This winter and spring have been a wild ride, but I am happy to be planting tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumbers weeks ahead of the last frost. For over 40 years, I’ve used Wall-O-Waters and other season-extending techniques to start the season early. But it got me wondering, what are the positive and negative aspects of setting out plants early?

How to Plant Vegetables Early with the Wall-O-Waters

Scratching the Proverbial Itch

The biggest plus of planting early is simple joy. Many of us have waited over half a year for this moment, and a fair number have been tending plants indoors for months. We want to put them in the ground, if nothing more than to avoid having to tend them inside anymore.

Of course, the big caveat is whether the soil temperature is conducive to planting these heat-loving varieties. It’s a shock for transplants to go from a warm, coddled environment to cold soil. An easy remedy is to place clear plastic over the planting area for about a week prior, as long as you’re having nice weather. If it’s rainy and cold, that’s not going to do much for you.

We’re enjoying stretches of beautiful weather well into the 70s, and the forecast for the next 10 days looks to maintain that pattern. This is why I decided to put a number of plants in early.

Extending the Growing Season: Start Early and End Later

Gaining a Jump on Pests

Another reason some people plant early is to give the plants time to grow before traditional pests emerge. This is particularly relevant for crops such as spinach, Swiss chard, and many other greens that are plagued by flea beetles. If you plant them early and keep them covered with a floating row cover, the barrier is often enough to dissuade the Beatles.

This is also useful for cabbage and other Brassicas, as the cabbage moth appears later in the spring, looking for a place to lay eggs. Plus, when it comes to cucumbers, using a blow row cover can’t exclude cucumber beetles, which are known vectors for bacterial wilt. If you have issues with this during the summer, consider planting cucumbers early and covering them from the start.

Ripening Before Late Season Issues

In some areas of the country, late blight is a problem with tomatoes. Of course, planting resistant varieties should be at the top of your list, but another strategy is starting them early so they mature prior to disease appearance.

Humidity Buildup = Disease Risk

The problem with some of these techniques is that the same warm cocoon that protects a seedling from frost may also shelter fungal pathogens. Here in Montana, we have a notably dry climate, but that’s not the case in other parts of the country. If you live in the Midwest or other areas with higher humidity, the wall of water and other season-extending techniques can increase humidity around the plant, potentially increasing disease risk. The key is good air circulation. As soon as the weather moderates and frost risk is minimal, open the Wall-O-Waters, or ventilate low row tunnels.

Watch for Early Emerging Pests

Also, be vigilant with your crops, as floating row covers or low tunnels can add warmth, encouraging the early emergence of any pests overwintering in the soil. One remedy, which is standard practice, is to rotate crops, so even if a pest emerges, its favorite food source is not available.

Season-extending techniques bring us joy, but we need to be aware that they can also pose unforeseen risks. Just keep your eyes open and adjust accordingly.