shade for cool weather veggies

14 years ago

I live in Boyne City Michigan. This city is located in the northern/upper part of the lower peninsula. Since Michigan is located in the northern part of the United States summer weather here is milder, as in less hot compared to southern states. Still I do have questions about planting cool weather veggies in Mid-July here. In early to mid morning it tends to be cool where I live. In the afternoon it becomes warmer but there is still a breeze so it's not sweltering with the temperature. In the evening it cools down again.

I realize that the questions I have aren't really regarding container gardening. However people have been so helpful here regarding my questions with container gardening I figured I would ask anyway. In a way, what I'm inquiring about sort of correlates with container gardening because what I'm growing is being grown in container gardening.

Today I planted some carrots and icicle radishes from seed. They're in white containers and the containers are 9"-10" in diameter and 3 gallons.

I am wondering if I should put them in partial shade even though the seeds haven't germinated yet. The reason I'm debating doing this is because I know cool weather veggies have a difficult time even germinating if the weather is really hot.

I would like to put them in an area where there is mostly shade but some patches of sunlight to cool them down. However would they receive the adequate sunlight that they need?

The soil mixture I'm using is a combination of equal parts spahgnum peat moss, regular peat moss, Miracle Gro potting mix, and topsoil. The peat does help the soil to retain longer water. I don't know if prolonged water retention will help cool down the cool weather veggies I'm planting; I also don't know that if prolonged soil retention due to the peat moss helps them keep cool if it prolongs how long they're kept cool as a result of this. I just figured I'd bring it up.

The reason I'm asking if I should put them in shade is because I don't want my seedlings to suffer because of warm weather and I don't want them to die.

I plan to plant turnips, spinach and lettuce in the near future as well, so I'm wondering if I should put them in shade as well. I would like to put all my cool weather veggies in the area where there is mostly shade but some patches of sunlight as well. My question is would they receive enough sunlight that they need in an area where there is mostly shade.

I would just wait until the weather cools down for my veggies but I want them to mature in time, I don't have a choice but to plant some of now. As a result unfortunately I don't have the option of waiting until the weather

cools down for some of my veggies. With spinach and white radishes I can because they have such quick maturing times. With lettuce, carrots, and turnips I don't have time to wait to plant them later until the weather cools down because they take longer to mature.

I could really use input and advice regarding this please.

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Comment (1)

justaguy2
14 years ago
I am wondering if I should put them in partial shade even though the seeds haven't germinated yet. The reason I'm debating doing this is because I know cool weather veggies have a difficult time even germinating if the weather is really hot.

With the exception of lettuce that typically has germination issues above 75F or so SOIL temps cool season veggies love warm soils. Germination rates and speed are usually better and faster when seeds are sown in the summer and plants mature in the fall. Most folks seem to sow the seeds into cool/cold soil and have the plants mature in the summer which is 100% backward from how most of these cool season crops do their best. They like warm soil and cool air, not cool soil and warm air. I am not suggesting we all quit sowing seeds for a spring crop, just that the fall crop will germinate and grow faster due to warmer soil temps and longer days. The soil mixture I'm using is a combination of equal parts spahgnum peat moss, regular peat moss, Miracle Gro potting mix, and topsoil. The peat does help the soil to retain longer water. I don't know if prolonged water retention will help cool down the cool weather veggies I'm planting; I also don't know that if prolonged soil retention due to the peat moss helps them keep cool if it prolongs how long they're kept cool as a result of this. I just figured I'd bring it up.

Sphagnum peat moss is 'regular' peat moss ;) I don't know why you would add topsoil to this or any other container mix, it's not going to do your plants any favors. The mix itself isn't going to do anything in regard to the internal temperature of the container.

Here is what I suggest. If these containers can be moved to a shady place do so. Not so much because of the temps in your area, but because the bare mix in the sun is going to dry down on the surface from evaporation quickly and you don't want it drying out when trying to germinate seeds right in the pot. Once you have germination, move them back into full sun for best growth.

If moving the pots isn't practical then don't do it. It will be fine. In the event something like the lettuce doesn't germinate in say 10 days-2 weeks it was too warm for it and just resow.
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shade for cool weather veggies

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justaguy2

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