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any one from the midwest with advice on the best time to transpla

nebhellbillheat

14 years ago

just wondering if anyone was from the midwest and had a good idea on when to transplant out side this season? Thanks for the advice.

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Comments (6)

vic01
14 years ago
I live in MN, zone 4. Our average last frost date is about May 10-15. As to planting peppers outside 60 degree days, 50 degree nights and plants 4-5 inches tall. I generally wait until close to the middle of June to put the peppers out. That sounds late but peppers will catch up. I prefer not to rush it as living on the prairie anything can and does happen weatherwise. I'd rather babysit plants an extra week or so to be sure that when they go out they will survive. It's hard to wait especially when my living room looks like a greenhouse but too much work to let my "babies" croak because they can't handle the cold.
green_grocer
14 years ago
Hey there... I'm in Michigan, and it's a well-known adage that if you don't like the weather here, wait an hour.. sometimes we have all four seaons in a single day.
My advice would be to wait until your last frost date, then give it another week or so to transplant, just to be on the safe side. I've started all my plants indoors from seed on March 1, and even with our last frost date around May 20, I'll probably not get them into the ground until June 1st. I've just now started hardening them off, and though it seems like it will take FOREVER to get there, your patience will be well rewarded.

Mike
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tsheets
14 years ago
I'm thinking next weekend (Central IL). When the lows are forecast to stay 50+ is my target. I was thinking this weekend, but, we've got several nights dipping to mid-upper 40's. So, within the next 1-2 weeks.
nebhellbillheat
Original Author
14 years ago
I believe the final frost date has already passed. I was also tempted to wait since it is still supposed to get below 50 degrees. Most my pepper plants have started to flower so I'm also contemplating cutting some of the flowers off before I transplant them. thanks to some responses for my other post I will probable experiment and not cut the flowers off on all the plants. This should be a nice experiment this being my third year growing peppers( my favorite summer time hobby lol ) So the more advice any one has will be much apreciated. I still consider myself a rookie and ask all the questions I can. thank God I found this forum.
nitrotrain
14 years ago
Hopefully our last frost date is tonight (ha-ha I just seen the forecast) I have no clue what I'm doing with my pepper plants since I've only 2 remaining...lol I'm just thankful I didn't put them in the ground yet.
jrslick (North Central Kansas, Zone 5B)
14 years ago
Well, I live in North Central Kansas and I planted out 60 peppers last night. I have planted them as early as April 23 (two years ago) and as late as May 11(this year). I usually aim between the 20th of April and May 15th. I still have another 60+ to go out sometime, as soon as I find a home for them.

Jay

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