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Aurora, IL

I really need to plant two of my seedlings but they are forecasting 90% storms/rain tomorrow. Today I put down some plastic in the planting areas to help heat the ground, but it is in the low 50's tonight. I don't have hoop houses, but have rigged something up using old (cleaned) cat litter buckets with the bottom cut off. Tonight I played around with covering the buckets with plastic and a bungee cord. Any one have suggestions regarding planting tomorrow using the bucket with plastic as protection.

5/24/2011 9:39:23 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Be careful, and vigilant...especially if the sun comes out!!! It will get way hot WAY FAST inside that small of a closure if the sun comes out!!! Peace, Wayne

5/24/2011 11:01:56 PM

Chicago Illinois

hi bud im in downers grove 20 minutes from you,,, if ya get a chance email george from this site on the growers diary and ask to come see his pumkin setup,,, he lives in roselle about 20 minutes from you,,,,, you will learn alot in 5 minutes an be blown away by his setup

5/25/2011 7:44:00 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

Why not just use hoophouses? Its pretty simple. Get some rebar 2 foot pieces 6 of them, 3/4 inch pce 4 pieces of it 4 mil plastic that covers the entire top of the frame. plenty of informtion on how to build one. also get plenty of snap clamps. if you have to stress this much about planting the seedlings then it would be a better idea to make a hoophouse.

5/25/2011 7:57:18 AM

Muddy Waters

My grandparents were raised in Grove Park!!Im sure I have relatives in your area,If they spell CLEMENTZZZZZZZZZZ with a ZZZZZ on the end were related!!there were 4 or 5 brothers & a couple sisters!!Its a small world!!!

5/25/2011 7:57:30 AM

Muddy Waters

Wow Kenny !!! were 12 seconds Apart!! Why rebar?? plastic easier to work with!

5/25/2011 7:59:44 AM

Muddy Waters

The weather will break this weekend! I would wait! Hind site is 20/20!! lol

5/25/2011 8:01:34 AM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

A quick set up would be a white laundry basket covering the plant. Put a couple of bricks on top. Might be too late now ..We are really getting hammered with storms right now

5/25/2011 8:15:23 AM

Westford, MA

Pound the re-bar(I use 4') into the soil.
Slide the 3/4" pvc tubing on to the re-bar.
Use clips to hold the plastic on to the pvc tube.

Pray for SUN!!

5/25/2011 8:16:20 AM

Bristol R.I. USA

Handy, I use the rebar because it really stays in the ground deep so flooding or heavy rains have no effect on them.The weather is breaking and maybe a laundy basket would work better. or a bucket.

5/25/2011 11:25:41 AM

while we are 'on the subject' of laundry baskets,
they may be good for even further-along than the first day or two of outdoor environment for the plant. i learned the hard way that a SINGLE basket with anything heavy on top of it will succumb to the warming of the sun and will collapse if it gets too much. so, i use (the cheapest ones ever, from the dollar store, lol) TWO baskets, one turned slightly so that the spaces are only 1/2 as large for more protection from the wind, critters and whatever else.
they are also twice as strong as one.

for protection from RACCOONS, which actually dug-up 2-3 of my plants last year because i had nothing around the micro-planting-area to prevent it/them from pulling-up my weedblock fabric because i was using liquid seaweed and that attracted them...i placed 2-16" X 4' plywood walking boards going one way on each side of the baskets and did the same for the other direction, with a nice square around the planted plant itelf, placed the baskets over the plant and then screwed the plywoods together and the baskets in FOUR spots adhering them to the plywoods. let's see them munch my plants THIS year.
no let's not, that's why i did it! later---eric g

5/25/2011 3:15:56 PM

Roselle, IL [email protected]

Remember to use the baskets on young pumpkins too..The raccoons will tear the hell out of them

5/25/2011 5:34:02 PM

Tinykinville

georges idea is a good one. this time of year you dont need hoops just wind and critter protection.

5/25/2011 6:39:32 PM