We've had wonderful weather for past week or so, in 70's and 80's, tomorrow I am planting some of my WS seedlings into my flowerbed. They are ready. Some have become very spindly, should I pinch them after I put them in the ground so they will bush out or wait and give them time to grow? I saved all the jug/bottle tops in case the temperature drops. They are predicting rain on Thursday night. Should I put those tops back on at nighttime and take them off during daytime for a while? Next year, I'm only doing milk jugs and liter soda bottles, no other containers. They dry out too quickly(coffee cups and cold drink cups) I have gone through a container of Critter Ridder in over a week, but the squirrels keep digging, so I'm going to spray ropel around on the soil, not on foliage. Should I place a flower pot upside down at night to protect the tender seedlings and remove it the next morning, weather permitting?

I generally don't pinch at the time I'm planting. I give them a little time to settle in first. Pinching forces new growth, increases work on the plant.

I'm not sure why you are thinking of covering them. For temperature? To protect from rain? They should be able to tolerate rain unless the seedlings are very, very tiny and it's monsoon type rain and hail.

Karen

I agree with Karen. The only time I have provided a protection for a few days is planting out tomatoes in an exposed area if the temps are quite warm and it is a windy spot. A little board like an old wood shingle to block the wind.

the board is a good idea . thanks

I see from the first posting that I was able to plant some of my seedlings in 2010 this week..what a difference a year makes! Too cold to do that this year. I read somewhere in a garden book or magazine recently that one can even use a cooking thermometer to test the temp. of the soil..I'm going to use the candy thermometer and test the soil temp. this week.

For those people who might live in the Md. suburbs outside of DC, have you direct sown any flower seeds in your flowerbeds or containers yet?