I'm planning to get my tomatoes in the ground this Wednesday. I may plant some cucumbers, squash and cantaloupes also.

Main garden is about done. Need more straw.

Chickenman,

The garden and plants looks great...and clearly you work out:)

Question for all of you...How many days do you typically take to harden your seedling tomatoes and peppers? I'm starting the process today with a couple of hours of direct sunlight. My plants are ready to go in the ground once hardening takes place...

Thanks...Greg

A week you should be good. My garage faces west so I can open the door in the afternoon for them to get a couple hours of direct light. Last year I didn't get to leave it open very much as we had cooler days and didn't harden them off very well. They got sunburned bad the first day I planted them. Everything recovered just fine but they looked horrible for a bit.

That sounds about right to me as well. I'm going to have to restrain myself through the process. I'm ready to plant now:)

I'm so ready to plant too. Got all my old plants out. I need to till, rake, smooth out the beds and layout where I am going to plant everything. Can't get to it until next week so I'll be in the ground really soon. NWS is forecasting above avg temps the next 3-4 weeks.

Looks awesome! You should probably stop skipping leg days. Do you till in a generic 1-1-1 fertilizer or anything prior to putting down the tarp?

Not in this garden. It does well enough without any help due to the straw and chicken [censored] from the coop.

Started another batch for a friend.

I'm looking forward to planting my seedlings soon too. Last years seeds didn't do well cause I didn't have enough sunlight in the place I can grow them where the cats won't eff with them. This year I used a grow light and they're doing awesome. I've got 6 tomato plants, 3 okra plants, and 1 each of jalapeno, bell pepper, cilantro and parsley. I know it's kind of a random assortment but I'm just learning so I went with what I feel I'll have the best success with and I'm limited on space. I've got (1) 4'x8' raised bed and an assortment of containers I can use.

I had never heard of this hardening thing until I read yall's recent posts and I've got a quick question. Since my plants are getting full "sunlight" from the grow light inside, do you think the hardening process is still AS important? I'm working long hours right now and don't get home until after dark so taking them outside for a few hours each day isn't really an option except on weekends. Have any thoughts/ideas?

It wouldn't be a bad idea even if it's just the weekend. Looking back at last year I planted March 21st. Temps that week were 69,65,74,79 and got a decent sunburn. Your jalapeno and bell can handle the burn easily. You could set them outside tomorrow morning and see how they look when you get home. If they are fine the rest should be good to go too. It's going to be breezy so put them in a spot where they have a wind block if possible.

I'm planting everything this weekend.

I'm planing next weekend per the farmers almanac. I harden mine off under a marcescent red oak in the dappled sunlight. The wind caused most of my peppers to curl hopefully they will recover. We have higher than average wind speeds out here, so they will have to suck it up.

rite there withya 1WithTX...Nac 2nd / 3rd...lake 7th / 8th...firm believer n the farmers almanac plant dates

Thanks for the info. I'll get em out for a few hours each day this weekend.

Oh forgot to mention, I've also got some potatoes planted. Got some seed potatoes online and I'm trying them out in containers. Got a late start with them so they've barely started to germinate, just a few little leaves each. Any advice for container potatoes is welcome.

Disclaimer: I've never grown potatoes and specifically container potatoes, so I have no actual experience on what it best. Scanned a few university studies on them and it looks like the use up a lot of nitrogen and Potassium. That's the first and last numbers on a n/p/k chart. Like 15-5-10 fertilizer. Lots/most of the Czechs here roll their potatoes in wood ash prior to planting which is Potassium. (Keep it between us but most of them think wood ash is nitrogen and it's potassium) Anyway. From what I scanned I would find a fert you like, like Miracle Gro general purpose which is a 24-8-16. Personally I would go with something likes Jacks 20-20-20. You can find it at Calloways. You're growing in a container which I'm assuming has holes in the bottom. So every time you water your have nutrients leaching out. Whatever fert you decide to go with I would get the label recommendation and divide it to where you are applying smaller amounts every watering. If it says 4TBS per gallon per month, do 1TBS per watering per week. Whatever it is divide it so you are always applying small feedings and not all at once and it gets leached out and it's starving for 3 weeks. If that makes sense.