To compensate, make sure they receive full sunlight and are planted in the best part of the Garden. If you do a soil test, make sure you follow its recommendation. If not, apply 10 cubic feet of organic matter, 1pound of nitrogen and 1 pound of phosphoric acid per 1,000 square feet of Garden. Work these amendments into the soil prior to setting out the transplants. Cover the soil with black plastic mulch to suppress weeds, keep fruit off the ground and reduce surface evaporation, irrigation requirement and nutrient leaching.
Hot caps can protect the transplants from wind and frost and advance the date of transplanting.
Normally, hot caps are anchored in the soil, but you also can tape them to plastic mulch. Arrange the plants 1 foot apart in the row, with rows 3 feet apart. This allows 3 square feet per plant. Pests You may encounter flea beetles soon after transplanting. To deter cutworms, you may want to place cylindrical paper collars around the stems of plants.