2nd year SFG in ND

Robbomb116 4/12/2018, 9:37 am

Hello everyone! I'm not dead, was just waiting for spring, and well... it's still not here in ND. We still have snow on the ground even... I did manage to get some grow lights setup and start some seeds though!
My seedlings are starting to look a bit stressed though. The kale and broccoli especially. Those are a few weeks old now. Is it time to move them to bigger containers? Never done this while seed starting thing.

Robbomb116 4/12/2018, 9:43 am

Also everytime I try to post a picture it says there is an error and to try again. Repeatedly. Sad

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**sanderson** 4/12/2018, 2:03 pm

Rob, I wish you could post a photo so we know what you mean by "stressed". I hope someone will post instructions on how to send through that app.

countrynaturals 4/12/2018, 2:16 pm

Robbomb116 wrote:Hello everyone! I'm not dead, was just waiting for spring, and well... it's still not here in ND. We still have snow on the ground even... I did manage to get some grow lights setup and start some seeds though!
My seedlings are starting to look a bit stressed though. The kale and broccoli especially. Those are a few weeks old now. Is it time to move them to bigger containers? Never done this while seed starting thing.

I think we're all in the same boat. No snow here, and I've already moved my seedlings to bigger containers, but even those are looking stressed. I'm afraid this is one of those "no spring" years -- just going directly from winter to summer. 2nd year SFG in ND 671790

Robbomb116 4/12/2018, 3:48 pm

Well the seed leaves are turning yellow and some of them falling off before the first set of true leaves has even grown. The first set of true leaves does seem to be coming now, but the plants don't look good in my opinion. Decently yellow

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**Turan** 4/12/2018, 7:31 pm

Nice to see you, Rob!

The seedlings probably need food and likely bigger pots by now. Most seed starting mixes have little besides peat and vermiculite in them, and even if they have more there is not enough soil to have much. When you see first true leaves start to water them with a fertilizer at half strength, it can be fish emulsion or a Fox Farm or miracle grow, etc.

I do not know if compost tea has enough ready nutrients or not, any one have experience with that?

Robbomb116 4/12/2018, 11:22 pm

I have some fish emulsion so I will do that! Thanks!

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Robbomb116 4/13/2018, 9:48 am

Seems whatever the issue was woth pictures is resolved now! Here is what my seedlings look like.

Robbomb116 4/13/2018, 2:47 pm

Now that there is a picture, any other advice? Is the light possibly too hot for the kale and broccoli? Should I still pot them up now or just give fish emulsion?

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**Turan** 4/13/2018, 2:54 pm

They are not big enough to be potted up. It worries me they are so off color, as if they have no light. I am hoping fish emulsion will perk them up.

**sanderson** 4/13/2018, 3:53 pm

Turan wrote:They are not big enough to be potted up. It worries me they are so off color, as if they have no light. I am hoping fish emulsion will perk them up.

+1 If it makes you feel any better, my seedlings are also off color this year. Purple tomatoes, yellow squash and melons. I hope the CalMag and fish emulsion I gave the (per mfg instructions) will help once the weather stabilizes again.

Robbomb116 4/13/2018, 3:56 pm

Turan wrote:They are not big enough to be potted up. It worries me they are so off color, as if they have no light. I am hoping fish emulsion will perk them up.

Ok, so when would it be time to pot them up?

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**Turan** 4/13/2018, 5:23 pm

You stated in the original post that the broccoli and kale plants are a few weeks old already? And they are still without true leaves and starting to drop their baby leaves? A few is more than 2 weeks since sprouted? I am curious what is your seed starting mix?

I pot up after true leaves and when I see roots coming out of the soil blocks. I looked through my old garden records to see when that is. One month after seeding I up potted and then planted 2 weeks later. In 2015 I started the broccoli on 4/5 and planted in the garden on 5/20 and started cutting heads on 7/4. So that is what

Robbomb116 4/13/2018, 8:32 pm

It was about 2.5 to 3 weeks from planting the seeds, the kale was up after 5-7 days and the broccoli after 7-10 days. So it's been about 2 ish weeks since germination. Just got home and gave them the first dose of fish emulsion.
2nd year SFG in ND 20180411

and there is definitely some true leaves starting on some of the kale and broccoli.

2nd year SFG in ND 20180412

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yolos 4/13/2018, 10:01 pm

They look leggy to me. Are you using an appropriate light and are the plants close enough to the light.

Robbomb116 4/13/2018, 10:07 pm

I think it's an appropriate light. It said it was meant for growing plants. And the light is within an inch, maybe two from the plants.

When I first planted them they ended up being by the window for just a few days after germination as the lights I initially bought were DEFINITELY NOT appropriate... they ended up not being compatible with my fixture and started smoking! Was a few days before I could get my setup going after that.

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Robbomb116 4/14/2018, 1:26 pm

Upon further investigation, I agree with three leggy observation. I also believe I found the culprit. The plants in the sides of the tray seem to be the leggiest, and the tray is wider than my lights. So I shall buy another set of lights to provide better lighting to the whole tray.

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**trolleydriver** 4/14/2018, 1:38 pm

Don't waste money on special all spectrum grow lights. I use plain 6500K fluorescent T8 four foot bulbs in workshop light fixtures and my seedlings do very well. Unless you are growing flowers or veggies to maturity you don't need the more expensive lights. Seedlings for transplanting will do fine under the cheaper lights as long as you keep the lights close to the plants.

Here is the proof.
2nd year SFG in ND Img_2147

countrynaturals 4/14/2018, 1:54 pm

TD wrote:Don't waste money on special all spectrum grow lights. I use plain 6500K fluorescent T8 four foot bulbs in workshop light fixtures and my seedlings do very well. Unless you are growing flowers or veggies to maturity you don't need the more expensive lights. Seedlings for transplanting will do fine under the cheaper lights as long as you keep the lights close to the plants.

OTOH, full sprectrum lights are amazing! My starts were much bigger, stronger, and faster-growing this past winter than ever before, using the high-priced lights. Then Mother Nature had her little meltdown and the poor things still haven't been planted and can't go out for another 5 days, so it could all be for nothing. Sad

Robbomb116 4/14/2018, 5:33 pm

They didn't seem too expensive really. $8 for a pack of 2. They are "sinclair gro-lux". Anyway here is the new setup, another set of lights, and they are closer to the plants. Within about 1/2 inch to the tallest, leggy tomatoes.
2nd year SFG in ND 20180413

Hoping between the fish emulsion, the additional light, and the closer lighting that the plants will perk up Smile

. I'm optimistic.

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**trolleydriver** 4/14/2018, 5:38 pm

Sounds like a great price. Never seen them that inexpensive. Better than what I paid for regular tubes. What length are they?

Price may be dropping in anticipation of an increase in weed growers when it becomes legal in a few months.

Robbomb116 4/14/2018, 5:58 pm

4 feet long.

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Robbomb116 4/14/2018, 6:01 pm

I misremembered the price. Checking my reciept from today they were $12.99 for a pack of two. Still don't feel it broke the bank.

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**Scorpio Rising** 4/14/2018, 6:11 pm

trolleydriver wrote:Don't waste money on special all spectrum grow lights. I use plain 6500K fluorescent T8 four foot bulbs in workshop light fixtures and my seedlings do very well. Unless you are growing flowers or veggies to maturity you don't need the more expensive lights. Seedlings for transplanting will do fine under the cheaper lights as long as you keep the lights close to the plants.

Here is the proof.

I use standard T8s.

**sanderson** 4/15/2018, 1:42 am

I also use T8s.

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