Starting Veggies Early: Everyone Can Grow a Garden (2021) #9

[@health.bites.5615]

I'll love giving this a try in March this year!

[@marilynpetty6717]

I did this same experiment in mid March last year here in my zone 5b. Put a low tunnel over my raised bed, strung incandescent Christmas lights clipped to the top inside the arch, and turned them on when nights got below freezing. It worked wonderfully!!! I'm planning to do the same again next week. I love watching your channel. Our zones are so similar and your advise is always spot on.

[@emptynestgardens9057]

Oh my goodness a use for our old xmas lights, brilliant!! Thank you.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Oh, that is a great idea! Thanks for sharing that, Marilyn.

[@martian10712]

Yes, I saw another garden channel video about that. I wish I could remember who it was. He calculated the watts of the lights, and how many strands he would need to be effective for the nighttime temperatures. ♡

[@jucjuc314]

This is a typ of risks I would be happy to take, while others would choose skydiving, racing cars.. 😄 I cross my fingers for the salad babies 👌🤗I sowed a few seeds outside in pots, but now the weather is cooling down here in Germany.. We see how they turn out. Greetings Judit 😊

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Judit! Yes, this is my kind of risk!

[@ALittleGardenUpNorth]

I like that you have built in hoop attachment for your garden raised beds. I live in zone 4b, your suggestions are very much appreciated.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thank you!

[@jgrady9553]

Yes, those look efficient- good garden hack

[@heathermacdonald6404]

Thanks, Susan! Your help is always appreciated. Will preorder your book! (Seeing all the comments and just five likes makes me think you need to remind folks to hit that like button and subscribe to your videos. I think KZbin should know how much we all appreciate your helpful videos.) Happy gardening! :)

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Heather. That's probably something I should incorporate into my videos. I do have a "please subscribe" at the end but maybe I need to speak up about that!

[@jgrady9553]

I was debating whether or not to order the cloche system you're using, good to see that its not thin, cheap plastic and that it works.Thanks!

[@michaelmarchione3408]

I made a makeshift frame late last summer and kept my romaine lettuce going until the end of October. We are in zone 4a. What you have shown us was great info and tells me I might be on the right track. This year I want to push the limits for a small fall garden as an experiment. No one We know in our area or the woods does fall gardening. It is worth a try! We only have 3 months at best.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

We gardeners like to push the envelope, right Michael?!

[@michaelmarchione3408]

@@SusansInTheGarden So true, so true!

[@litaanderson1589]

Hi Susan I found your channel by surfing the gardening channel. I had been watching some of your videos and i found you are passionate of gardening. I like your technic and gardening knowledge is very informative. Best of all we have the same zone(zone5b) west Michigan. And you are very detailed. It’s so nice to have those gardening supplies on hand. Best wishes to your early salad planting. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Nice to meet you, Lita! Thanks for your kind comments.

[@sophiematern8357]

Wonderful tips for early start to growing vegetables

[@jstallings2070]

I am planning to use the hoop method in the fall. I am in zone 8 in Vancouver, Ca. I was going to use floating row cover over the hoops and then the plastic, hoping this will get me through winter although this year we did have a few -10’c nights. I will be watching keenly to see how you make out! Thanks for doing this.

[@derekcox6531]

Definitely going to try this method this season! I have some raised planters against my south facing house wall. Even though it’s still darn cold here in zone 3b-4a...I think it’s worth the try ! Thank you for this episode!

[@SusansInTheGarden]

That's awesome, Derek! I'm glad you enjoyed this video.

[@cynpolischeck9268]

Awesome video- going to try planting kale and rapini

[@wintergardening2493]

Winter Gardener Susan, I really enoy the wealth of information in your videos. Could you tell me the name of the agricultural netting you put on your hinged hoop cover to keep insects away. I have trouble with squash vine borers and white cabbage moths. Thank you.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi there. This is what we bought: www.agfabric.com/collections/garden-cover/products/white-insectnetting12. It comes in different widths and lengths, looks like it's on sale, too! The only thing I wanted to mention is that you won't be able to keep the squash plants covered for the entire season because the flowers will need to be pollinated. But you can keep them covered until the plants start blooming. But cabbage and other members of the same plant family (i.e., broccoli, kale, cauliflower, kohlrabi, etc.) doesn't require pollination so it can be covered all season long.

[@Danielseven-ir2mq]

Will be starting eggplant seeds soon indoors. 🍆 10 varieties. Here in Denver CO zone 6 a. Planting outside in June.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

That sounds about right. They definitely love warm soil!

[@Nanaslegacy]

Do you have a video on starting seeds in an unheated greenhouse? I would like to see what I can start in there to save space in the house! I’m in eastern Washington too, but northwest of you same zone; but I think we can be colder than you at times. I can’t wait to see how your lettuce does.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi there. I totally understand what you mean about needing more space, but this time of year, it's just too chilly to start most seeds in an unheated greenhouse. You might be able to start lettuce and other cool-season greens in it, but I think that's about it until the temperatures warm up a bit. The lettuce seedlings under the cloche tunnel are doing fine so far. (whew!)

[@cherimoore2458]

Wondering if you could speed it up more by using your cloche system with a row cover over top of that.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

You could but I'm just trying this so far. I'm keeping a very close eye on the forecast, though!

[@judymogensen2208]

Can't wait to see how your experiment goes. Did you harden off those seedlings first? I'm assuming you started them inside. Thanks for this video.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Judy. I didn't harden them off although ordinarily, I do harden off ALL seedlings started indoors. But I didn't have a problem doing this last year so am trying again without hardening them off. I think the density of the plastic cloche plus the condensation on the inside of it are lessening the intensity of the sunlight. Plus the sun is lower in the sky at this point. We shall see!

[@seancampbell7215]

Hi Susan! What is the cool device you are kneeling on?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Sean. That is my favorite tool! It's known as a garden kneeler or kneeler bench. When you use it as a kneeler, you can lower yourself down onto it with those handles, and push yourself back up again. Which is a great muscle-saver. When you flip it over, it becomes a bench, which is ideal for doing tedious tasks like picking blueberries or doing a bunch of flower deadheading. I've been using a kneeler bench for probably 20 years. Best tool ever. Here's the one that I have: www.gardeners.com/buy/deep-seat-garden-kneeler/40-009.html. You can also find them at garden centers.

[@seancampbell7215]

@@SusansInTheGarden thank you!! I'm a physical therapist in liberty lake and always looking for ways to help my patients keep gardening.

[@snoopiepapu]

Great idea! Also side note how do you like your kneeling pad with supports?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

It is awesome! My most important tool in the garden!

[@jenniferfischer7171]

Great video! How will you water the plants and how often? Any special requirement this time of hear?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I will keep a close eye on the soil but feel it will be a while before it dries out! I'll just use a watering can because our drip irrigation and sprinkler system isn't turned on yet.

[@marilynblackwell802]

Susan, where did you find the cloches and how much did they cost?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Marilyn. Here's a link to them at Gardener's Supply: www.gardeners.com/buy/garden-row-plastic-cloches-set-of-3/8599960.html

[@marilynblackwell802]

@@SusansInTheGarden Thank you, Susan for the link. They're definitely useful for early planting.

[@Suburbanoasis]

Great video, I have been looking at that particular cloche and wondering how sturdy it is and how easy to store....what do you think so far?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

I really like it. It's very sturdy and easy to use. And since it's made up of individual components, we just stack them and put them on top of a high shelf in our garage.

[@Suburbanoasis]

Thanks for the additional information! I may need to get a couple, probably won't be in time for spring but could extend the fall...

[@emptynestgardens9057]

So did those seedlings grow in your house under lights and then straight under cloches or do I have to harden them off first. I ask because I'm wondering if it's too early to set up my 6x4 greenhouse. I'm also in zone 5b Ontario🇨🇦 I'm having newbie doubts about how I transition seedlings into a greenhouse and then if they have to transition again before putting into the ground. Also can I start seeds in this sort of greenhouse and if so what should the overnight lows be? Maybe I just gave you an idea for an upcoming video 😁 Thanks Susan

[@ALittleGardenUpNorth]

I wish I have a greenhouse too. 😄

[@emptynestgardens9057]

@@ALittleGardenUpNorth 😉 It's nothing fancy just one of those small plastic covered frames from Amazon.

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Hi, Roxanne. I don't know how I missed your questions! Sorry. I didn't harden off the lettuce seedlings because I feel the condensation on the inside of the cloches helps decrease the intensity of the sunlight. But ordinarily, I ALWAY harden off any seedlings I start indoors. If you're going to put your seedlings into your greenhouse, they shouldn't require hardening off first, unless it's super bright in there (we have a shade cloth on the inside of our greenhouse). But I would definitely harden them off before putting them into the ground. The temperature needed for starting seeds inside your greenhouse will vary depending on the types of seeds you're starting. I'd say 50 degrees at the lowest but check your seed packets.

[@nghiempham3730]

Where did you bought your cloches at?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

They are from Gardener's Supply, gardeners.com.

[@jheslee4306]

NEW SUBSCRIBER HERE

[@SusansInTheGarden]

Thank you!

[@ColorfulBooknester]

Did you harden the lettuce off?

[@SusansInTheGarden]

A few folks have been asking me this! I did not. Last year, I was so excited when the cloches arrived that I completely forgot... and yet the plants did fine. So this year, I'm doing the same thing to see if the plants will be OK. I am forming a theory: because the sun is a bit lower in the sky, and because there is a lot of condensation on the inside of the cloche, I believe that is weakening some of the intensity of the sunlight. However! For all other plants that I'll be starting indoors to plant in the garden in April and May, I will definitely harden them off.