An Early Planting Contest for Our Tomato and Vegetable Gardens

An Early Planting Contest

for Our Tomato and Vegetable Gardens

So yes I can't wait to get planting outdoors. My garden is still frozen as of today. I typically put peas out in March. Tomatoes out in April (and battle frost). Maybe Ill get some potatoes out early too.

This year my peas are going out in February and I am going to put some determinate tomatoes out March 15th. I want red tomatoes by end of May. The challenge is to start something super early!

The contest (for fun) is creating a hot-house cage similar to one on the link. Basically, plastic wrap around a tomato cage. However, with starting this early you will need more than plastic. You will need a heat source. Don't follow my design feel free to create anything that works. Sorry greenhouses don't count.

Maybe Something Like This?

So If you want to do something with your time and join the contest... Pick a plant to plant early in a container or in the ground. Get it out earlier than recommended in frosty weather and see if it will grow, survive and bring early yields. Post some pictures or links of your progress.

I will be doing peas. I am building a hot-house cage with hanging recycled water bottles inside for a night time radiating heat source. This will be all done in a 5 gallon container.

Let's see if we can push the limits.


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How to Start Cilantro Indoors: Keep It Sowing!

 How to Start Cilantro Indoors: Keep It Sowing!

Cilantro is an outstanding garden herb. It loves cool weather and it grows tasty leaves, tasty seeds (coriander) and great flowers for attracting bees and predatory wasps. Although many people suggest not starting cilantro indoors because it won't mature to a full sized plant... I say you will still get leaves even if the transplant doesn't fully mature to a 2 foot plant.

You can start it indoors to get some quick early leaves in the spring. When you plant your transplants also drops some seeds into your vegetable garden beds. I recommend seeding cilantro every 3 weeks for a continued harvest.




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How to Build A Hot-House Tomato Cage: Get in the Garden Faster!

How to Build A Hot-House Tomato Cage: Get in the Garden Faster! 

These cages can be built in 5 minutes. They will allow you to get your tomatoes into the garden a lot earlier. It works. I use a few every year and am the first in the area with red tomatoes. Try it!

They act as a wind break and keep the plant from cooling from winds. And they will collect the solar heat of the day. At night I recommend putting a plate on top, a few hours before the sun sets, so it stores up some heat. It is also important to remove it on sunny days in the morning. The inside of the cages can over heat on sunny days.

I will be doing a new video that adds in a black painted milk jug at the bottom like in the picture. The milk jug is filled with water and it will radiate heat at night to help maintain a bit more warmth. Notice the milk jug in the picture.You can also lay a piece of black plastic on the ground with a hole in the middle for the tomato. The cage can go on the plastic and it will warm the soil. A few tricks.

Gardening Questions? Join My Google+ Community
Our Tomato and Vegetable Gardens
Over 100 HD Garden Videos: Join
My YouTube Video Gardening Channel