When to start seeds for outdoors around Chicago

Outdoor Growing Climate
1

I live south of Chicago, and started my seeds mid February, and they were fine, but I think they got a bit leggy. I kept them in red solo cups, till i was ready to put them in the ground. I put them in the ground and they grew just fine. 6.5 7 ft tall in a veggie garden between the tomatoes. But I wanted to know what everyone thought. I was thinking of starting them at the end of the month, or maybe the start of Mach for a planting time around the middle of May. I had strawberry Kush, and Banana Diesel. This year I am sticking with Strawberry Kush, and trying out Northern Exposure and White Widow.Thanks for any help!

2

If you want to plant them outside in May; You best not start them to sometime in April

2 Likes
3

I’m in upstate NY, I start mine last week of March, I"ll keep them inside till late April

2 Likes
4

So really…you only need about a month from planting the seeds till outside?

5

4-5 weeks should be enough to get them strong and healthy, and to weed out plants that might not make it through a transplant. I don’t make it too complicated, I just want a strong plant to start a transplant.
Getting your plant out in spring lets them go through the shock of transplant(mostly temp) and lets them adjust to natural conditions before it gets too hot and also lets them adjust to the sunlight gradually.

1 Like
6

I start now. I 1 hr from you.

2 Likes
7

All good answers. In relation to what everyone is saying; A plant is not mature enough to clone or transplant until it is at least a month old.

Great job guys. :slight_smile: Happy growing

2 Likes
8

Thanks for asking, I live bout an hour south of Chicago. It’s been pretty mild out, though colder the nest week or so, so from the answers I got, around mid-late March would be fine? In growing in a greenhouse so would I be fine doing it in mid March?

1 Like
9

Thanks everyone! I was already gonna have my seeds going, but it sounds like that I will wait a week or two, cause I want to space my plants apart so they are not all ready at the same time. Or here is maybe a 2ed question, what would be better, to space the seed planting time over a week or ten days, or just go ahead and plant them all at the same time, and than space the harvest time over a week or so?

10

Im sure you have prob thought of this but if you space them i would number or mark the pots somehow so you know whats what, cause i reckon they will all start looking the same quickly
:cherry_blossom:

1 Like
11

Planting them all at once is the way to go IMHO. It’s not the same as cultivating successive rounds of salad greens, carrots, or sprouts to achieve a staggered harvest.
The only thing holding off between plantings will do is assure you’ve grown a smaller mature plant at harvest time.

I start mine here a little earlier than a lot of New England does because I’m so far DownEast.
I did buy all fem seeds this time around so the whole forcing cuttings to show sex thing doesn’t need to happen.
The outdoor growing season really doesn’t start here until June 1.

2 Likes
12

The correct answer is on mothers day. That ia when the season hit cannabis hrs. I live 2 hrs west of you.

3 Likes
13

Midwest I’m putting mine in ground tomorrow

14

I always recommend calling the local County Agent, and ask him when to plant your Peppers or Tomato’s. Hope this helps :wink:

1 Like
15

Good answer, I start hardening my seedlings off then to safely transplant them in the ground about 14 days later.

2 Likes
16

I agree with Tomatoes and peppers, that is when I planted my garden last year. and plan on doing the same again this year, except my veggie garden and “flower” garden will be in different places. I think last year I did the 2ed week in may, and the night i planted we had a frost. So this year im waiting till the 3ed week in May. The 4th weekend if its crappy weather.

2 Likes
17

I am west of Chicago. ( about 45 minutes). Starting the germination process the first week in April, to the garden on May 15th., works for me. I would use an indoor light seclude until the garden planting. I could even put them in the garden on May 7 or 8th. I would have plastic ready for a dip in tempiture.

William

2 Likes
18

Your right on the money William. I have been planting a vegtible garden now since 1979 and also live just wet of Chicago. I use the same indoor starting time for tomato seedlings, along with other suitable seedlings, to be planted in our rear garden in mid May. I now have learned, from William, that he also follows the same schedule for Cannabis. Thank you William
RWB

1 Like