Which to start indoors?

[AK Explorer]

I have some summer seeds I am not sure about starting indoors. Most of them we have started, but the zucchini, the snap peas, and the lettuce I am not sure about. Should we start them indoors or just wait and plant them mid-May in the beds outside?

 

[tailwind]

I have no clue really, but I will add that my lady starts just about everything indoors in a little stand near our big window, and transplants once the ground is warm. Good luck, I really enjoy watching how fast one can grow something from nothing in this great place. I love Alaska.

 

[lonealaskangypsy]

I would say Zucchini and Peas (unless snow peas) should be started about three weeks early. Enough to get them germinated and going, and then they can be transplanted outdoors. Leaf lettuce can be planted directly outside via seed, but head lettuce should be started inside. I always start everything indoors so I can more closely monitor the growth. This is my first year growing a garden in Alaska, but I have gardened elsewhere, and from that personal experience that's the way I would begin growing them. I would like to hear what others have to say though.

 

[AK Explorer]

These are sweet snap peas, and the lettuce is tennis ball lettuce, so yes, I guess small heads of lettuce. I guess I will start them along with the squash in mid-April or so. Thanks.

 

[aaalaska]

We always plant the sugar snaps direct in the garden, just soak them about two to four hours before planting in warm water, and keep watered till they start showing. Head lettuce ,start indoors,space them out so you can harvest what you'll use over several weeks.

 

[AK Explorer]

Thanks aaalaska.

 

[Old John]

These are sweet snap peas, and the lettuce is tennis ball lettuce, so yes, I guess small heads of lettuce. I guess I will start them along with the squash in mid-April or so. Thanks.

we soak our snap beans and all 3 variety of peas in bowlsl of warm water overnight before planting... then about Mid May plant directly into the garden... /John

 

[akflyfisher]

As for lettuce, I like to plant some indoors in Late april that way I am eating fresh lettuce in May. Then I plant some in June and then some the end of August. Fresh young lettuce for almost five months.

 

[AKHuntressNP]

I already started a flat of leaf lettuce and have it by the window...That was the fresh lettuce starts real early and it makes you feel as if the garden has already started.

 

[ruffle]

We'll frequently start a little bit of lettuce and a couple or so zuchinni inside, but not too early. The peas, etc., we tend to start directly in the raised beds.

With the zukes and the lettuce, while we may start a few indoors, the rest are started outside. Both are fairly rapid in their growth and, in the case of the zukes, blooming and fruiting, if you're on schedule, you've got well-balanced, healthy soil, and the infamous June/July frosts don't undo your plans.

Staggering the planting times for your lettuce and spinach will help to assure an on-going supply that's less apt to overwhelm you with 20 heads of lettuce (or more) that simultaneously become ripe or past ripe. Likewise, with spinach, and its propensity to 'bolt' (or go to seed during the long days), if you stagger a planting every couple weeks, or several plantings, doing one every week, straight into the garden, you'll have a longer lasting, less overwhelming supply of healthy fresh greens.

 

[AK Explorer]

Thanks everyone. I already started my spinach, so I may get a bit too much of it all at once. I will wait a month or so on the zucchini, squash, and lettuce, since it is tennis ball lettuce, not leafy lettuce. I guess i will let some of the spinach just bolt and save the seeds instead of harvesting it all and having so,me go bad.

peas, carrots, potatoes will all wait til may and go straight into the garden


how about strawberries and raspberries? star inside or wait til May and start outside?

 

[aaalaska]

No experience with strawberries, but raspberries can be transplanted thru mid summer with great success ,I've moved some late in the summer with mixed results.A quick check around your area will probably get you some starts, they sprout pretty much like weeds, and are easy to move.
Alex

 

[lonealaskangypsy]

how about strawberries and raspberries? star inside or wait til May and start outside?

Definately start strawberries indoors. Almost all strawberry varieties should be started about three months ahead of time and are very slow growing. They will have minimal root growth within the first month and a half, and very little leaf growth. I don't even think with most strawberry varieties you will get fruit the first year, unless you have a hybrid variety, but the second year they should really take off.