This week's forecast showed up with lots of sunshine and warm day time temperatures along with above freezing temperatures at night.
For a good return on your labor, now is the time to think about starting pumpkins, cantaloupe, and other winter squashes. It is always best to start them indoors as night temperatures are still a bit too low for germination.
Once plants are germinated, move them out doors in a protected area. The florescent light fixtures that light up avid gardeners basements (be it legal or not) do not give the plant all what it needs to be highly productive during the season.
Placing the plants outside under a small plastic hoop structure that can be ventilated during the heat of the day is the best way to give the plants a good start.
At our farm, we started our tomatoes on Feb. 14 so that we will set fruit around the first of July. The tomato starts were inside only for a short time. After their second set of true leafs appeared, they were sent outside to the greenhouse.
Our greenhouse is not heated with wood, electricity or gas. It is heated by bioenergy. Not the bioenergy that some call burning wood pellets, but actual organisms creating heat. We use sheep manure that is piled and turned frequently. This pile is placed in the greenhouse and plant trays are placed on top of it. The heat rising up from the pile allows the fragile starts to stay warm even at -10 C. We maintain a compost thermometer in the pile and check it frequently to watch for a drop in temperature, which will indicate the pile needs turning to add oxygen.
You don't need to use manure for this method but I do believe it is the best. An alternative would simply be compost.
Getting the jump on the season many want to turn to indoor starts and lights. Most efficient grow lights will draw a minimum of 80 watts and still will not provide the plants what the need.
We have found that another alternative to the manure pile is to instead of using energy for lighting, use it for heating. Create a germination table. A germination table is a standard sheet of plywood with two by six lumber on the edges, a plastic layer is placed in the box and filled with sand. In the sand, place heater cables that come from any hardware store (the cables people use to de-ice their roof) and they only use 120 watts which is the power one of your standard light bulbs you use inside the house. Attach hoops on the box and cover it with plastic, creating a small greenhouse. Don't forget to ventilate during the day or you will cook your little starts.
Enjoy the sun this week and get your hands dirty!
