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In the Ground Yet? An Alberta Progress Report

Just to let the group know where I am at with my plants in Edmonton Alberta.

April 30:       Planted 8 seeds from different sources in 4" peat pots indoors.

May 6:          Planted 4 more seeds in peat pots for back-ups.

May 10:         Transplanted two biggest plants from first batch outdoors in
heated plastic "hot house".  (Heated with 2 150 watt colored
light bulbs and covered with canvas tarp at night).

May 13:         Transplanted two more outside in hot house.

May 14:         Transplanted three more in hot house.  Total of seven plants
in                 the hill.  Three are from first batch and four are from
second batch. The first plant outside has two true leaves.  All
the rest have one true leaf.

May 15:         2nd true leaf showing on 2 more plants.

May 16:         2nd true leaf on remaining 4 plants.  All 7 now have 2 leaves.

May 17:         3rd true leaf on first (earliest) plant.

May 18:         3rd true leaf on one more plant.

May 19:         3rd true leaf on another one.  This one is the fastest
growing                 plant to date.  It is from the 2nd batch started on
May 6 and                   has reached 3 true leaves in 13 days from
sticking seed in peat                 pot.  The next best has taken 17 days
to reach this stage.

May 24:         All have 3 true leaves, 2 have 4th leaf and same 2 have 5th
leaf (tonight)       just barely budding.  The biggest leaves are now about
4"                 across.

Tomorrow:       May 25.  The big decision will have to be made as to which
ones to start culling.  It will be tricky as it seems that the relationship
of the plants to the heat source (light bulbs) has influenced the growth
rate in addition to the genetics of the seeds.  I will have to take this
into account.

Notes and info:

The air temp in the hot house has varied from about 40 deg. F to 95 deg. F
during the day depending on the weather, sunshine, and opening or closing
the lid.  The soil temp. as measured with a meat thermometer stuck in the
ground has varied from 45 to 60 deg. F

At night, with the cover on and the lights on, the air temp. has been fairly
constant around 55 F. and the soil temp. about 50 F.  This is in spite of a
couple of nights of light frost, and early this week, 10 " of wet snow that
fell in Edmonton.  On the really cool wet days, I kept the tarp and lights
on all day and night.  I have kept the plants well watered, and have applied
Plant Starter Fertilizer (Plant Prod 10-52-10) about once a week.  I am
impressed with how well the plants have done in their little micro-climate.

The heat source (light bulbs) are located in two opposite corners of the
enclosure.  The two plants in those two corners are growing faster than the
two in the opposite corners, so heat obviously makes a difference.

Kurt Frederick
Edmonton, Alberta
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