Starting seeds in the shade in the summer time!

[Bobberman]

Too many people seem to think starting seeds is for the winter months. Find a nice shady spot and plant zucks or many other crops that are easy to transplant! I usually start cucumbers in the shade in flats so the bugs don't get them in the garden when they have the first two leaves. If you have alot of trouble with rabbits or anything eatting young plants start them till they are a little larger so they will weather all the problems! The seeds sprout fast in the summer in containers and you can baby them till you get a nice cloudy wet day to plant them!

[Bobberman]

Just planted zucs and cukes that I started in the shade two weeks ago! They are healthy. I waited till the ground was wet and it was a cloudy day! I start something every week ecause I have space several weeks later when something else is done like beans or radish or anything! That is the advantage of starting seeds in the shade they are ready when you have the new space! Also it seems that the bugs and animals don;t eat the new seedlings like they wood direct planting them! in the garden!

[digitS']

I also do cucumber & squash starts in containers. It takes choosing the right moment to set them out, good wet roots & soil, and a steady hand to get them safely transplanted. Setting them out "late" isn't very late for me - about July 4th. Then, I kind of run out of growing season for them to have a chance of making a crop.

Soon however, there will be lettuce transplants in containers in just such a location as you describe, Bobberman. I'm not too good with growing things in pots because of the need for constant watering but lettuce seedlings do well in shade until I have a good day in late August to set them out.

Then I've got - salad greens for the fall .

Steve