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Is it too cold to plant-out in Orlando still?

10 years ago

I have encountered a dilemma. I wanted to wait another 2 weeks to plant my seedlings outside here in Orlando Fl, but many of them are getting a little big for their briches right now! Most everything I see online says late Feb for the last frost in my zone, but I really don't think these guys have that long left in their current housing! So, what do you all think of putting them out here in a day or two? Or any other suggestions are welcome too...

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Comments (11)

kclost
10 years ago
The plants look good. I think you will be fine waiting a couple more weeks. Even if they are root bound, if you fertilize they will hold up well.
abnorm
10 years ago
I'm in Downtown Orlando.....Colonialtown...I usually wait until March but........

I couldn't wait any longer...my plants are older than yours.....I moved them outside to acclimate.....once they got some sunshine/shade they took off....Last weekend I planted them in buckets of 511 and I'll protect and "Hunker-in-place" if we get freezing weather yet....

doug
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We're expecting frost tonight and we just had some HAIL!!! Fortunately, I had brought all my plants inside, in preparation for the cold night. I have some plants growing in 3 gallon containers which are easy enough to bring inside when inclement weather strikes. Hoping to plant out soon. The veggie garden is ready, with a new load of aged cow manure, and some of my seedlings are in flower and have been hardening off for ages.... Linda
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jutsFL
Original Author
10 years ago
I like the "raised bed container garden" you've got there, don't believe I've ever seen that before. Being that you're in Orlando here, it gives me a little more hope that my plants may actually be just fine this early out.
abnorm
10 years ago
About the "raised bed container garden"...I've shown them here before....not much comment

Plants are thigh high.....Comfy for an old man :-)

The buckets NEVER turn over in the wind

The insect load is a little lighter and easier to spot

If it gets "freezing" cold I'll wrap the whole thing and add christmas lights

doug
bob_in_pc
10 years ago
Try to slow them down and a couple of weeks
woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a
10 years ago
Those plants look fine. I'd say pot up if it was going to be longer than 2 weeks, but like abnorm said, March should be ok for you all. Just start hardening off now so you're good to go on the 1st.

Kevin
seysonn
10 years ago
I don't know what your temperatures are AND do you have a probability of frost ? Here, I will plant out mine when the danger of frost is out of sight and the night lows are over 45F or so. In which case day highs should be over 60F.

Of course, you will need to train.harden off your seedlings first.
jifjifjif
10 years ago
I am in Melbourne, FL and my plants are only about 2 weeks old. I will probably plant outside in containers in Mid March, but yours are way bigger. I'd say wait 2 weeks and then begin hardening off.
jutsFL
Original Author
10 years ago
Appreciate the responses everyone. I believe I'm gonna let them fight it out till the 18th (that's when an Amazon shipment of mycorrhizae will be arriving). I will then put all the large ones in 5 gal buckets to harden on my patio for a while... Then it's off to the harsh and unforgiving territory of my back yard for the little fellows :)
woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a
10 years ago
jutsFL: I don't mean to burst your bubble. But from my readings, it's very difficult to keep a biological microherd thriving in small containers. I go organic in SOME of my containers, but they're those half oak barrels. Let us know if your investment in those fungi works out in buckets.

Kevin
jutsFL
Original Author
10 years ago
Will do Kevin,
Although I don't know if I have much to compare it to, as I've never used mycorrhizae before (and it will be going into all of my buckets). For around 8 bucks, I figured it was worth a shot - in the hopes of larger, healthier plants! I will most definitely be posting the progress of this season along the way, so we'll all see how it goes!

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