Advice on when to germinate for outdoor So Cal grow

sheckylovejoy

sheckylovejoy

Well-Known Member
Previous years I have begun germinating on March 1 indoors and brought them outdoors somewhere around the first week of April.

This year, however, I have a family obligation out of town from March 17-20 and I'm worried about leaving the plants for 4 days. Someone will be coming by twice a day to look after the cats, but she won't be able to do much more than add some water. However, I'm afraid if I germinate on March 21, 1st day of Spring, it will be a little too late, and the girls won't have enough veg time

So, the question is: do I wait until I get back on March 21, or do I plant closer to my usual March 1 date and try and get lucky? What day would you chose?

I am basically using the method outlined here.

https://www.420magazine.com/forums/frequently-asked-questions/181518-xlr8s-seed-germination-technique-germinating-rapid-rooter-plugs.html
 
cindysid

cindysid

Well-Known Member
It depends on when you get the first frost in your area. I would think that unless you live somewhere with an extremely short Summer, it would be fine to wait if you have to. Will you be putting them into soil before you plan on leaving? If you put them into pretty good sized pots, and have them under cfls, t5's or LED, they should be fairly stable by the 17th, and the most they would need would be water, but if they are under hotter lights, maybe not. You could raise the lights a little higher than normal to account for growing during ur absence. I would probably chance it if I had a few extra seeds....just in case.
 
sheckylovejoy

sheckylovejoy

Well-Known Member
Sorry, I should have put some more detail in:

What I have done in the past is kept them in the Rapid Rooter tray under a tall vented dome until the 3rd set of full leaves or there's lots of roots out the bottom, whichever comes first. The tray sits in the kitchen window, which gets 3 hours of midday sun (and indirect the rest of the day), with a thermostat and heating mat to make sure it stays above 72F. When they're ready to leave the mothership, I ease them outside over the course of a few days, and then plant them into 15-gallon containers. For the first couple of weeks I keep them under 40% shade cloth. I don't own any grow lights, or have enough indoor space for my 15-gallon pots.

Also, in my part of So Cal we are likely done with frost (it's in the 80s all this week), but one never knows. I've certainly never seen a frost after March.

Regardless of the germination date, I would not start easing them outside until after I return, likely not until April at the earliest.

Possibilities
  1. Germinate as usual of March 1 and hope for the best. I think this one is too risky
  2. Germinate on or around March 8, which means I would be gone during the second week of germination/seedings
  3. Germinate on or around March 15, right before I leave. This would mean I would not be around during the first week of germination
  4. Wait until March 21. The least risky, but will this give me enough veg time for any slowpokes (I've had seeds not germinate for 10 days before)? In the past, I've done late germinations the first week of April and results were disappointing.
It's times like this that I really envy indoor growers. I'd just wait until I got back and not worry.

Thanks.
 
Larry {the} Gardener

Larry {the} Gardener

Well-Known Member
Since you are already going to be using sunlight, I would pop a few of them now, and put them outside before you leave. Save back about 75% of them until you get back. That way you are covered.

Are you getting 13 1/2 hours of sun yet? I'm only up to 12 hours 7 minutes of visible light. I've planted a few seeds, but are holding off on most until the days are just a little longer. I also use no lights with my herb growing. Now I'm waiting around on Spring. Soon I will be very, very busy. You have to get them popped and into good sun as quick as possible.
 
sheckylovejoy

sheckylovejoy

Well-Known Member
We are up to 13:06 of visible light here. We should be up to 13:30 in a couple of weeks. Right now it's 11:47 from sunrise-sunset

Just to be clear, you are suggesting I germinate 25% this week and get them in pots outside before I leave on 3/17?

Also, what do think of the shade cloth for the first couple of weeks? The sun here can be pretty intense for the new plants, even in spring
 
Larry {the} Gardener

Larry {the} Gardener

Well-Known Member
sheckylovejoy said:
We are up to 13:06 of visible light here. We should be up to 13:30 in a couple of weeks. Right now it's 11:47 from sunrise-sunset

Just to be clear, you are suggesting I germinate 25% this week and get them in pots outside before I leave on 3/17?

Also, what do think of the shade cloth for the first couple of weeks? The sun here can be pretty intense for the new plants, even in spring
Click to expand...
Yes, that is what I would do. Hedge your bets, so to speak. Some in the sun growing, some waiting until you come back. Being gone 4 days with them in pots won't be that big a deal. With a good watering before you leave, they should be fine on their own. Shade cloth should be alright. Or just a shady part of your yard.
 
sheckylovejoy

sheckylovejoy

Well-Known Member
Thanks. I bought some extra seeds for emergencies this year (freak heat wave in March last year wiped out half my seedlings) so I think that's the ticket
 
vostok

vostok

Well-Known Member
sheckylovejoy said:
Sorry, I should have put some more detail in:

What I have done in the past is kept them in the Rapid Rooter tray under a tall vented dome until the 3rd set of full leaves or there's lots of roots out the bottom, whichever comes first. The tray sits in the kitchen window, which gets 3 hours of midday sun (and indirect the rest of the day), with a thermostat and heating mat to make sure it stays above 72F. When they're ready to leave the mothership, I ease them outside over the course of a few days, and then plant them into 15-gallon containers. For the first couple of weeks I keep them under 40% shade cloth. I don't own any grow lights, or have enough indoor space for my 15-gallon pots.

Also, in my part of So Cal we are likely done with frost (it's in the 80s all this week), but one never knows. I've certainly never seen a frost after March.

Regardless of the germination date, I would not start easing them outside until after I return, likely not until April at the earliest.

Possibilities
  1. Germinate as usual of March 1 and hope for the best. I think this one is too risky
  2. Germinate on or around March 8, which means I would be gone during the second week of germination/seedings
  3. Germinate on or around March 15, right before I leave. This would mean I would not be around during the first week of germination
  4. Wait until March 21. The least risky, but will this give me enough veg time for any slowpokes (I've had seeds not germinate for 10 days before)? In the past, I've done late germinations the first week of April and results were disappointing.
It's times like this that I really envy indoor growers. I'd just wait until I got back and not worry.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Possibilitie

5: Take the seeds with you ..avoid the rooters for now germ them each in separate small plastic bags with 2x teaspoons RO water
Keep warm at location perhaps in your bathroom or pc gear?
Once home insert to pre prepared Rapid Roots or jiffys

the seedling should be 2-3 inches long if damp and low light will live well on arrival at home

Good luck
 
T

TWS

Well-Known Member
Lol . This place never ceases to amaze me.
You can put them in soil outside to germ on 4/20 and still have monsters . That's 90 plus days of vegg.
I don't start until late May or maybe June 1st because they out grow my fence height and it's a constant battle to top and tye over .
 
sheckylovejoy

sheckylovejoy

Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the help everyone. I have 19 seeds (including 4 of the freebies) for 7 spots in the yard, so I popped 5 of them into the Rapid Rooters this morning. Even if they all die, I'm in pretty good shape. If they live, they should be some monsters by the time they're done vegging.

Varieties: Cinderella 99, Pineapple Express #2, Critical 2.0, Super Skunk, Northern Lights + some indica freebies

TWS: I hear ya, but my experience in So Cal is that we need a little extra vegging time, as there are typically a lot of overcast days here in May and June ("May Gray" and "June Gloom").

Thanks again to everyone for helping out.
 
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