Re: RE: CULT: How Late is too Late?

In a message dated 10/30/2006 5:45:09 AM Eastern Standard Time,  
lmann@lock-net.com writes:

.   If we have subzero weather this winter, I will probably try to mulch the  
smaller seedlings rather than count on Reemay or water  bottles.



Linda, how many seeds and/or seedlings are you dealing with each season?  How 
many of these are still truly tiny as winter approachs? 
 
The reason I ask is it sounds to me like you could use a  good sized classic 
cold frame or three. I am speaking of the kind  which consist of a nursery bed 
within a frame with glazed covers  which can be lowered, and, if necessary, 
covered with old rugs or whatnot  when the temperatures are really bad. 
Seedlings are planted directly into the  soil bottom of the frame, which is often 
sunken several inches or  a foot into the ground. If there is some sun to be 
had--and these frames are  typically oriented south--there will be some warmth, 
but no other heat is  to be laid on. Covers can be left open until things get 
dangerous for the crop,  and seedlings can be given a cover of an airy 
mulch--pine tags or  something--within the frame if they seem to need it. 
 
This is also the model of a classic hotframe in which the  nursery bed--a 
layer of soil formulated/cultivate for optimum seedling  health---is actually 
spread over a deep layer of compacted fresh manure--I seem  to remember horse is 
favored--which gives off gentle heat all winter. I guess  you'd call that 
*bottom* heat. You squeamish about dung? Heating cables  work fine, too, of 
course, until the power goes off. Here again, you can  toss rugs over the top. I 
have a flokati that I staple into a double layer of  heavy plastic sheeting and 
flop onto my little homemade hoop frame if temps  are predicted below about 15. 
 
I am not suggesting coddling the little wretches unduly,  which course, I 
appreciate, might be counter to your hybridizing design,  but simply offering 
some fundamental support to get them through the worst of  their first winter, as 
you appear to do now. Might make it a little easier on  you, too, waterjug 
and pot toting-wise. After all, it is not unusual for a plant  to be tender in 
infancy and hardy in maturity.
 
Or are you already doing this sort of thing and I have simply lost  track?   
 
Cordially,
 
Anner Whitehead
Richmond VA USA  

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