Need help growing outdoors eastcoast Canada.

[TrippyNuggets]

I have some seeds to start outside this year and im not quite sure what I need to know.

The strains are "Hindu Kush" and "Blueberry"
Zone 5 or 5b (Canadian agricultural zones)
Final frost april 28-30
First frost october 1-10
Average summer temperature 20C-34C 70F-90F
A few hundred yards from the ocean if that matters.
Probably growing in raised beds.

Im wondering things like...

Is there time to do these outdoors in my area from seed?
When do I start the seeds?
How many gallons should these go into, of soil or planter size?

 

[bam0813]

Id start now(actually alittle earlier), as far as the pot id go as big as i could. Pay more attention to pots diameter than depth. You could go right into the ground also

 

[JoeBlow5823]

I have some seeds to start outside this year and im not quite sure what I need to know.

The strains are "Hindu Kush" and "Blueberry"
Zone 5 or 5b (Canadian agricultural zones)
Final frost april 28-30
First frost october 1-10
Average summer temperature 20C-34C 70F-90F
A few hundred yards from the ocean if that matters.
Probably growing in raised beds.

Im wondering things like...

Is there time to do these outdoors in my area from seed?
When do I start the seeds?
How many gallons should these go into, of soil or planter size?

I would try to get some of the new "fast flowering" strains from Canuk seeds. You will have trouble getting plants to fully mature where you are, winter comes to early. Or consider doing autoflowers. Personally i would do minimum 30 gallon fabric pots.....

 

[TrippyNuggets]

Id start now(actually alittle earlier), as far as the pot id go as big as i could. Pay more attention to pots diameter than depth. You could go right into the ground also

Ive decided on 30 gallons... Would a makeshift greenhouse extend the end of season enough perhaps?

 

[grapenut2457]

You will need some kind of frost protection as you most likely won’t harvest til mid October. It can be done just a bit of work...

 

[grapenut2457]

A simple 2x2 frame and poly drop sheet might get you thru the light frosts....

 

[bam0813]

Exactly! farmers of everything in northern climates have used these to gain on both ends of a season for as long as they've existed. Lots of factors. But a cheap 150 boxstore carport and somegreenhouse plastic can do wonders sometime. You wont typically need extra months usually an extra week or two and they get you there

 

[grapenut2457]

I am in the Saint John River valley and we can frost as early as the first week of September although that is rare. Last year the frosts came late.

 

[grapenut2457]

I find that with light frosts you just need to shelter from above as the cold “falls” onto the plants....

 

[ganga gurl420]

Just an fyi tho... frosts do not harm plants. I live in northern Wisconsin and we get frosts starting in September. Mine go though several before I harvest without any damage. Infact it just turns them a beautiful purple color.

I've had mine as low as 23 degrees at night and come out the next day when the sun has risen and I couldn't even tell anything happened.

Just food for thought

 

[grapenut2457]

Sorta afraid to try that without much experience...

 

[bam0813]

Agree , not till first hard frost .

 

[TrippyNuggets]

These replies have helped a lot!
Between the advice here and what ive pieced together im getting a pretty good plan.

Im going to start indoors.... Then move them outdoors whentheyre a bit bigger and plant them in 30 gallon planters.
Ill build a small poly frame around them towards the end of the season just incase. And see how close they can get to finishing here on their own.

Is there any benefit to having open bottom planters so they can send roots into the ground or no?

As for soil... I have like a $100 budget Im thinking of ordering some bulk garden soil and some bulk compost.
Each are about $35 per yard.
Then mixing the compost to soil at about 30% compost 70% soil. Possibly some ground oyster shells and mycorhizoms and such. I need cheap but reasonably effective.

Theres no source here for anything exotic like guano and such.

Just basics like soil and compost.

Also I want to "like" replies but cant figure out how to make the option visible. It doesnt show on my screen.

 

[bam0813]

Sounds like your on track,goodluck. It will take some time and failure to figure out what will be best for your particular situation. I would talk with local veg farmers , homesteaders and the like in your area if any and visit if possible ask and see how they extend their harvest. No need to tell what your growing say tomatoes. Local farmers no best for your exact location .

 

[bam0813]

You dont need fancy, you need NPK and there are many organic and non organic sources of each. No bats? They have cows in Canada? How bout horses, rabbits etc.avoid chicken poop imo its super hot if not composted well

 

[printer]

I would go with an autoflower outdoors. I am in Winnipeg, although we don't have the moderating effect of the ocean by the time the sun goes 12/12 we do not have much time for flowering.

 

[TrippyNuggets]

I Throw out about 20 gallons of rabbit litter a day "straw, and rabbit waste" nothing else.

But im not sure how to use that?

How do I make sure its not too "hot" and how much would I mix into soil?

 

[printer]

I would compost your rabbit waste a year beforehand (I have a bunny under my deck, although wild I still feed it).

 

[bam0813]

I would go with an autoflower outdoors. I am in Winnipeg, although we don't have the moderating effect of the ocean by the time the sun goes 12/12 we do not have much time for flowering.

Alot of times that is your best option,most times it can be pulled off here but ....

 

[bam0813]

Bunny manure is very mild and the only manure ill put on without composting. Have you hade issues with rabbit manure?