Simple question I hope

[harveyj]

I live on 44NL and would like to do an outdoor grow next year and am already preparing. I have holes dug and amended which was the biggest issue for me as we live right beside a gravel pit so lots and lots of rocks to dig through....were talking an hour to dig one hole thats two feet deep by two feet wide.

Anyways my question is about starting the seeds inside. I have a room that I can start them in and I even have a 600w HPS light. How early is too early to start them? Is march 1st too early? I know I won't be able to plant them outdoors until end of may. So thats three months of indoor growing and I'm assuming that they will be huge and maybe even too big to move???

I want to give them as big of a head start as possible but don't want to start too early or too late.

Thoughts?

 

[niggle]

I'm no expert but if its that hard to dig holes you should look into smart pots to grow in. and as for when to start seedlings, i grew mine indoors for 1-2 months and i almost had root lock in a 5gal bucket, i would say end of march have seedlings going if u want to go that route and veg for a while... just be careful of them flowering early so have a light schedule of like 16-8.

just my 2 cents

and goodluck

 

[Panama Red]

43°

Sprouted my beans March 5.

Sunshine only.

Planted outside April 30.

 

[harveyj]

43°

Sprouted my beans March 5.

Sunshine only.

Planted outside April 30.

I'm simply shocked... do you live in Ontario? I know we had the odd frost almost right through to May 24 weekend Where ever you are you are very lucky to be able to start that fast.

 

[harveyj]

I'm no expert but if its that hard to dig holes you should look into smart pots to grow in. and as for when to start seedlings, i grew mine indoors for 1-2 months and i almost had root lock in a 5gal bucket, i would say end of march have seedlings going if u want to go that route and veg for a while... just be careful of them flowering early so have a light schedule of like 16-8.

just my 2 cents

and goodluck

Thanks for the advice. I'm not sure what smart post are but I think I'll stick to digging anyways. It may sound crazy but I think pots would be more visible then simply planting them in the ground. Plus my fat ass could use the excerise

 

[Panama Red]

<----43°

You said you were at 44°

Ontario is like 51°

Smart pots are containers made out of garden cloth/burlap/material that lets the roots breath.

Instead of digging a big fookin' hole and the filling it with soil, you create a big fookin' hole on top of the ground and fill it with soil.

Saves a lot of work digging and seems to be better for root development.

Smart.......

 

[harveyj]

<----43°

You said you were at 44°

Ontario is like 51°

Smart pots are containers made out of garden cloth/burlap/material that lets the roots breath.

Instead of digging a big fookin' hole and the filling it with soil, you create a big fookin' hole on top of the ground and fill it with soil.

Saves a lot of work digging and seems to be better for root development.

Smart.......

My bad I meant 54 degrees sorry.

I have gotten eight holes dug in the last two days. I'm almost half way there

Maybe I'll buy a few smart pots as well to save my back a bit of work.

 

[argoagro]

Seriously, one of the biggest things I learned outdoors is run WAYYY more than you think.

Growing out big early ones is cool, but it would be nice to have some sexed clones & be tossing them out in batches all spring & early summer.

Edit, 54*, damn, your situation might be different

 

[smokeymacpot]

the earlier u start the bigger they will be. feb/march is a good time to start.
i would not use a 600w light (utter waste), use cfls or tubes, less electric and slightly slower compacter growth.

 

[Panama Red]

Put 'em in the window.

Nothing better than Old Sol and he does the job for free.......

 

[smokeymacpot]

Put 'em in the window.

Nothing better than Old Sol and he does the job for free.......

constant cfl/floro will keep them shorter.. and away from a window.

 

[Panama Red]

constant cfl/floro will keep them shorter.. and away from a window.

^^^Why away from a window?^^^

He's transplanting in the backyard/gravel pit.