Seed starting indoors

This is my little seed starting area it holds 4 flats per shelf. An old space heater, the top shelf and heat from the the lights (excpecially the transformers) works to bring the heat up. My wife is hot blooded and likes a cool house (60 degrees during the day 55 at night). I'm cool with it though, we hardly use any propane during the winter

In Arkansas I used this seed starting set-up. It is a little unusual in some aspects but it worked for me. What I want to show is the white paper on the sides. I found that the reflected light made a lot of difference in how compact or spindly the plants were. In your situation it might help hold in your heat, thought I think it is the temperature of the soil that is most important, not so much air temperature, especially during germination

Ridgerunner said:

In Arkansas I used this seed starting set-up. It is a little unusual in some aspects but it worked for me. What I want to show is the white paper on the sides. I found that the reflected light made a lot of difference in how compact or spindly the plants were. In your situation it might help hold in your heat, thought I think it is the temperature of the soil that is most important, not so much air temperature, especially during germination

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White paper is a great idea. I haven't experienced spindly weak growth in my seedlings over the years but your right every little bit helps. I keep the lights on 24x7 until the seedlings get good and established. Then I cut them off at night while I sleep.

Since I am all about re-use I'm getting my flats ready for sowing. I've had these flats for many years, occasionally I'll buy a few new one but only if they are on sale during fall. Dollar General sometimes will have them for $1 each at season end.

But nothing sucks more than to get your flats all setup and sowed only to find a big mess of water leaking from the trays. So i've learned to patch them before I do anything else. The holes generally form at the corners but it's a good idea to find them all by holding them up to a bright light. Here you can see the light coming through two tiny pin holes upper right hand corner. Any hole regardless the size = mess.


After cleaning the areas around the holes with warm soapy water, I use some silicone gasket maker from the auto parts store on the holes. Just smear a little on the inside and outside to seal up the holes. It will dry flexable and water tight.

I sowed two flats of ailsa craig onions about 12 days ago. The germination rates were very poor, I sowed a good 3 or 4 seeds into each cell.

This is the first time I bought seeds from Baker Creek. I've bought and had great sucess with onion seeds from Johnny's for years. Johnny's have the germination rate stamped on the back of the packages but Baker creek doesn't say anything about germination rates, so I was flying blind to begin with. I would have thought 3 or 4 seeds in each cell would have germinated at least one plant per cell, but no

Out of the two flats, I barley had enough for one flat. So today I trimmed the tops & roots then transplanted those tiny little seedlings into one flat. They seem to be happy with their new home so far. I'll give the about 1/4 strength all purpose fertilizer next watering.


I resowed the other flat with 6 or 7 seeds in each cell this time. This means the second flat will be a good 3 weeks behind the first flat. But it is what it is.

NICE!
Mine just sit on the dining room table and pray to go in-noticed by the cats

I really enjoyed seeing the seed setups! Might I add one tidbit? As I have slowly gone along placing wifi smart plugs in places that make sense, I put out some outdoor triple taps out and found out they can either be controlled individually or as a group. I could see that being useful on a grow lamp rack where different plants were being started. And they have timers and energy monitors as part of the software that goes on your phone or tablet. I ordered this one for the grow lights I was gifted at Christmas. Thanks for sharing the pics, I will try to incorporate the ideas into the new rack.

I'll be sowing califlower, broccoli, cabbage and brussels sprouts either tonight or tomorrow. For mid ro late February transplanting into the garden (zone 6B / 7). I hope we get a long spring this year. Last year we got a whopping 10 days of spring before the heat set of in and most everything bolted.

Dirtmechanic said:

I really enjoyed seeing the seed setups! Might I add one tidbit? As I have slowly gone along placing wifi smart plugs in places that make sense, I put out some outdoor triple taps out and found out they can either be controlled individually or as a group. I could see that being useful on a grow lamp rack where different plants were being started. And they have timers and energy monitors as part of the software that goes on your phone or tablet. I ordered this one for the grow lights I was gifted at Christmas. Thanks for sharing the pics, I will try to incorporate the ideas into the new rack.
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Call me old school but I refuse to put any easedropping devices in my home. It's getting harder and harder to keep those out though as most everything electrical has either a camera and or a microphone theses days. Good thing I have an electronics engineering degree and know how to use a soldering iron to disable this craziness.

canesisters said:

NICE!
Mine just sit on the dining room table and pray to go in-noticed by the cats

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You are very brave. I have dirt messes from my kittens that still need to be cleaned up. I won't let them go Near my seedlings this winter, on penalty of losing their mittens!