Newbie needs advice

[enggass]

Hi all,
I have started several things in my basement under lights to get ready for planting mid-May hopefully. That is the general time here in Maine. I have onions, beets, leeks, broccoli, beans, peppers etc... I have already moved the Broccoli and Beans from starter pods to larger peat pods - my question is this: Some of the items like the beets have roots coming through the bottom of the pods - is it ok to leave them in their current small starter pods? Or is it best to move everything into larger containers as they grow - if so it obviously takes up much more space. Should I move everything out from under the grow lights and upstairs until planting time? I have at least a month before anything can go outside... What do you all do during this intermediate stage?
Thanks.

[Kazahleenah]

The onions and beets should do ok outside in the garden. Beets are a root crop, and I never plant them inside, those I seed right to the garden. (I am in zone 4) What kind of onions? Broccoli is a cool weather crop, but you're bound to get a few more hard frosts, so I'd keep them inside. The beans and peppers also will need to be protected inside for a bit. Not sure on leeks, have never grown them.

[enggass]

Thanks. Should I move them - the Broccoli, Beans and Peppers - to large pots in the meantime?

[Kazahleenah]

Originally Posted by enggass

Thanks. Should I move them - the Broccoli, Beans and Peppers - to large pots in the meantime?

Bigger pots are always nice.... builds a nicer root system.
I have also had plants in those lil "flat trays" that do nicley (even though they are rootbound when I remove them and plant them in the ground)

If you have the stuff, and the room... I'd say go for it and move them to bigger pots.

What growing zone are you in?

[enggass]

5 or 5'A' according to this:
National Gardening Association

[olivehill]

Leeks are like Onions. They can go outside.

[Kazahleenah]

Then, you are a couple weeks "ahead" of me in planting the gardens.
I am on the border of 4b and 5a.... I typically plant according to 4b.

(Just a suggestion... keep a Garden Diary. Put temps, weather (rain, snow etc) how the plants/seeds did, when planted, transplanted, fertilized etc. It will REALLY help next year and take the guesswork out of trying to remember what worked and what didn't, or what you would do diffrently next time)

[frankva]

If the broc is 3-4" tall, plant it. Up pot the peppers when needed. Throw the beans out... Beets plant.

Start new seed for broc. You kinda jumped the gun. Bean need 60*F soil to germinate. I have started them inside, but they sulk until the soil warms. Should be able to plant bean seed last of May, when we get a warm week of weather forecast.

Go ahead and plant beet seed outside. After this week of doom and gloom. Save some seed in case stuff gets frozen.

Stuff needs to harden off outside. Little sun, then dappled sun. Close to building at night for warmth. Under porch roof best. Above freezing forecast for nights coming up. Cold predicted, bring them inside rather than let them get 30* the first couple nights.

Be sure trays have holes so you don't flood them if the rain blows. They are tender now so rain will beat them up. Think red head fair skin for sunburning them. They will toughen up in a few days.

All I can think of. Welcome to the rush the season club. You are fine company.

[Paquebot]

Onions and leeks should be in the ground right now and not worry about cold or snow. (My first onions were planted a month ago and leeks yesterday.) Beets could have already been planted directly into the garden as soon as the soil was soft enough to plant. (They could actually have been planted late last fall to germinate when the soil temperature is warm enough.) Broccoli is almost as hardy as the onions, leeks, and beets but not quite. Beans and peppers are definitely not to go out until either all danger of frost has passed or you are prepared to protect them whenever the forecast calls for freezing temperatures.

Martin

[enggass]

Thank you all...! First time starting seeds - each year I will learn more.
S