How cool is too cool for cukes and squash?

[JayPoc]

Looks like the forecast going forward has the night time lows now lower than the mid 40s or so. I'd love to go ahead and set the rest of my seedlings outdoors round the clock and turn my pool table back into a pool table. Looks like the next week or two should have daytime highs in the high 60s (on average), with maybe 48 to 50 for night time lows (on average). Sprinkled in there may be a day or two where the highs max out in the 50s with lows around 42 or so. Will temps like that be detrimental to very young cukes, zuchs, etc.? How about for well established peppers? I don't intend to put them in the ground just yet, just want to scale back on the work of bringing them in and out...

Thoughts?

[shadylane]

The term used is "hardening off" I should inform you that your zucchini do not like their roots to be disturb so take care when transplanting.

http://gardening.wsu.edu/library/vege003/vege003.htm

[rainbowgardener]

If they have been hardened to it, highs in 50's, lows in 40's probably will slow their growth down, but not kill/damage them.

When you start thinking about putting them in the ground, the most important temperature is the soil temperature a few inches down in the root zone. That should be at least 70 preferably a couple more degrees.

[jal_ut]

Temperatures of 32° F and lower are deadly to cukes and squash. Other than that, don't worry about it.

[JayPoc]

Temperatures of 32° F and lower are deadly to cukes and squash. Other than that, don't worry about it.

Well...I'm gonna leave those suckers out there.....51 tonight, rainy and less than 60 tomorrow....still better than in my man cave at 69 degrees and fake sun, IMO...

[DryFlyRy]

I am entering the same dilema. I started me squashes inside in peat pots as I know they don't transplant well otherwise. But man those things grow quick, I went 5 weeks before the gaurunteed last frost date which is supposedly may 24th for me. Temps during the day have been up around 70, low around 37 forcasted to get to lows of 41 towards the weekend. I would love to get them in the ground as soon as possible before they get to big for those little peat pots. any advice?

[rainbowgardener]

Start them later next time? For putting them in the ground, the temperature that matters is the soil temperature, which needs to be at least 70. Otherwise they will be slowed down and also more vulnerable to whatever diseases and pests are out there (and squash is very vulnerable anyway!).

I start squash indoors no more than one week before last frost date, sometimes on the last frost date, so that the ground has time to warm up before they go in it. Some people just plant squash seeds directly in the ground when the soil is warm enough, since they are so fast growing.

Since they are in peat pots, you might be able to just peel the peat pot off and stick them in bigger pots.

[skiingjeff]

OK, this was near to a question I was going to post.

Our weather is in the mid 60's to mid 70's during the day and the soil in my garden has warmed to 60 - 65 degrees but the nights are in the 40's with some dropping into the mid 30's and sometimes lower 30's.

Do I need to protect the plants at night because of the air temperature? I'm asking for the vegetables but also for my annual flowers. I"ve got my Kohlrabi, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts in the garden as well as some parsley transplants. I planted yellow bean and cuke seeds yesterday in the garden. I also have some bell type peppers that are producing flowers/peppers in my basement that I would like to get planted.

I've been putting all the flowers and peppers out each day for two weeks but have not left them out overnight because of the cool nights but didn't know if once they were in the ground, they could withstand the lower temps or not. Would I need to cover them once in the ground as well. If so, I'll probably wait because I'm going to be away the end of next week for a few days so no one will be around to put covers on and take them off.

Thanks!

[rainbowgardener]

" I"ve got my Kohlrabi, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts in the garden as well as some parsley transplants. I planted yellow bean and cuke seeds yesterday in the garden. I also have some bell type peppers that are producing flowers/peppers in my basement that I would like to get planted.

kohlrabi, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, parsley are all cool weather stuff that is just fine, needs nothing. Seeds in the ground are just fine unless you would get a hard freeze (unlikely at this point).

Mid 30's is too low to bring peppers out in, but with your soil warmed, if the night time temps are even staying above 40, you could probably plant peppers and cover them in cold nights.

The things to most worry about are the squashes, melons, etc. Waiting a little more sounds okay except for the cool weather stuff. That should get in the ground ASAP, because it doesn't like it once it gets hot.

[jal_ut]

Some people just plant squash seeds directly in the ground when the soil is warm enough, since they are so fast growing.

That has been my strategy for most things grown in the garden here. The exceptions are tomatoes and peppers.

May 5 is my squash and corn target planting date. +/- the weather. This is actually a little before the average last frost in these parts. You don't want them
to be up when that last frost happens. Of course it is always a gamble, since
we have no control of the weather. Some years we replant.

I really think squash is better planted, by seed directly in the garden where it will grow. Cukes too, though I plant cukes later than squash. They really like warm weather. Here its June 1 for cukes.

If you have the room, try the experiment. The day you plant your starts in the garden, plant one hill of seed the same day. Later you will be able to see if it was worth the effort to start them in pots and transplant them.

[skiingjeff]

Looking at the long range forecast, if I plant stuff out this coming Monday we should have temps in the 40's and then 50's going forward.

Of course, we know the long range forecast is extremely reliable.

It gets confusing between air temp and soil temp. Many times when you try to read up on a vegetable, they mention only soil temp which leaves me hanging when the weather is like it is now. Sometimes the article just says "temperature" and doesn't indicate soil or air. Just wishing this was easier.

Appreciate the Info.

[estorms]

I left my tomatoes out over night last week and they got frozen. The two youngest leaves are OK, But the rest are withered. I live in a cold pocket, so when Scranton is 38 degrees, my stuff can freeze. I think they will be OK. I would have stripped off all but the topmost leaves to plant them anyway.

[Gary350]

Many seeds will not sprout if the temperature is below 65 degrees F. You can get a head start by planting cuke seeds inside the house in pots where it is warm. As soon as the seeds sprout put them outside every day for sun and fresh air. Bring plants inside at night if it is too cold.

[jal_ut]

It gets confusing between air temp and soil temp. Many times when you try to read up on a vegetable, they mention only soil temp which leaves me hanging when the weather is like it is now. Sometimes the article just says "temperature" and doesn't indicate soil or air. Just wishing this was easier.

Just for the heck of it, yesterday afternoon, I took the thermometer out in the garden. The soil temp at 2 inches down was 72 degrees. At 4 inches down it was 64 degrees. The air was 58 degrees. So the sun on the soil (it was a sunny day) does warm the soil up dramatically on the surface. I think seed should germinate ok if the soil is 70° F at the depth of the seed.

[jal_ut]

How about some natural indicators? I am going to say when the dandelions and apricots are in bloom it is time to plant corn, squash and other warm weather types. Wait a week more for cucumbers.

Every season is not the same as you all well know. The outdoor perennial plants can give you some clues as to how the season is progressing. Make notes for future reference.