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Location

Message

Date Posted

Braceville, IL

I live 60 miles south if chicago and i was wondering when is the best time to start my seeds inside and start them outside??

2/2/2012 12:01:31 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Hi Farmkid without knowing the frost dates in your area I would suggest starting them indoors 4 weeks before the typical last frost date and set out 2 weeks before the last frost date IF YOU HAVE A HOOP HOUSE OR OTHER PROTECTION. If you have no hoop house to protect from frost, start them inside about 2 weeks before the last expected frost date. You don't want them in the pots much longer than that.

I have a 4x4 hoop house for each plant so my typical indoor start date is around mid april and set out at the end of the month for Eastern PA. May 15 would be a late frost here. Good luck

2/2/2012 1:35:53 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Good advice Orangeneck. If you don't have a hoophouse and don't have time to build a nice elloborate one, you can build a few in no time to hold you over for a couple weeks. I built 3 small ones last minute just to get me into May in about an hour for under $15. I hung a heat lamp in them at night and was set. But in your area, you'll eventually want to build some bigger ones if you grow for multiple years.

Shazzy or George would be able to answer this as they are experienced and from your area.

2/2/2012 3:21:28 PM