Can I move indoor plants outside in July-August?

[johnybologna]

I'm in at 41 degrees latitude, zone 8. Close to the ocean with relatively high humidity (70-80 %).

I germinated some seeds (Durban Prison) around 10th of June and they've been growing indoors under LEDs for the last month. I was wondering if I could order new seeds and, when they arrive (will be the end of July or even in August), move my plants outside into a greenhouse? I'm guessing that by that time they will have grown to the full spatial capacity of my closet. I had read somewhere that plants that were started indoors can be moved outdoors as closely as possible to the equinox (June 21st) because they will start flowering immediately because of shortening days; but on other sites I read that outdoor plants only start flowering in August...

Can I move these plants into the greenhouse in August? How will it affect my yield?

 

[Blew Hiller]

You can, but gently....sunlight is stronger than any light so put them in indirect light for the first few days while they acclimate to the change in light intensity. Why not move them now? If you have access to the GH, you'll get bigger plants which will increase your yield.

 

[Jackalope]

Yep they can be moved once you are frost free. Slow transition as was mentioned. Even shaded light is stronger then most indoor lights. The fact you have the greenhouse to finish them in makes moving them worth while.

 

[johnybologna]

Great! Thanks for the tips! I'll order seeds right now and start transitioning these plants by keeping them in the closet, but taking them out. First day an hour in the shade, second day 2 hours, third day 4 hours, and from the fourth day increasingly longer in the greenhouse?

 

[Bud]

A week or two should b enough transition time till u can keep outside.

 

[Blew Hiller]

What are your temps? If not too cold just put them in the GH, in the shade for the first week, full time.

 

[johnybologna]

What are your temps? If not too cold just put them in the GH, in the shade for the first week, full time.

Temperatures are more or less 18-25 C / 60-80 F.

 

[Blew Hiller]

Temperatures are more or less 18-25 C / 60-80 F.

Perfect...put them in the GH in the shade for a week and then unleash the direct sun on them....

 

[johnybologna]

Perfect...put them in the GH in the shade for a week and then unleash the direct sun on them....

Perfect!! Out of curiosity, when would be the latest date I could successfully move indoor plants inside a greenhouse?

 

[Blew Hiller]

Perfect!! Out of curiosity, when would be the latest date I could successfully move indoor plants inside a greenhouse?

Are you asking if you could move the same plants into the GH in a few weeks instead of now? Sure.

 

[johnybologna]

Not sure what you are asking....

Sorry, let me rephrase. So my original question was: seedlings started in half June: can I move them into a greenhouse at end of July under my climatic conditions. Answer from everyone was basically "yes".

What about seedlings that were started in August (or even later)? Just plain stupid to put these in the greenhouse? Or could I even have them from the beginning in the greenhouse without ever putting them indoors? What is the limiting factor in greenhouse growing: low temperatures (at night?) or shortening days?

 

[Blew Hiller]

What about seedlings that were started in August (or even later)? Just plain stupid to put these in the greenhouse? Or could I even have them from the beginning in the greenhouse without ever putting them indoors? What is the limiting factor in greenhouse growing: low temperatures (at night?) or shortening days?

Shortening days mainly, low temps actually increase potency of buds...my plants routinely swing between 50-100F in 24 hours. Even when there is "technically" 14 hour of sunlight, plants will begin to flower in a GH. I am at 44'N and I expect my plants to begin flowering mid/late August. Any plants you currently have going NOW can certainly get 6 additional weeks of sun and then flower and finish in a GH.

Midcoast Maine Hours of Sunshine.png

• Blew Hiller
• May 9, 2018

Hours of Sunlight

 

[johnybologna]

Shortening days mainly, low temps actually increase potency of buds...my plants routinely swing between 50-100F in 24 hours. Even when there is "technically" 14 hour of sunlight, plants will begin to flower in a GH. I am at 44'N and I expect my plants to begin flowering mid/late August. Any plants you currently have going NOW can certainly get 6 additional weeks of sun and then flower and finish in a GH.

Midcoast Maine Hours of Sunshine.png

• Blew Hiller
• May 9, 2018

Hours of Sunlight

Thanks for the info!
I have another question which may or may not be directly related to the greenhouse issue.
I have some yellowing leafs (see pictures below; hard to see but there's tomatoes, sweet potatoes and butternuts in the background ;-) ). Not sure if it's a problem or not since there's not that many, and as far as I can tell the rest of the plant looks healthy. So these 2 plants are pretty old (8 months I guess); I harvested them several months ago, let them regrow under LEDs, and gradually moved them outside (and now in the greenhouse) 2 weeks ago. They've always been in compost (the growing bag is 3 gallons = 10 L) without supplementation of fertilizer. I repotted them a couple of weeks after the harvest. So my questions are:
-is it normal to see this in a healthy plant?
-could this be due to too much light (even after 2 weeks)?
-is it possible to have a nutrient overdose if I just give compost? I feel like, since all nutrients are buffered in organic material this is implausible...
-is this a nutrient deficiency? If yes, which one? What do I do; can I get by with adding compost on top or do I really have to buy fertilizer?

 

[Blew Hiller]

Thanks for the info!
I have another question which may or may not be directly related to the greenhouse issue.
I have some yellowing leafs (see pictures below; hard to see but there's tomatoes, sweet potatoes and butternuts in the background ;-) ). Not sure if it's a problem or not since there's not that many, and as far as I can tell the rest of the plant looks healthy. So these 2 plants are pretty old (8 months I guess); I harvested them several months ago, let them regrow under LEDs, and gradually moved them outside (and now in the greenhouse) 2 weeks ago. They've always been in compost (the growing bag is 3 gallons = 10 L) without supplementation of fertilizer. I repotted them a couple of weeks after the harvest. So my questions are:
-is it normal to see this in a healthy plant?
-could this be due to too much light (even after 2 weeks)?
-is it possible to have a nutrient overdose if I just give compost? I feel like, since all nutrients are buffered in organic material this is implausible...
-is this a nutrient deficiency? If yes, which one? What do I do; can I get by with adding compost on top or do I really have to buy fertilizer?

Just looks like basic wear and tear to me....I'd just clip them off and move forward....