RE: [gourds] Re:Planting time in S. Central Texas
Lillian Kepp (gourds@globalgarden.com)
Tue, 10 Feb 98 18:03:30 PST
On Tue, 10 Feb 1998 06:12:24 -0600 Pat Storer R-Zu-2-U wrote:
>Can anyone tell me the most opportune time to plant in Texas -
Houston-San
>Antonio area? Is there any point in starting seeds indoors first?
Thanks.
Gourds are not different than any other plant in the garden as
far as growing is concerned.
Find out how many days to maturity the plant takes, depending on
the type of gourd you chose that can be anywhere from perhaps
90-180 days
Example - if the gourd you are planting takes 100 days to maturity
then -
First - find the date of the average last frost in the spring
Second - find the date of the average first frost in the fall
Is there 100 days inbetween the dates + 7-14 days.
Gourds should not be planted outdoors until after the ground has
warmed. This is generally 1-2 weeks after the average last spring
frost date.
In my area - south central Ohio the average last frost in spring is
May 15, the average first frost in fall in Oct 15. But adding 2
weeks for the ground to warm pushes it up to Jun 1st. That give me
4 1/2 months - average 30 days. About 135 days if I reckon right.
Now if the gourd I'm growing takes 180 days I'm a little short here
for planting seeds. If it takes 90-120 I'm pretty safe. If the gourd
takes 130 days I would still start the seeds indoors, no sense in
riding on the edge.
Folks talk about transplant shock, where the plant will be set back.
If the plants are properly hardened off, planted on a cloudy day
and/or rainy day and/or later in the day to avoid a blazing sun when
first set out they should do ok. Don't forget to water in
throughly. If you are afraid of transplant shock, then add at least
one more week to your time table.
Now if after figuring everything out, you find out you have 120 days
to deal with, and your plant/gourd takes 180 days you can start the
seeds indoors, that is, if they're petunias. But a gourd started
two months ahead of time in doors would be nigh impossible to deal
with. In that case - plant gourds that take less time to mature. :)
The only other exception to this would be, when counting your days,
if "when the ground is warm" coincides with perhaps two weeks of
severe rain in your area, you would have to add those days on as
well.
This is probably as clear as mud. Comes from those two weeks of
rain. :)
Lillian Kepp
thekepps@bright.net