marilyn, I plant the seeds directly in the garden. Of course I have to keep in mind how long they take to grow and when my first frost usually is and choose varieties that will work based on that.

[@FringeWizard2]

I'm going to do the same. I've done experiments so far and for some reason the plants that come from seeds I put DIRECTLY into the ground outgrow the transplants. As soon as I transplant a pumpkin or cucumber or melon or something it decides to just not grow much at all and be a stunted miserable plant.

[@ArtistCreek]

9b here. We start everything early. Never throw out seedlings! Just plant them! Whether they be nestled among your front yard flowers , thrown in a container or just pick a spot in your yard. It doesn't need to be perfect. The gial is to grow food not have an ig perfect looking garden. I think it depends on your philosophy. I am a random gardener. Sure, i have some dedicated beds, but i have a LOT of mystery plants growing in random places in my yard. It's fine. I could easily obsess over plant placement but...nah. if it grows it grows.

[@drjekyll1994]

i left the burdock in my yard since it can be used they grew underneath some cardboard once i cleaned up the cardboard i had 3 huge burdock plants randomly. i had to look it up in my organic gardening encyclopedia but now im gunna use them hopefully.

[@drjekyll1994]

but my point was im kind of just doing the random gardener thing also lol

[@kittyfruitloop8264]

Awesome! This is my second spring with my 10ft by 14ft greenhouse made with reclaimed sun porch windows we got free. It turned out looking good! I am determined to grow cucumbers and an early girl tomato in containers in there so we'll see how this goes. Everything else will go outside in the garden after our last frost date. I hope to get a better heat system in there but one chick brooder heat lamp is keeping my sensitives warm enough on cold nights. (NW GA here. I did bring my citrus in when it got in the teens back in January.) A greenhouse is a game changer! It's also a real haven!

[@ericaharris6897]

Thank you for this! I wanted a greenhouse but I work all day and I'm afraid it will get too hot and kill everything! This makes me want one now!

[@kittyskid1]

I watched this on ROKU youtube as a guest. I have made this mistake before and had to cover, protect my tomatoes. Now, I just wait. I am getting my soil ready. As far as cukes, I just direct so them. They come up so fast. Your work on this channel is phenomenal.

[@jaytoney3007]

My tomato and pepper seedlings are well under way. I just finished potting up my tomato seedlings, and am working on the peppers. Tomorrow is seed sowing day for radishes, carrots, beetroot, kohlrabi, peppermint, snow peas, shelling peas, and lettuce. March 1st is when I sow seed starts for cucumbers, squash, cucumbers, and watermelon. I have garlic in the ground, onion transplants, giant red mustard, Southern Curley Mustard, and Fordhook Swiss Chard growing. Potatoes are chitting and go into the ground the first week of March. About the fifteenth of March, I'll sow most of my herb seeds. I'll finish the garden in April by sowing the last of my herbs, pole beans, adding a mushroom bed, and planting transplants.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's such a wonderful time of year. I love late February! So many possibilities for the new year.

[@williamrichardson2596]

Go!!!

[@genevabrown450]

I can hardly wait, got another month before I can turn on the lights.

[@erictownsend4236]

Wow, sounds fantastic! But I am in zone 5A, way too early for me. What zone are you in? I feel is is very pertinent to include what growing zone you are in when posting what you are doing and when so that other growers in a different zone don't start at the incorrect time for them. Thanks, and have a great growing season. Eric

[@jaytoney3007]

@@erictownsend4236 I'm in zone 7B.

[@Marcos0ne]

Good thing I love in Phoenix Arizona. I can pretty much grow anything year round either on the raised bed or in the sun room.

[@diananazaroff5266]

I love how you do this. You read my mind, then create a video answering the questions I've been thinking about. Thank you, lol!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm happy to help!

[@jumperstartful]

"What's Growing ON!" would make a great T-Shirt!!!

[@SensusFidelium]

Thank you for this. Was about to literally do what you warned about.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm glad I could help!

[@suzieq4750]

I get the best germination using a damp paper towel in a baggie under my kitchen sink. Typically 3 days for tomatoes, 4-5 days for peppers. Once germinated, I put them in the growing medium. I live in zone 5b where we can't plant tomatoes and peppers outside until after Memorial Day. It is typical to have a frost in mid to late May.

[@rickwashek478]

Good information, I stated a lot of things to early last year. I had a jungle in my garage. Only lost a couple plants but they were all out of control by the time I got them planted

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It’s never fun managing large plants 😂 We have had “late springs” the last couple years with late frosts and it has been annoying dealing with large transplants.

[@kimconroy1601]

I live in the Colorado Mountains and I start all my squash, and cucumber indoors around the first week of May in hopes that temps are ok to put them out in June. I have not had issues transplanting.

[@andreacastelli6296]

You're an excellent teacher. I'm a total newbie and this helps tremendously. I'm in Florida though, so I'm in that not majority.. But this still helps! I love that you're direct and also that you do a quick recap to solidify what we just learned. A plus!

[@heidiquayle5054]

I had no luck with cucumber and cucurbits last season and this might be why! Thanks

[@die-hardhexican9905]

That was the perfect way to express the proper seed starting. I agree, starting seeds to early is always disappointing unless you have greenhouse or hoop frame to grow them on.

[@littlered4life]

Hello neighbor! I'm over in the lower Piedmont and haven't even thought about starting my cucurbits yet. Your video does an amazing job at comparing the grow rate of different plants! I just planted my tomatoes a few days ago and my peppers about two weeks prior and they both just started sprouting!

[@erictownsend4236]

Great video and info! You have become 1 of my two top you tube posters to follow. Gardener Scott is the other one. I am in zone 5A 1150 sea level. Scott, 5B 7000 ft. sea level. so we are close in zone, but different in ft. above sea level. You are in a very different zone than I am, but both of you, include timing strategies for starting, transplanting, plant selection on last frost date, length of season ,1st frost date etc. I love this format, as it allows other gardeners to adjust depending on their conditions! And you both give great additional advice as well. My hat goes off to you both! Here's hoping all have a great growing season! Eric

[@fishingpinky3165]

This was so helpful. I just lost about 18 cucurbits (6 varieties) by doing exactley what you warned against. I was hearbroken but will now try your method. They all started out great on the heat mats but once I started putting them outside and the nights were cold they all slowly died.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's no big deal. The best way to learn is to learn the hard way, because you'll never make that mistake again. Mistakes are only a problem when you repeat them. If you learn from them, it's just education. You'll nail it this time!

[@thenotoriousfig]

the Best gardening channel on KZbin!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I appreciate it very much! Thanks for watching!

[@itwillgroweventually]

Great video as always. I live in zone 9B in California and I can usually get away starting most all my seeds at the same time. Especially this year it hasn't been very cold I managed to keep two pepper plants alive and they're still producing I didn't even have to overwinter them.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I have property in Zone 9b. One day, I hope to be growing tomatoes and cucumbers year round.

[@leendaroberto]

I live in 9b and I overwintered my peppers this year🤞I had cherry tomatoes until December. I might try to grow tomatoes and cucumbers all year with the proper protection I think it would work. @@TheMillennialGardener

[@PaprikaPauline]

I live in 9 a.m. California and I also was able to keep a couple of pepper plants and a couple of tomato plants, it didn't really freeze here

[@SannyAnnie]

Just in time advice! I was just getting ready to start some cuke/squash seeds indoors - I usually direct sow (zone 7B). You saved me! I'll start the cole crops by themselves, instead. Love love love your channels. And Dale, of course.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I recommend starting your first wave of cucurbits as transplants. Direct sowing will put you about a month behind. Having 3-4 week transplants go into the ground will put you very far ahead.

[@AlSween]

Awesome! You answered all the questions I've been thinking about. Especially, about artificially warming the seedlings under a protective cover

[@krystlerevia1715]

Ugh! I’m 8b East Texas and I started all of mine super early. So far so good with lots of potting up. I might end up growing a lot of things planned for the garden in grow bags. I will not let them die in vain 😂. Fingers crossed 🤞

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're going to have a lot of vines to manage 😂 But if you can keep them alive, they'll take when the weather is right.

[@teresaremaniak856]

Secure a tomato cage around the grow bag and train the vines.

[@IAmTammyJ]

Thank you so much for this information. Rookie here and I need all the tips. I’m originally from NC but currently live in Germany and it will be my first garden here and growing from seeds. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Good luck with your garden journey. That sounds exciting.

[@commonlaw5400]

Brittany, give this remarkable man a big hug of appreciation for me. He tops the charts!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I forced her to read this comment out loud to me. She grit her teeth so hard I couldn’t understand a word 😁

[@YenniHope]

Thanks for the video! I think it is a great advice to not to start your seedlings too early, but here in up in the north planning for 2-3 weeks after the last frost date would not give us enough time to get the yield. So in crappy springs like this current one it is such a night mare to plan when to start what and how to fit them anywhere and keep them alive until the frosts are gone (last frost date is 10th of June).

[@GlennNewell]

This video was brilliant. So well explained you made it clear and simple. Thank you.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome! I’m glad it was helpful.

[@sandysimpler5147]

I value the information you put out so much! Not only am I new to gardening but I also live in the Sandhills of NC. Your information is invaluable to me. Thank you!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@loafdad]

This is super helpful. I lost all my cucumbers and melons last year. I’m in West Sussex in the UK (Zone 12), I looked up my last frost date and it’s average May 1st to May 10. So Toms and Peppers will get started mid March and Cucumbers & Melons will be started mid-late April. Having said all this last year May & June were like summer, absolutely barmy hot….. so I guess will have to watch and see and be ready to go a bit earlier if things are looking like they did last year. Thanks for the tips, your method of doing sweet potatoes worked awesome for me last year. I’ve got Okinawan ones on order this year….😊

[@nildaotero2933]

Thanks for sharing all this great info. I didnt know I had to wait to grow my cucumbers.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@ChiChi75169]

Thank you so much for the video. Zone 8b Seattle here and have NEVER been able to get my melons to harvest (cantaloupe and/or watermelon). Definitely have been starting them too early 😵‍💫 Fingers crossed this year will be different - always appreciate the great content!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

In your climate, I strongly recommend growing them under row covers/building a small hoop house. Your climate is too persistently cool for good melons. Melons really need a lot of heat to mature and develop sugars and good flavor. Building something like this will help you tremendously: kzbin.info/aero/PL1gY7BoYBGIHTXtdhw3mMeOyMgLPt8pKR&si=omJ1fJAJLBLn4-qO I also recommend the Kajari melon. It's a mini-melon and will do better in short growing seasons. I think they'd excel out your way.

[@ChiChi75169]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thank you so much for taking the time to help me with some great suggestions. I will absolutely be trying the hoop house build and just ordered a packet of Kajari melon seeds. Much appreciated 🤗

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@ChiChi75169you're welcome! I wish you the best of luck. I think you'll like the Kajari. Be sure to let them get very ripe. They actually drop from the vines when ripe.

[@biscuit7910]

Thank you thank you. I can't thank you enough. I was just planning out my 1st seed plantings from the last frost date. I would have killed my cucumbers, Zucchini, + a few others. Thank you again. Now subscribed to your channel.

[@ChivoXL909]

Zone 6 Central WA high desert, I usually start my super-hot peppers around the first week of January to include the sugar rush varieties that also take months for the peppers to ripen as well. Then I usually start tomatoes and sweet/bell peppers late February. Everything else I just start from seed mid-May, and they all usually do just fine by the end of the season in late September early October. Except this year the intrusive thoughts won, and I planted my tomatoes mid-January lol oh well lots of topping, up potting, and a greenhouse makes it okay just a bit more complicated than usual for me. On the plus side I do give extras to friends and family, so they too have a head start on the season.

[@FDDLERSGREEN]

Im in zone 9a and am doing my spring garden before summer hits, this weekend. Plants are ready to go in. Melons and cukes go in their own raised bed. The rest go in the other 2 beds. Just came across this channel, subscribed

[@lindag9975]

Thanks! Great points. Here in the Phoenix area, Zone 9B, my cherry tomatoes are still producing from the autumn planting outside. My peppers produced outside in January, and I hope to see more now that we have warm weather. Just planted the cucurbit seeds, since our last possible frost date was February 15th. Here the purpose is to get the cucurbits fully produced before July when they fry in the heat. 😀 Love seeing Dale!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Must’ve been a mild winter in Phoenix. We have been having a consistently cold winter. My future property is in 9B and I look forward to year round tomatoes one day.

[@retiredgardener]

Me too! My peppers and cherry tomatoes from last fall are still going! LOL

[@pavelchetirbok6126]

​@TheMillennialGardener I live in Fl. 9B. My tomatoes produced ALL winter long even with a couple dips below 32.

[@markcarruthers3313]

Planted the seeds of 3 (only) determinate tomato varieties on Feb 21st & put them on a heat mat set to 82ºF. Today is the 25th. Nothing was showing yesterday but, this morning, the tomato seedlings were each almost a spindly inch tall!! Immediately put under grow lights! Depending on where I look, our last frost date is anywhere from April 30th to May 18th (west of London Ontario zone 6b). Tough to know when to plant seeds!🤦‍♂️ Last year, we had a brutal planting season, such that the tomatoes started in the latter half of March were 12” to 24” tall. I dug the holes for some of them with a post-hole auger…and they actually did well.🤷‍♂️ Will heed your advice for starting cucumbers, squash, pumpkins & melons, considerably later than peppers & tomatoes. Thanks!

[@matthawkins4579]

I knew there was a reason I subscribed to your channel, great video.

[@ChristinesBackyardGarden]

I got so excited starting my seeds, I forgot it was too early for cucumbes. I will move them to my shed under some lights when I have to up pot to a bigger container. I will be growing them in containers anyway, so hopefully, they will make it. If not, I'll start another round the week before my last frost date. Thank you.

[@dianthaweilepp5294]

I had a cucumber sprout in my compost pile last September zone 8. Tried to keepit going in straw bails with fleece. Didn't work. Dead o 12:11 n 1st 30 degrees. Thanks for this video. Gardening is always an exploration in to possibilities and education!

[@Izvitoy]

Zone 10A in Clearwater, FL here. I've been struggling so much with growing cucumbers. I feel like if you breath on a cucumber seedling wrong, they die 😅. It would be great to get a full in depth video on growing cucumbers. I've always bought my plants at Home Depot so learning how to start from seed has been... quite a challenge lol

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Most Florida growers struggle because the sun is too strong. It's too strong here in NC in summer, so in Tampa, it's going to be even worse. Shade cloth is going to be the solution to a lot of your problems. I recommend you watch this video, because it has changed how I will forever garden *and* make an even bigger difference for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYCQhmStjqyNbrMsi=K4TcymjQD76kC8ai Keep in mind these are vining plants, which means they're going to grow in dappled light on forest grounds and up trees. These vines don't grow out in an open field in full sun. That may work in Ohio and New Jersey since the sun isn't all that strong, even in July, but in Florida? They'll get torched. You need to approximate their real habitat. Almost nothing that's a vine or only a few feet tall grows out in the open.

[@MsBellsandy]

I wonder if you could grow them in the "winter". My mom lives in Clearwater but I think the rats would get anything she planted.

[@Commenter-ib8ex]

Here in Denmark (Zone 6?), I find that I can sow my zucchinis in the latter half of April. Officially, our last frost date is the fifth of June, but frosts are unlikely to occur after a few days into May. This means that I get a good head start, as I grow in containers and can bring my plants inside if needed. We don't have more than a couple of months of the year where the average nightly temperature exceeds 12c, but my zucchinis don't seem to mind that at all. They just grow and produce little bit slower. This would definitely be different for something that truly requires heat, like cucumbers, though, as well as certain species of pumpkin (Cucurbita Moschata). But as I said, Cucurbita Pepo does not seem to mind 5-10C nights very much.

[@nicolecooke945]

I am new to growing seedlings. Started this year and your videos have really helped with the first steps! Although I did start growing cucumbers in February as it said it on the seed pack and now I'm regretting it as you have mentioned in the video. House is kinda full! Hopefully the winter will go soon hehe.

[@bethb8276]

Even though I'm zone 10b it was still helpful listening to this, even in a direct sow situation I can see that planting cucurbits at the same time as tomatoes or peppers could lead to problems if they were planted near each other and one shades out the other. Learning how something develops is always helpful.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Cucurbits really are amazing. Here in NC, I plant 4 waves of cucumbers and squash a year. They grow and mature so quickly! Tomatoes, I'm lucky if I can get a second wave to take. Usually, my second wave fails to ripen and I just have green tomatoes.

[@sisterfrennn]

Zone 7b Richmond VA, sooo sad I’m just seeing this vid. I already started my seedlings & did plant cucumber -the cucumber & sunflowers are literally taking off sooo fast & we don’t have our last frost until April, I’m assuming I’ll have to toss these 😔 the zinnias & pole beans are going quick too! Well lesson learned, I’ll direct sow these next time. Great video! Enjoying your channel!

[@danielgabriel1629]

Wow, I learned so much. Thank you!

[@kyler2640]

Thank you. I love in 7B NC as well and started my peppers way too early from excitement and our recent freeze killed them all. I was about to start my cucumbers and watermelon next week but now I see we have about another month.

[@alexmoreaux645]

🤣🤦‍♂ Just started some zucchini starts 2 days ago to get a “ jump start” and now I’m thinking I’m probably going to need some more seeds. Thanks for the videos always learning something new. Sometimes a little late lol

[@vginnmusa3128]

I did a sort of winter sowing this year. Planted a variety of vegetable seeds & put them in clear containers outside (mini-greenhouse) once no longer freezing (zone 8b). So far cucubits & most all else have sprouted, tomatoes & peppers have not as yet. Have a deadline to replant or buy if dont sprout

[@aantosca]

I'm chomping at the bit up here in New Hampshire - Last Frost date is about the last week in May!!! I can't wait!!!

[@nmtGurl]

Same!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I imagine you'd want to sow your cucurbits around the first or second week of May in your position (and tomatoes/peppers first week of April).

[@karenlewkowitz5858]

Dear Zuchini plant - thank you for giving your energy for this awesome video ❤

[@lauriemclean1131]

Is it OK to confess, I prefer to let the pros start my tomato & pepper plants for me. I just love doing business with a friend who has a great greenhouse business. Helps her. Helps me. No stress. I know this video is strictly for growing your own, but some plants, to me, just aren't worth the trouble & gamble of trying to start them myself.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Transplants have gotten *way* too expensive these days. At the current cost of transplants, I could start literally 50 tomato plants for the cost of a 6-pack. It's crazy. If you have a source of inexpensive transplants, that's fine, but mass-sold transplants are out of the question in the current market. I also like to have a nice variety of tomatoes, and the only way to grow interesting varieties is to grow from seed. The transplants are always the same boring handful of varieties unless you know someone that is adventurous.

[@danielleboule3220]

I started my eggplant and peppers. Waiting on the tomatoes (zone 6b in MA). Thanks for the great video. I currently have snow covered raised bed with garlic and lettuce buried. Will wait on the cukes until late April thanks to your advice.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@julierobinson3052]

Very informative. Thank you.

[@marcfruchtman9473]

Super helpful info. Thanks for this advice.

[@shivesja]

Just made this mistake. Lol. Should be ok since I am in zone 9, but next year will take your advice!

[@robincagle2398]

Thanks for the video it helped me!!! Sadly in a bad way!!!! Started every seed I could get my hands on all at once 😂😂 about 300 plants

[@sherronhardin2127]

Well I’ve made all these mistake. I guess I was a little too happy to get started. I have containers I’m moving them to. But yes, you are so right. I missed up🥴

[@Hopinforpeaceonearth]

Great tips!!!! Thank you. I love this channel. South coastal Virginia here so somewhat close to your growing seasons.

[@mauric.7591]

Thank you for the video! Saved me a lot of energy and frustration!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad I could help!

[@godsconstruction]

Zone 9a here you are so right it's time for us to up pot our cucabits

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Seems early to up-pot cucurbits, even in Zone 9a. I'm in 8b, and I wouldn't think about planting them for another 3-4 weeks. I just know March has some hard freezes in store for us. It always does.

[@Dankapotamus918]

Direct sow here in Oklahoma. Plant the seed and pray and everything works out A okay.

[@markcarruthers3313]

I found it interesting that you planted cucumbers in those little plugs. I may have to try that, when I get around to starting them.🤷‍♂️

[@memph7610]

I transplanted my cucumbers and zucchini around May 20 a couple years ago here in Canada, and we got hit by a late spring cold blast, with temps in the high 30s/low 40s for over 24 hours, heavy wind and rain (coldest temp was around 36F), and they survived. The zucchini took no damage and kept chugging along. The cucumbers took damage and lost its leaves, but it did eventually recover - although it was knocked back by about a week. Eggplants, beans, ground cherries, peppers and tomatoes took no damage. Basil took a little damage but recovered (faster than the cucumbers).

[@morgastic23]

Oh geez, I wish I saw this before I started. I did all of my seeds at once and figured I had a month or more before I had to move them out. Here's hoping we have a short winter. Checking the forecast for my area (coastal Virginia) seems like we're in for an early spring

[@sislertx]

Thanks..ive been struggling with when to start my cucumbers..looks like i should pot up several tomatoes and take a chance on planting some tomatoes..

[@TheAkb101]

Great videos, especial loved the one with the straw and the secret powder. I can't find any Rosella purple dwarf tomato seeds. What's the difference between those and Rosella dwarf crimson? Are they they same? Keep on keeping on!

[@jasonprice3034]

Im new to this , and your videos are sooooo helpful!!! Thx for taking the time to show people.

[@leendaroberto]

Perfect timing on this helpful video. I live in zone 9b and I already started my cucumbers on 2-1 and just repoted them. I was going to start my summer squash and melons tomorrow-now I know it is to early since my last frost date is March 28. I will gladly wait. Than you so much for all of the help. Hi to Dale 🦴🦴🐾🐾 he is such a good boy❣

[@natehunter2961]

I live in the high desert and we can get under 40 temps at any time during the summer. Squash tend to do ok though i have had the leaves killed during a light frost early in the season.

[@coneflower5101]

Thanks for the garden tips. Love that Dale. 💗

[@lostpony4885]

We have short freezes and we had one roma and the one cherry tomato overwinter right in place nestled in with other plants. I thought the stems were bad but they actually are lively and disease free amazing! So not only a slip but whole main plant going into second year bristling with blossoms

[@lostpony4885]

These were never replanted deep, always placed at original soil depth after watching a vid that shows keeping depth makes more robust trunk and not sure if this or mild winter or the stinky salmon head it was planted over but...alive aliiiiive hee haw.

[@melanieeaton3344]

'Thank you for explaining why I lost my cucumber starts. I started inside and when my cucumbers looked like yours, I put them in my unheated greenhouse. We are not yet out of the 40s at night yet and they died on me. Blessings from the Oregon coast, zone 9b.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad I could help! Nights in the 40’s kill young cucumbers. My cucumbers died in October a month before our first frost. They just can’t handle it. One or two here and there may not do them in, but once it becomes frequent, they die off.

[@connecticutaggie]

Great information, thanks!! What do you use for light for your 4-8 wk tomato seedlings (how much wattage per plant)?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I use the system I built in this video, but I have 2 lights total. I added a second, because it works so well: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmLVo3uibdSGgLssi=FgYTm838NHfDftug

[@connecticutaggie]

Awesome, thanks - only 60W, that is pretty good. Have you measured the LUX at the leaf level to see how that compares to sunlight (there is an app for that).

[@max3883242]

Благодарю. Интересно. Ещё и практикую восприятие на слух английского языка. 🎉🎉🎉

[@margiekinney1130]

Thank you so much for this video. So informative and perfect timing! 🍅🫑

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@ObsessiveAboutCats]

I'm having this problem with my sweet potatoes. I wasn't expecting much in the way of slips forming, especially because I was using all store bought potatoes. They tried to eat my grow lights! I'm hardening them off right now and am going to have to figure out what to do with them. Fortunately spring came early this year for us.

[@kennym5553]

Love this channel! I do have a question. I’m new to indoor seed starting and was wondering how long you should keep your lights on above your plants? 24 hrs 12hrs etc? Thanks in advance Kenny

[@weitang1196]

For general 6b people, the beginning of April is the time to sow your seeds indoors. However, the story may be different if you live in an area such as NYC or in a city. There are problems such as the last frost day, sea level, late spring, "fault spring," etc. Always check the weather to make sure that you can transplant outdoors.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I like to go by frost dates rather than zones. I’m the same “zone” as Seattle. Our climates are nothing alike 😂 Zones should only be consulted for planting trees and perennials. They’re not relevant to annuals.

[@weitang1196]

@@TheMillennialGardener😂sorry...mom plants veggies, and I plant trees. Therefore, I got used to the whole zone thing

[@melindaroth5796]

Yes Anthony we learned the hard way. Gotta start over. 😢😢😢

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's a hard lesson to learn. Throwing away all those plants is tough.

[@melindaroth5796]

@@TheMillennialGardener Oh I know now. So Sad. I sent your video to family and friends. Thank you Brother. GOD bless yall

[@drjekyll1994]

i just threw my cucumber seeds in the garden but a little late but they're growing great, my watermelons haven't germinated or at least popped up yet.

[@patkrueger7353]

Well we just got 12 inches of snow in my area in pa zone 6 this oast weekend. 😢. I also plant my cucumber seeds in the ground. No problem. My zucchini i had planted in a grow bag and it grew beautiful. I got mire zucchini out if that than in the ground. Thanks for your videos. You do provide lits if info.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I always recommend ignoring the current weather. What happens today means nothing. Always add 6-8 weeks to your outlook. Will it be nice then? If so, start planting indoors today! Except with cucurbits...that's a 3-4 week horizon. They just grow so quickly!

[@mbg4445]

This was a great video. Thank you for all the wonderful information. I never realized that cucumbers were in the same family as squash and melons. I was going to plant some winter squash in the same bed where I had cucumbers last year. Now I'm wondering if that's a mistake. HHHmmm I'm running out of room. 🙄 And I always love seeing Dale. He is so sweet.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Cucumbers and melons share the same pests and diseases. If you struggle with pests and disease, it is best to separate them. If you don’t, you’ll probably be ok. Once your melons fruit adequately, you can cover them with insect netting to protect them if you do not need more fruit since pollination won’t be necessary anymore.

[@kkeenan536]

That was helpful, thanks! I’ve been sitting with my calendar trying to get organized. I’m in TN so we have a long growing season, (no urgent time crunch to start, especially since we’ve had 3 nights below freezing 😆)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Our time crunch here is that it gets so hot in July that the plants stop fruiting and die, and the insect pressure gets so bad everything gets ruined. We have to get our harvests in in May or June. It's too hot here in the summer, unfortunately. Shade cloth is our only help.

[@kkeenan536]

That’s true & same here for most things@@TheMillennialGardener

[@lauraweiss7875]

I’m already successfully indoor overwintering (for the third year) a whole bunch of huge tropical plants that experts said would never do well inside for six months. I’m putting my zucchini in pots anyway, so I’ll bring em in at night. I betchya it all turns out fine and I throw nothing out.

[@BetsyReitzel]

I live in a dry climate and only get peppers to germinate well with a humidity dome.

[@shisuikami8204]

I like to think of my "mistakes" as happy lil accidents that become food for my worms or compost piles :) never trash em always compost em hehe, helps to get inert soil life started too.

[@mamtajaya6457]

Great information brother. I made that mistake and learned it. What a waste. I composed hundreds of plants last year 🙏

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's only a waste if you repeat the mistake. When it happens the first time, it's just a learning experience. As long as you learn from it, I consider it education.

[@mamtajaya6457]

@@TheMillennialGardener So true my brother. I learn a lot from your experiences 😊🙏

[@mraereed]

Could you recommend a cucumber that will grow well in Michigan and is the kind they use for the baby gherkin pickles that you buy at the grocery store? Thank you for the videos I've learned so much from you.

[@briannasmith8481]

I started my tomatoes in January, if i take too long to up-pot them, can I unintentionally stunt them? They've slowed growth significantly

[@theukyankee]

Our last frost date in London is around mid-March, but we also don't get a lot of sun hours until some times in April/May, so we have to play around with times and experiment. I've already started peppers and will start my tomatoes soon.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Building hoop houses to warm up during the day would probably make a big difference in your climate. Another ~5 degrees would make an enormous difference. I have some hoop house builds that can be built quickly that I'm sure would help: kzbin.info/aero/PL1gY7BoYBGIHTXtdhw3mMeOyMgLPt8pKR&si=_xZldqUArGbntgZD

[@karenlewkowitz5858]

Thank you!!! 🎉🎉🎉 Great useful info - right to the point!! Zone 6b

[@Aaron_890]

Im in eastern NC and i plant seed in ground and my plants produce alot and only die when it starts getting cold again. I still plant extra around june tho just bc they grow so easy and quick for me

[@bunchoffuls4459]

We're near each other. When do you plan on putting out your indeterminate tomatoes? I know our last frost date but I also know you push the limits for a quicker harvest. I was thinking about doing your milk jug trick and putting them out early (maybe early March). The forecast for the next few weeks isn't bad but who knows what March will look like.

[@AvroChan]

Ive had my zucchinis outside in -10C under frost cover last year. Temp randomly dipped like mad mid May. Lost only SOME leaves but they survived. i was so shocked lol. my tomatoes werent even fazed. lol. its gonna be a pain but I HAVE to start my melons now or i wont get any with my short season. Luckily i have a greenhouse for buffering. game changer for me in zone 4

[@omegacanon]

Missouri Zone 6 here. Killer advice!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad it was helpful!

[@valoriegriego5212]

Great info,and we'll explained...as usual!👍 Love Dale's pjs!😃

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I wish Dale knew how ridiculous he looks in his rubber ducky pajamas 🦆

[@nancyluna4832]

Hello Dale dad ☺ Iam excited for this year planting in zone 8b now 9 Austin, Tx it' going to be hot but still excited anyway I started my seeds like eggplant, swiss chard, cucumbers and I am still trying to get the timing down but my plants spouted and now having a tough time keeping them strong and healthy also have a lot of nats, they are on the a heating pad on the floor with the window shade open. trying not to over water them and I check everyday - what am I doing wrong or what step am I missing. Love your videos keep and look forward for the next one. Thanks

[@timjoyner174]

I’m in Wilmington. Would be cool to link up and trade plants. Awesome channel, keep it up!

[@judiwhitworth8924]

I am about to cry....