Hotbed update, and Melons, cucumbers and squash planted.

I planted my water melon, cantaloupe, and cucumbers in plastic cups with compost today. I would like them to be ready to set out about the 15th of May. So I'll see if one month is enough lead time. I also planted basil, and a second planting of beets. We are supposed to get between 2.5 inches and four inches of rain the next few days, but the plant swill be cozy all covered up. The soil temperature is abut 70 degrees. This hotbed was one of the best projects I have done in along time. I am going to grow egg plant, chives, chard, basil and herbs in it this summer, then I'll put fresh manure in it and grow late fall/early winter lettuce in it  This Friday it is supposed to get down to 31 at night.

Planting tomatoes extra early.- The miracle of plastic sheeting and hoop house/low tunnels.

On Friday I laid clear plastic sheeting down on top of some beds that had been prepared with manure or compost and then double dug. The clear sheeting apparently lets in the sun's rays and heat. The water droplets don't allow it to escape. I read that black plastic itself heats up but doesn't allow the rays to go through it, and white plastic reflects everything. On Friday I had soil temps of 80 degrees, while adjacent soil was 40 degrees. I cut square holes and stuck in my plants. Then as you can see I erected some simple hoop tunnels over the top of the plants. Normal time to plant the tomatoes here locally is the 15th of May. It has been three days and the plants are already showing signs of growth.