Hi refreshed,

Your question: When do you start putting out your seeds or plants ML?

I realize you probably experiment alot, so perhaps you don't do the same thing every time, but it would interesting to know basically your calender of planting, even if we don't live in your same area or are you making more of a comment on how FAST your plants are growing.

I guess I got a later start but so far everything looks good. Normally we can't plant until after Easter.

I did plant some tomatoes too early and had to replant. I could have just covered them but wasn't paying attention to the weather like I should.

My lemon tree is putting out probably too many babies right now...perhaps not a good sign but it was that way when I got it. Since it was the only one they had at the time, I didn't get to pick the best, so there are a few leaves that look like something has been tunneling in them. I'm hoping in time the health of the tree will be better.

We have been getting a little too much rain lately...was this the wrong time to put more mulch on the plants?

Answer: What I have learned over the years is to not try to plant everything at one time, but spread out my plantings to compensate for Bad weather !

I had mulched last fall and this spring had pulled back this mulch from a small 18 inches by 24 inch area for my seed bed for the tomatoes and just covered it with a plastic tub my wife had gotten from the store several years ago and was not using.

After the 1st plants had germinated and gotten up I was removing the cover during the day warmer time, but forgot to replace it one nite.

My 2nd seed bed I started transplanting as soon as they got up 3-4 inches high and made several different plants over 60 days time frame.

I tried planting as soon as the soil was warm enough, but even at this I got Flooded out because of Heavy rains earlier, yet some of the 1st made it through the flooding?

Now I have a Terrace built to keep Heavy rains from flooding where I have most of my garden now !

What I tried this year was #10 cans that I cut both ends out of to place around the each hill I would plant seeds directly into the soil where I would pull the mulch back.

The mulch was thick and the #10 cans would keep the mulch close to the seeded area, but keep the mulch off the plants.

As we had another cold snap earlier before Easter, I just placed Hotkaps over the #10 cans to protect the plants from freezing and it worked real good !

Now I have earlier plants than otherwise because of planning for frost protection !

It is good to get the mulch on before rains so it may settle down and provide for the Soil Life to have a home to live in !

What you will have to learn about Mulching is to lift the mulch up if weeds start to grow thru to cover them again or apply more mulch to cover the weeds !

Otherwise weeds may get a foot hold and cause you headaches?

We must learn to accomplish what is needed when it is needed and not slack in our job, if we expect to be Blessed !

I just got done pouring a mix of some BSM and Fish emulsion diluted in water around many of my plants this morn !

We have had dry weather for several weeks now, but the soil under my mulch is still full of moisture, while ground that does not have mulch has dried out !

What I watered each plant with will Boost them by feeding the soil life !

Cause and Effect !

Smile Tis your choice.