Re: Seed Starting!!

GWN 1/21/2013, 8:30 pm

I think the most exciting thing for me with SFG is the success starting seeds... that may sound silly, but every year I would get so excited to start some seed - do them at the wrong time, forget to water, plant in the wrong medium and it was a constant failure. I love that since making up my MM, I've been able to actually grow things from seed.

Nothing quite as empowering as starting plants right from seeds and taking them all the way......
Interesting that you have had the coldest winter, I am up here in middle of british columbia and thus far, I think that the lowest it has gotten is down to the low 20s

audrey.jeanne.roberts 1/21/2013, 8:45 pm

GWN wrote:
I think the most exciting thing for me with SFG is the success starting seeds... that may sound silly, but every year I would get so excited to start some seed - do them at the wrong time, forget to water, plant in the wrong medium and it was a constant failure. I love that since making up my MM, I've been able to actually grow things from seed.
Nothing quite as empowering as starting plants right from seeds and taking them all the way......
Interesting that you have had the coldest winter, I am up here in middle of british columbia and thus far, I think that the lowest it has gotten is down to the low 20s

Now I know who to blame, LOL!

I just started at the beginning of the thread and am on page 3, I realize the issue with the plants I asked about is the minimum temps aren't high enough here yet. SOOOO much to learn, yet like anything, once learned it becomes second nature (at least that's what I'm telling myself Smile

)

GWN 1/21/2013, 11:18 pm

I just started at the beginning of the thread and am on page 3, I realize the issue with the plants I asked about is the minimum temps aren't high enough here yet. SOOOO much to learn, yet like anything, once learned it becomes second nature (at least that's what I'm telling myself )

Well 2 years ago, we were living in an RV while our house was being built and it was April and I had tomato plants on every flat surface, and then mid april I decided it was warm enough.....
So several nights we were out there in the middle of the night in our pyjamas moving my tomato plants back into the RV..... SOOOOO I try very hard to restrain myself now lots o

CindiLou 1/21/2013, 11:30 pm

audrey.jeanne.roberts wrote: SOOOO much to learn, yet like anything, once learned it becomes second nature (at least that's what I'm telling myself )

Nope..sorry..you'll learn something new all the time! I have been gardening for well..lets just say since I was a kid lol..And I am still learning!

SusNton 1/22/2013, 12:31 am

This is what I got started so far..Some Broccoli, cabbage spinach,cauliflower,lettuce, peppers..This week I'll be sowing 72 cell tray of tom seeds..See if this works(the pics that is)..
trying to figure out how to post multi-pics in a single post folks..
Seed Starting!! - Page 5 Img_0413

cindre2000 1/22/2013, 10:55 am

I just started my peppers and eggplants. I decided to start them 2 weeks early since the last time I started peppers they took forever. I am also using 50ct trays for the first time to help with space. I currently have the 3 pepper trays in a 'hot box' [Styrofoam cooler w/ a heater]. If I am lucky I can get some of the seeds to sprout in as little as 5 days.

I soaked the seeds for a few hours in a combination of warm water, apple cider vinegar, tea, and seaweed extract. I then put them in a mix of vermiculite, ground coconut husk, worm casings, agricultural limestone, Black Hen, and Bio-tone Starter.

Seed Starting!! - Page 5 DSC_0351_zps8fe3ddb0

Seed Starting!! - Page 5 DSC_0351_zps8fe3ddb0

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littlejo 1/22/2013, 11:11 am

Hi Cindre2000,
How many pepper plants are you starting? Eggplants? I had just a couple eggplants last yr. and they put out much more than we could eat.
Just curious.
What kind of a 'heater' are you using in the cooler?
I just put mine under the light because no heat mat and my frig does not put out heat on the top, don't know where the heat comes out.
Jo

cindre2000 1/22/2013, 11:48 am

I grow seedlings for me and about 10 other people. So I planted 114 pepper 'plants' and 6 eggplant. I am waiting for another 3 varieties of pepper [plant 6 of each], and I might add another variety of eggplant [6 as well].

I am using a under-tank style of reptile heater, its 9w and works well in a enclosed space.

Isaac

quiltbea 1/22/2013, 1:54 pm

Testing

SusNton 1/22/2013, 4:50 pm

Think I got it, hope this shows up..
Now I'll have to take some better pics...Thanks again everyone.. Cool

**llama momma** 1/22/2013, 4:57 pm

There you go Your pictures are looking just fine - cheers

SusNton 1/22/2013, 5:20 pm

Ok guys this is exciting, so here is a pic of the soon to be greenhouse I'm working on.
And the other veggies I started.Cauli, spinach and peppers..

Seed Starting!! - Page 5 00510

quiltbea 1/22/2013, 7:21 pm

SusNton.....So glad you got the prob resolved and can post pics. I had posted the step by step in my 'testing' post above but camprn removed them saying your prob was resolved. That's the best news.
Love the greenhouse. How great is that.
The seedlings are looking good.

SusNton 1/22/2013, 8:11 pm

Thanks quiltbea, your post(s) did help..The greenhouse was once an outdoor sitting area/gazebo type cover, but decided to take the lattice off the roof and convert..Been searching garage sales, craigs list etc. for recycled windows n doors and almost done..
Hope to have it ready come spring or sooner..I've got more seeds to start indoors so I best get busy and finish it and hope to utilize soon..
thanks

cheyannarach 1/23/2013, 10:27 am

What a great idea, converting a gazebo to a greenhouse! It looks great! We have been hoarding windows for years in hopes of building something similar! The hubbs and I are "scavengers" of "junk". Lol, people always laugh at the stuff we will take home with us but then they see the stuff we make with it and think thinking

hmmm, wish I would have thought of that! You are making me anxious to start some seeds but it is just too soon for my neck of the woods.

SusNton 1/23/2013, 9:10 pm

Thanks for the kind words cheyannarach, glad you like it.. Wink

I was going to start a greenhouse from scratch till I did the math and decided to just convert the gazebo instead..Well my DW n son suggested the idea first, I must confess.*shrugs*..
Anyhoo, I can't wait till it's done..And good luck with yours, when u get started..
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cheyannarach 1/24/2013, 9:51 pm

Isn't it nice when they have such great ideas, and then help execute them Seed Starting!! - Page 5 3170584802

NHGardener 1/28/2013, 6:58 pm

I have something like this, 4 foot long shop light, T-12, 2 lights (daylight bulbs).

Shop Light

I can fit 2 trays under it.

Is it enough lights, or do I need two of these units for 2 trays?

floyd1440 1/28/2013, 7:08 pm

NHGardener wrote:I have something like this, 4 foot long shop light, T-12, 2 lights (daylight bulbs).

Shop Light

I can fit 2 trays under it.

Is it enough lights, or do I need two of these units for 2 trays?

I have the same lights as well and to answer your question as to how many I have two T-12 lights per shelf.

Now these lights have chains to suspend them? I use "S" hooks to adjust the height of the lights as the plants grow. You have to keep them close to new sprouts oor they get "leggy".

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NHGardener 1/28/2013, 7:16 pm

I think I may skip the chains altogether - they'll probably be positioned on the floor or desk for now, so I thought I'd stack bricks on each end and add a brick when height is needed.

So to clarify - you have 2 units, or 4 bulbs per "shelf"?

If I'm going to have 4 trays, looks like I may need 4 of these units altogether, and 8 bulbs... better hurry to the store before they sell out.

**camprn** 1/28/2013, 7:25 pm

NHG, I merged you thread with a previous thread.... there is some good info here but there are better back threads to be found from the last few spring sowing times of the northern hemisphere.
Here is a pretty good thread about seed starting stations. There are a lot of threads about lights.
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t9532-stands-for-grow-lights?highlight=lights

**camprn** 1/28/2013, 8:08 pm

I grew quite a lot of seedlings under one shop light fixture. I really like the chains. In this photo I had lifted the light to allow for watering and then I lowered it again.

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NHGardener 1/28/2013, 8:43 pm

Wow - I'm really surprised how many plants you had growing under one light fixture! Maybe one light fixture is enough then for 2 trays.

SusNton 1/28/2013, 10:36 pm

I have two light setups..One inside(laundry room) for seed starting on wire shelf rack with 1- 4'ft 2lamp T8's..The garage setup is a three light setup for seedling/veg growth..All T8 fixtures with 32w/6500k daylights..
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mollyhespra 1/28/2013, 11:13 pm

This is what I'm working on but after seeing Camp's set-up I'm thinking I may be overdoing it:

Seed Starting!! - Page 5 Img_1211

Each light fixture is a little over 2' long, just enough to cover one "standard" seed starting tray. I've attached two together and am working on a way to easily raise & lower them to the right height.

You can see a close-up here:

Seed Starting!! - Page 5 Img_1212

I'm not done with the set-up, though. I was going to get two more fixtures for the bottom shelf, and then fashion some reflective baffles (is that what they're called?) to go over each pair of lights out of some leftover flashing I have somewhere.

Then I was going to hang or clip on some reflective mylar-type insulative bubble-wrap stuff all around the sides to keep my curious cats out and the light in...though I'm worried that might affect air circulation. I suppose a small clip-on mini-fan attached to one corner would help with that...

Any thoughts?

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