This is a journal of my vegetable gardens. Skippy was my first dog and he thought the garden was his, even though I did all the work. Now Suzie and Charley follow in his footsteps. We're located near Boston (USDA zone 6A). I have a community plot, a backyard vegetable garden, fruit trees, berry bushes, chickens, and bees. I use sustainable organic methods and do my best to grow all of my family's vegetables myself.
Friday, February 05, 2010
empty seed trays
I looked up my old posts describing my plant shelves and lights. Also the old planting table I used to use. Here's the link.
I set out my trays and plants cells. Sowing will happen soon.
Thank you for posting this link, I could not seem to find the link for all your seed starting info. I have one question about the lights...do you keep them on the plants until they are ready for transplanting or hardening off? Oh, and one more question...do you find it necessary to use a heat mat, or is the house temp enough to get the seeds started?
Yes my links and organization have been suffering recently.
The lights need to go on once you see sprouts. A timer is best. 10-12 hours is good. Keep the lights close to the seedlings, about 1-2 inches from their tips.
Keeps the lights on the plants until they go outside for hardening off. They need all the light they can get.
House temp is fine for all plants except the nightshades. Peppers and eggplants need at least 80*F for germination and then about 70*F for the seedlings. Tomatoes need 75*-80* for germination. You may want a heat mat for these. Or check if you have a warm spot under the refrigerator or somewhere else. I have space under my 82*F fish tank that I use for germination of peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. Once sprouted, they go at room temperature on the plant shelves under lights. (Thought our night temps fall to about 65*F, I haven't had any problem with the seedling growth.)
Kathy, thank you so much for your response! I am also hoping that we could place the plants near our pellet stove? Providing that (1) the air temp is high enough, and that (2) the air is not too dry. We got a plastic covered seedling shelf that someone found at Ocean State, so I'd hope that would contain some warmth too. Unfortunately we don't have any windows to get light or heat from.
I'm wondering if the stove is constant heat? Or is it on in the day only? If its warmer than 85*F, then don;t put them too close. But definitely worth experimenting with. Just check often and water often if they dry out.
You need light for seedlings. If you don't have light, buy plants in the spring from a garden center.
For lights, get a $10 shop light bracket at a hardware store and put an $8 fluorescent bulb in it. Put it close to the seedlings. Or put the pots in a south facing window.
It is a constant (and our only) source of heat :). (and wonderful btw!) It has a blower to keep the heat moving too. We are definetly investing in enough shop lights for each shelf/tray. I think between now and when we sow, I am going to experiment with the temperature by the stove...use some regular soil and see how warm it gets. Thanks again for all your help, I'm looking forward to your garden successes again this year!
5 comments:
Thank you for posting this link, I could not seem to find the link for all your seed starting info. I have one question about the lights...do you keep them on the plants until they are ready for transplanting or hardening off? Oh, and one more question...do you find it necessary to use a heat mat, or is the house temp enough to get the seeds started?
Thanks!
Yes my links and organization have been suffering recently.
The lights need to go on once you see sprouts. A timer is best. 10-12 hours is good. Keep the lights close to the seedlings, about 1-2 inches from their tips.
Keeps the lights on the plants until they go outside for hardening off. They need all the light they can get.
House temp is fine for all plants except the nightshades. Peppers and eggplants need at least 80*F for germination and then about 70*F for the seedlings. Tomatoes need 75*-80* for germination. You may want a heat mat for these. Or check if you have a warm spot under the refrigerator or somewhere else. I have space under my 82*F fish tank that I use for germination of peppers, tomatoes and eggplants. Once sprouted, they go at room temperature on the plant shelves under lights. (Thought our night temps fall to about 65*F, I haven't had any problem with the seedling growth.)
Kathy, thank you so much for your response! I am also hoping that we could place the plants near our pellet stove? Providing that (1) the air temp is high enough, and that (2) the air is not too dry. We got a plastic covered seedling shelf that someone found at Ocean State, so I'd hope that would contain some warmth too. Unfortunately we don't have any windows to get light or heat from.
I'm wondering if the stove is constant heat? Or is it on in the day only? If its warmer than 85*F, then don;t put them too close. But definitely worth experimenting with. Just check often and water often if they dry out.
You need light for seedlings. If you don't have light, buy plants in the spring from a garden center.
For lights, get a $10 shop light bracket at a hardware store and put an $8 fluorescent bulb in it. Put it close to the seedlings. Or put the pots in a south facing window.
It is a constant (and our only) source of heat :). (and wonderful btw!) It has a blower to keep the heat moving too. We are definetly investing in enough shop lights for each shelf/tray. I think between now and when we sow, I am going to experiment with the temperature by the stove...use some regular soil and see how warm it gets. Thanks again for all your help, I'm looking forward to your garden successes again this year!
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