Square Foot Gardening Forum
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Square Foot Gardening Forum
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Heat source for seeds Toplef10Heat source for seeds 1zd3ho10

Hello Guest!
Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum.
There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.

Heat source for seeds I22gcj10Heat source for seeds 14dhcg10

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Heat source for seeds

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Heat source for seeds Empty Heat source for seeds

Post  Garden Angel 9/25/2010, 9:42 am

Like Mel says in the book, all you need is moisture and heat to germinate seeds, so ok, what heat source are people using to sprout seeds indoors? I've been experimenting, and found that the top of my toaster oven left on the warm cycle is a good heat source, and also sprouted some in my crock pot left on the warm cycle, and filled with about 2 inches water , I set the seed containers in a ceramic dish inside the crock pot. Then when the sprout , its out to my greenhouse till they are ready to plant. I'd really like to know what others are doing to sprout indoors.
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Post  elliephant 9/25/2010, 9:48 am

I just leave mine out in the garage until they sprout, then bring them in to a windowsill for light. Plenty of heat out there in my area...still running the A/C indoors.
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Post  Old Hippie 9/25/2010, 9:59 am

I use an old waterbed heater on low under flats of seeds.

GK


Last edited by Old Hippie on 9/25/2010, 9:59 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : spelling)
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Post  SFG in Chicago 9/25/2010, 1:26 pm

I didn't use any extra heat. I started my seeds in the basement under a fluorescent shop light. The unheated basement stays about 65 degrees and the light put out a little heat. I remember how surprised I was when my broccoli seeds sprouted in less than 2 days.
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Post  bullfrogbabe 9/26/2010, 11:28 am

I use an old electric heating pad under my seed germination dome to help them germinate faster. The dome helps keep them moist as the heat makes them dry out faster if they aren't covered.
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Post  Old Hippie 9/26/2010, 12:02 pm

bullfrogbabe wrote:I use an old electric heating pad under my seed germination dome to help them germinate faster. The dome helps keep them moist as the heat makes them dry out faster if they aren't covered.

Thanks for mentioning the dome thingy, "Babe". I forgot about that. The reason I like using some bottom heat is that some plants have very poor germination rates without it. In one of my books I have a chart that gives rates, etc. (I am very old school 20th century.....more of a book person than a "google" person. Heat source for seeds Icon_redface )

GK
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Post  Retired Member 1 9/26/2010, 12:15 pm

This past winter, I used a 50 string of Christmas fairy lights in a large disposable aluminum roaster with a baking sheet on top. I bent the edge of the roaster down in a couple of places so the heat wouldn't build up too much. Jiffy greenhouse went on top of that with 72 cells of plants. I had a great germination rate, especially considering I keep the house at 50-55 at night. Even peppers and eggplant germinated and they like it warm. Worked beautifully.
When I used to raise chickens, I'd use the incubator to germinate plants as I could set it as low as 90. Again, with the cover partially open, it worked very well. I've regretting giving the incubator away many times -- just wasn't thinking of all the other uses it could be put to.
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Post  Old Hippie 9/26/2010, 12:25 pm

HOOO-LEEEE! what a fabulous idea! you have just given me a great idea for some of my old lights. We turn our heat down at night too and the basement which is my grow area is very cool. If I don't use extra heat, germination rates in my grow-op are terrible.

GK
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Post  Retired Member 1 9/26/2010, 7:32 pm

Old Hippie wrote:HOOO-LEEEE! what a fabulous idea! you have just given me a great idea for some of my old lights. We turn our heat down at night too and the basement which is my grow area is very cool. If I don't use extra heat, germination rates in my grow-op are terrible.

GK

Glad I could be of help. :tiphat: Just be aware that this is not a UL certified way to grow plants! I got the idea from a blog that used those new "snake like" light -- can't remember the name of them and snaked them across a pan, making sure they didn't cross over each other. I decided to just dump a regular strand in and not worry about any crossovers. Haven't had any problems, but would suggest checking the set-up daily.
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Post  Garden Angel 9/27/2010, 1:10 pm

Very interesting ! I just knew they must be some creativity out there ! I just was wondering what you all have come up with ! what do they say , necessity is the mother of invention? thanks all for sharing your ideas, I always get inspired here.
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Post  quiltbea 9/27/2010, 10:04 pm

It sounds like I'm the only one that isn't inventive..
I use a heating mat I bought. Its about 20" long and I place it beneath a tray (usually a clean meat tray or two) of starts with a dome over it til the seeds germinate, then move them under the lights.

I like some of your ideas. Smart.

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Post  walshevak 3/4/2013, 10:21 am

bump

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Heat source for seeds Empty Might work...

Post  R&R 1011 3/12/2013, 1:34 pm

We have some closed registers on the floor in rooms we arent using yet that Im thinking about trying my seeds there. The trick will be keeping my 2 yr old out of it. They still produce enough heat being closed. Or might open the register and put seed trays on our cheap Ikea table above the register.
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Post  jimmy cee 3/12/2013, 1:54 pm

This year was my first for doing seeds, I did the auto, watering unit by Burpee.
A reg crock pot filled with water, set on low on a closed rack gave me sprouted plants in 24 hours.
This batch is ready to be planted outside, I'm not ready.
Second batch was without the crock pot, took about a week for seeds to pop through.
3rd batch is with all fine vermiculite, over a week in a non heated basement.
Placed them under lights today..
I took little plastic cups (YOPLAIT yogurt cups) cut the bottoms out, they have a small lip at the top.
Inserted teflon scouring pads (cut to fit) where that lip keeps it from falling out.Filled with fine vermiculite and seeded.
I tend to like this method, will see what happens when I must take plants out and re pot
The crock pot's a great source of humid heat, don't do it on hi tho, or the water might boil away..
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Post  CapeCoddess 3/12/2013, 3:19 pm

I used a regular drugstore heating pad, the kind you use on achie backs and such. I put it on low. It works great and is still crankin them out. I have a lettuce mix and some swiss chard on it right now.

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Post  Roseinarosecity 3/13/2013, 4:33 pm

I used a heating mat this year because I wanted to start early in January to plant in March. Other years when I start late, I just use a southern most eastern window. (I have shade on the other side of my house.) I always cover loosely with plastic wrap to keep the moisture longer and to keep it a little bit warmer.
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Post  TN_GARDENER 3/13/2013, 6:00 pm

Christmas string lights

I also have some pots sitting on top of my DVR and some on top of my computer.
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Post  jimmy cee 3/26/2013, 11:15 pm

My crock pot pic from previous message
Heat source for seeds Seed_s11
same seeds now after re-potting once
Heat source for seeds Newest11
watering from under pots



Last edited by RoOsTeR on 3/27/2013, 9:22 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : spelling)
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