cool temperature should keep the aphids down and in check. spider mites - you'll need to spray your bushes regularly with soapy water, once they get going, your work will shrivel up, so take no chances. the environment is fine, they will just grow kind of slow.

Thanks, Cannabisgrower. I will spray once a week or so with Safers.

Any ideas on how long I have to do the 'on-off' thing with the cover? I have been doing it for a couple of weeks now, for four hours at a time, and then misting again, and putting the cover back on. How long do I have to do this normally? Once the covers are off for good, do I have to keep misting? Any help you can give is much appreciated.
Judith

They should be good to go, and have been for some time. To be truly conservative, open them up for 8 hours at a time for a couple of days, then 12 for a couple of days, then take the whole thing off.

My basement tends to run around 60 during the winter. I don't usually have spider mite problems down there. I'd expect no problems at 50. Aphids have been an issue at times, but nothing too difficult to deal with. If I bring them upstairs, however, the problems show up very quickly.

Thanks so much, Madgallica. I think I will go the slower route - 8 hrs, 12 hrs, and then off. I'm a bit of a chicken.

Mine will definitely not be going upstairs (in the house). I will just put them outside gradually, direct from the garage, to harden off in April, and then plant them in their proper places. They should be big enough by then.
Judith