Temperatures Planting

Check your temps before planting tenders:

  Tomatoes:  soil temp 55-60 degrees    

                   ambient air be at least 55.

  Peppers:     minimum night temp of 53-55

  Cucumbers:  Soil temp 70    night  60

  Squash & Pumpkins:  soil temp of 62-70

                 These guys do NOT like their roots disturbed!!!

  Basil:  after danger of frost is past

Better to transplant on a cooler day as transplanting stresses plants...so does really hot, sunny weather.

First couple of days after transplanting water thoroughly, then start to taper off.

Do not fertilize when transplanting.  Wait a week or so once the seedlings have acclimated to their new home.

Comments

[Steve]

Ahh very helpful, thanks. What kind of thermometer do you use for checking soil temps, and how deep do you measure?

[sara rolfs]

I use a 'soil thermometer'. It looks just like a meat thermometer. The length of it is about 6 inches. I usually just stick in it where I'm hoping to plant next and leave it there 24/7, checking in on it periodically through the day.