Protecting your seedlings when your weather does not cooperate
15.8 years ago cold season crops, outdoor seed starting, sieve
I like to push the envelope my luck when I decide to start seeds outdoors and this year is not an exception. Just yesterday I posted about planting the rest of my outdoor seeds where karma responded with a freak snow storm and freezing temperatures.
I am not too worried about about the new seeds I planted since many have been sitting dormant in the refrigerator for almost 12 months so few more days in about the same temperature shouldn’t be too traumatic for the lettuce, carrots, and cilantro.
The plants I have concerns with are the spinach seedlings which have just started to break through the soil. Fortunately spinach are pretty cold tolerant but weight of the snow on top of them is not a great way for them to start their time in the world.
After a quick search through the garage I found a great solution, a plastic storage tub, which fit perfectly over the irregular rectangular space I planted them.
Tada. If I wanted to get all fancy, I would add some holes for venting/etc but I chose to set a small cinder block on top and call it good. After a couple days, I should be able to remove it until the next freak storms comes our way.
Stupid groundhog…
Update: This is what the tub looked like after a few minutes in the sun (instant humidome)
Tags: cilantro, garden seeds, outdoor plants
15.8 years ago
The tupperware is great. I personally like saran wrap and rocks at the edges so it doesn’t blow away.
15.8 years ago
Looks good – we could have done with this in Ireland a few weeks ago during the snow but the weather is looking up these days. Luckily there were no seedling casualties in the garden.
15.8 years ago
I do the same thing, except I use old vinegar bottles, milk jugs, CD spindle cases, lettuce clamshells, whatever I can find.
15.8 years ago
I sometimes use the top part of the totes that remain after making self-watering containers. I cover them with pieces of plexiglass that I found. I will have to get more sophisticated though, because I really want to extend my growing season.
15.8 years ago
Not to out cheap the master, I use pop bottles with the bottom cut out as Bel Cloches on my plants- which are not outside yet!
15.8 years ago
Red Icculus, never thought about Saran. Do you use this on just newly planted seedlings or do you setup some sort of propped up tent structure?Cheese, the spinach probably would have survived, but better safe than sorry. Though I like to add a little survival of the fittest to my vegetable garden.Chiot’s Run, I have also used some of those for more established plants. I guess if I was more careful in my planting I could have used a smaller container. Wonder if they made a 10 foot X 5 foot storage contain I can cover my whole garden with :)David, that is a great use of what could be looked at as waste from self watering construction.Robj98168, Well you were smart to not put plants outside. At least mine are ok with the cold though 20’s probably is not exactly good for the cold loving plants.