Re: [CH] Extending the growing season
GarryMass@aol.com
Tue, 3 Oct 2000 23:22:08 EDT
In a message dated 10/03/00 9:09:24 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
Dustymllr@aol.com writes:
<< The Cincinnati growing season is coming to a quick end. The weather
forecast
for this weekend is below freezing temperatures plus snow and rain. (Today
it was 82.) >>
Debbie,
I hope you're hearing from others and not just me.
Several points:
Yes, pulling and hanging produces several reds from the greens when you
pulled them. They ripen slowly for a long time. If it's your only choice,
then it's a good one.
Yes, digging them up and potting them will give you plants that will produce
through Christmas, and might survive (as listers have been pointing out for
two weeks) until next season with a little care. Howsome-ever, Lord Byron
will caution you about how easily the taproot gets damaged. He's right of
course, so it's important to saturate the soil before trying this dig-out.
Roots slip more easily from mud than soil.
Since your daytime temps are 82, there's hope for many more warm days,
THEREFORE,
despite the weather forecast, I'd dig up a few of my favorites and pot them.
THEN, I'd run a sprinkler on my plants all night long on the forecasted cold
nights, leaving it on the next morning until the sun melts the ice off the
plants. You'll likely be amazed how well the plants come through.
You could cover the plants with "Cs" made of conduit and stretch plastic over
them and provide a space heater, but at what point does cost get to be silly?
BTW, I have done ALL of the above. I'm going broke on charcoal for the
smoker, for heaven's sake. Someday soon, I'll start smoking the reds just as
the forecast calls for frost and I'll smoke the reds under the plastic for
the "still growings."
Gareth the ChileKnight