Growing Vegetables is like a Game of Strategy and Risk

5th Jun 2024

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When it comes to planting your vegetable plants outside, that were quite happy sitting in the warmish greenhouse, it is a game of strategy and risk.

I’m not sure people realise there is a strategy involved so I’ll explain. It’s you vs the weather vs caring for your plants needs.

Strategy – Timing

I keep a keen eye on the weather every week and granted it may change but I’m ready for it!

In late May, I’d checked the weather forecast a week ago and as it’s also half term I.e. the children are off on holiday from school (which means it will rain!).

I knew the weather would be too wet this week to plant outside. It’s actually rained more than I thought it would!

Therefore Strategy – Me Vs the Weather.

I won’t plant out a particular vegetable plant if they are susceptible to wet weather and it’s going to rain all week.

My Pumpkins and Courgettes are growing huge in their pots in the greenhouse however I’m not planting them outside into the Raised Beds so they can just rot in the wet ground or get eaten by slugs.

‘Timing is everything in Strategy’ that’s how you win or loose.

Just think how important timing is, for example a comedy show, if the comedian doesn’t say the punch line at the right moment then the joke would just flop or leave everyone confused, which would be embarrassing.

Timing is key in vegetable growing, so make sure the growing conditions outside are right or nearly right and then plant your plants outside to give them the best start of their life.

Needless to say this week is looking more like Summer, although there is a temperature dip mid week so the Pumpkins and Courgettes are due to be planted out this week in June.

Risk – Timing

I could have planted the pumpkins and courgettes outside last week. It may have boosted their growth however newly transplanted seedlings need a period of settling in and tend to sulk if they don’t like their new conditions.

This is when pests and diseases can attack your plants when they are weak. For example slugs and snails have been liking the wet weather or plants just not getting to grips with the cold wet weather from the previous greenhouse warmth.

All your efforts of sowing the seed, watching for it to germinate, nurturing it to a seedling, will be for nothing, if the timing is not right.