I'm planning to start some tomato and pepper seedlings in a small outdoor greenhouse, which is essentially a shelf wrapped in plastic. I'm located in zone 8b, so the nighttime temperatures shouldn't dip below 40°F in March, but I know that can still be too cold for these plants. I've had a rough time starting seeds indoors in the past, so I'm looking to direct sow as much as possible this year. However, these solanums need a bit of extra care. What are some effective ways to protect my seedlings from the cold and help them thrive?
2 Answers
You might want to consider getting a weather station that reads both indoor and outdoor temperatures. You can place a sensor inside your greenhouse to monitor the conditions. As long as it stays above 50°F at night, your seedlings should be fine. If it does get colder than that, just bring them back inside temporarily.
I can’t speak for your specific conditions since I'm in the UK, but I've always germinated my tomatoes and peppers indoors using a propagator. I keep them on a windowsill to give them optimal light, but I move them away from direct sunlight if it gets too harsh. Once they develop their first true leaves, I bring them out to the greenhouse during the day and take them back inside at night. I also use a propagator cover to protect them during transport from wind shock. I usually leave them out overnight once temperatures consistently hit around 10°C, but if there's a cold snap, I bring them back indoors to keep them safe!
That sounds like a solid plan! It seems like a lot of work though, haha, but I might need to give it a try.
Great idea! I’ll definitely put a thermometer in there to keep tabs on it.