Seed starting indoors

Dirtmechanic

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Your right I never seen a need for heat mats. I just use the warmth off the florescent lights and a old small space heater. Seems to work good for me.
I have this revenge thing happening this year because of some impatiens seeds I tried for the first time last year. None came up. I found some mats on the A word for 11 bucks and got 4. I intend to change my luck somehow.

Also it is not lost on me that my LED grow lights and need for a heat mat mirror your less efficient lights and a heater. I do not believe it is possible to cheat Mother Nature of the required energy not matter how you science it up.
 

digitS'

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... still waiting for the easy part...

I use neither the heat mats nor the lights. Admittedly, I sometimes experience some frustration because the use of either would help, at times. Hired help might make things easier too but I don't have those extra digitS', either. Ideas for #1 paid labor, #2 mechanization with skilled hands running it, and #3 gardener in the lazy boy ... you will just have to put that under advisement, realizing that I don't have much experience except with #3 .

Seed germinates without any more light than what comes into my kitchen. I used to hurry emerging seedlings out to the South Window and under an 8' double fluorescent fixture. Ten years ago, we had remodeling done and DW is not receptive to the idea that we could put hooks back in the ceiling and suspend lights as we once did.

I once had those fixtures in the greenhouse, as well. One of them, anyway but don't see quite the same need as in the South Window of the house. The greenhouse has more sunlight.

Heat beneath the germinating seed would be especially useful for pepper seed and for any older seed. Slower germination is very obvious with both.

Since I spend a fair amount of time in the South Window during late winter (the pc is there ;)), I have been known to set the containers of soil mix with older pepper seeds on a hot water bottle with warm water in it. The room isn't very warm despite having that window.

Winter and Spring sunshine is too often in short supply for either warmth or heat here in what is officially the Pacific Northwest. July comes and the area officially becomes the Wild West with abundant sunshine!

Patience eases the gardening experience. I'm sure that this is true no matter where Mother Nature finds us.

Steve
 

Dirtmechanic

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I use neither the heat mats nor the lights. Admittedly, I sometimes experience some frustration because the use of either would help, at times. Hired help might make things easier too but I don't have those extra digitS', either. Ideas for #1 paid labor, #2 mechanization with skilled hands running it, and #3 gardener in the lazy boy ... you will just have to put that under advisement, realizing that I don't have much experience except with #3 .

Seed germinates without any more light than what comes into my kitchen. I used to hurry emerging seedlings out to the South Window and under an 8' double fluorescent fixture. Ten years ago, we had remodeling done and DW is not receptive to the idea that we could put hooks back in the ceiling and suspend lights as we once did.

I once had those fixtures in the greenhouse, as well. One of them, anyway but don't see quite the same need as in the South Window of the house. The greenhouse has more sunlight.

Heat beneath the germinating seed would be especially useful for pepper seed and for any older seed. Slower germination is very obvious with both.

Since I spend a fair amount of time in the South Window during late winter (the pc is there ;)), I have been known to set the containers of soil mix with older pepper seeds on a hot water bottle with warm water in it. The room isn't very warm despite having that window.

Winter and Spring sunshine is too often in short supply for either warmth or heat here in what is officially the Pacific Northwest. July comes and the area officially becomes the Wild West with abundant sunshine!

Patience eases the gardening experience. I'm sure that this is true no matter where Mother Nature finds us.

Steve
Being at peace and understanding the nuances of your environ are things I covet my neighbor for so please try not to be so successful because I understand that sin can put me in a bad place.
 

margali

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What do people use as for germination and transplant death rate estimate if the package doesn't say? This is the first time I've tried to start seeds indoors. I'm aiming for two plants in of each pepper variety. Do you think germinating 10 seeds is enough? I started them on 1/28 with paper towel method and a few seeds had started roots.
 

Crealcritter

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What do people use as for germination and transplant death rate estimate if the package doesn't say? This is the first time I've tried to start seeds indoors. I'm aiming for two plants in of each pepper variety. Do you think germinating 10 seeds is enough? I started them on 1/28 with paper towel method and a few seeds had started roots.

10 should be enough - I would think.
 

baymule

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I planted brussel sprouts, red and green, lacinato kale, Waltham broccoli, purple cauliflower, and cabbage. They are up and I think I'll get them in the garden this coming week. Last year I had them in my awesome porch greenhouse, with new LED lights, heat mats under the tomatoes and a space heater. The cole crops absolutely rebelled, grew leggy like a telephone pole the diameter of a thread, fell over and gave up the ghost. :\ This year, they are inches away from my trusty ol' shop lights in a closet that I shut the room off from the heat. They are starting to reach for their false, close sky. :he So I may as well stick them in the ground and see if I can assassinate them with weather, dirt and cold. :smack
 

Dirtmechanic

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My sensei posted this link. Its about germ temps and soil temps at transfer. I asked if premature transfer gave pathogens a leg up. We have a lot of thought toward mycoparasitism and how to encourage it but those are plants also so I was asking.

Also, would it be really weird to hit seedlings with a cytokinin to prevent legginess? I bet a lot of seed has a little auxin if it was from a bigger seller. I have dibs on telling people I am using fruit set spray on my seedlings though. Allow me that fun and I will share comments!
 
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Crealcritter

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I planted brussel sprouts, red and green, lacinato kale, Waltham broccoli, purple cauliflower, and cabbage. They are up and I think I'll get them in the garden this coming week. Last year I had them in my awesome porch greenhouse, with new LED lights, heat mats under the tomatoes and a space heater. The cole crops absolutely rebelled, grew leggy like a telephone pole the diameter of a thread, fell over and gave up the ghost. :\ This year, they are inches away from my trusty ol' shop lights in a closet that I shut the room off from the heat. They are starting to reach for their false, close sky. :he So I may as well stick them in the ground and see if I can assassinate them with weather, dirt and cold. :smack
I planted brussel sprouts, red and green, lacinato kale, Waltham broccoli, purple cauliflower, and cabbage. They are up and I think I'll get them in the garden this coming week. Last year I had them in my awesome porch greenhouse, with new LED lights, heat mats under the tomatoes and a space heater. The cole crops absolutely rebelled, grew leggy like a telephone pole the diameter of a thread, fell over and gave up the ghost. :\ This year, they are inches away from my trusty ol' shop lights in a closet that I shut the room off from the heat. They are starting to reach for their false, close sky. :he So I may as well stick them in the ground and see if I can assassinate them with weather, dirt and cold. :smack

I keep the florescent lights on them 24x7 and very close like you. Untill they take off real well. Then I'll turn the lights of when I go to bed and turn them back on again when I get up. Seems to help with leggy seedlings.
 

SprigOfTheLivingDead

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Your right I never seen a need for heat mats. I just use the warmth off the florescent lights and a old small space heater. Seems to work good for me.
I find they're useful if you're stretched for time. I've noticed general vegetable / fruit seeds germinating a week faster than without the mats. But you don't Lways need that
 

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