WS 2011 changes

Wow---what a cool idea! Probably more work than just planting a hunk of seedlings, but for some things you wanted to give extra attention to it could be just the ticket.

Thanks for finding that link, Gymgirl.

I was trying to come up with ideas to make things simpler. I don't know if it's possible. I don't have any tools for cutting pipe or wood. It's a test to get the milk jugs and two liters cut without injuring myself. I like the idea of planting by the chunk. If I want fewer plants I can plant in rows instead of sprinkling randomly. I think the PVC is an excellent idea but it would be more work for an individual with my mechanical abilities. LoL

I think for now I will stick with the milk jugs. I already have to buy milk and it wouldn't be an extra cost to me. But I do love the idea of using PVC.

There's plans floating around for aplant stand made with PVC pipes. Of course, it 's not an option for me since I'm not mechanically inclined. LoL

ooh! Sounds interesting!

Diamond--I've found kitchen shears work really well for cutting those milk jugs. I use a box cutter just to poke a hole through the plastic, then use the shears to cut all around. I don't trust myself with sharp knives that can easily slip, either (I've got the scars to prove it LOL).

Dollar Tree has kitchen shears ..... used it to cut a garden hose that needed a new male connection.

Hmmmm ..... how about using old pieces of garden hose instead of pvc?

MARY

Good idea Mary!

Hmmm.....interesting thought, Mary. Wonder if the diameter would be wide enough to sustain the plant to a good size......

I have a lot of old 3/4 inch garden hose .... if 3/4 inch pvc works ..... then 3/4 rubber hose should work.

MARY

Mary--I thought I read that someone on that linked thread was using 1.5" PVC. I would just be concerned that 3/4" might not allow for proper root growth over a period of time. But, if you have some hose to spare, it wouldn't cost anything to experiment. It would certainly be durable in holding up to the elements, which is a benefit.

I wonder what other creative ideas people will come up with to try?

Linda

Years ago I bought some fluorescent bulbs-4' long, that had a clear plastic tube protecting them That would be good short term if they still came, but I don't know if they do.

Hope I didn't 'cause confusion by posting yet another WSing option. It Appealed to me because of how neat the one tray system is.

I'm moving, and my yard space will be 2/3 less than before, so I'm into space-saving, efficient ways to produce my harvest. As it is now, I will need to cut down 3 money trees, 2 Crepe Myrtles, 1 Sago Palm, and shoot the partridge in the pear tree if he even looks at my tomato plants!

That PVC box sure is neat....

Linda

Hey, Gymgirl--I think it's great we have lots of options to consider. Everyone can think about what will work best in their situation. It's fun to hear all of the different things people invent, devise, imagine.......Hopefully, it will help us all be better gardeners.

Hope you'll post photos and share your results if you decide to try the PVC this year.

Gymgirl- I'll take your money trees if it makes bills at least $100's !!!

gymgirl,I liked the thread A LOT,Ive never winter sowed.I grow under lights.but Iam thinking Iam going to try it,and it will cut down on what I start indoors.Do you think I could use my flats ? or does the container need to be deeper ? I have lots of flats,and cells..The pvc idea is really cool,boy I dont need more potting stuff !!!!

Huggergirl,
I think you could use your existing flats, long as your pvc tubes are wedged in so they don't/can't fall over. I bought several old deep wooden drawers at a garage sale for $1 apiece, intending on turning them into flats. Now I'm gonna drill drainage holes and retrofit them with the PVC tubes. It's the plant individuality that so appeals to me.
Since you can control the root depth by the length of the tube, the transport vessel really only needs to be sturdy enough for transporting, have good drainage, and keep the starting mix from washing out..

My plan for my tomatoes is to start
In a tall 6-8" tube and add soil as the seedling grows taller so it'll root all along the buried stem. By the time it grows to 10" it'll have an 8" rootball at plantout.

I'll be sure to post pics.
Linda

linda ,I guess what I meant to say was ,using flats with out the pvc tubes instead of say milk jugs for ws.But the tubes are a great Idea for tomatoes,I just dont need anymore stuff !!! Iam trying to use what I have on hand. do winter sowing vessels need to be deeper than the flats ? Boy it would be great to use them ,I have lots of flats !!!! Thanks Tamara

I read on www.wintersown.org that the soil had to be atleast 3 inches deep. I'm not sure if you could get away with less.

The flats are 3-31/2 inches deep,Iam going to try them.I will be using saved seed so If they dont survive Iam not out much.Iam looking forward to this !!! Oh I see now I need lids I get it now !!!! mini green house ok ok Ive got my thinking hat on straight now.Great link Thank you

This message was edited Oct 11, 2010 7:38 AM

I would say that they would probably work

Gymgirl and others,

I have questions for the people using the sterlite containers and styro cups, does your containers have "clear plastic" or transparent lids? The lids I have found are colored. none with the transparent lids. I know the plants may get some sunlight through the sides of the containers but just curious how important the transparency of the lid is.
Also, what did you use to mark the styro cups? Did permanent marker last through the season or did you have to use the paint pen?

For the styro cups, did you remove the bottoms or just poke holes? What did you use to pole holes in the sterilte containers?

These items might work best for me this year. I think the sterlite containers could be saved to use every year and would provide plenty of protection from the elements.

Has anyone tried using an eyeliner pencil,I found they work like a grease pencil and dont fade ,but can be annoying in heat they melt !!! I have used up many old liner pencils,wrong color or to short to use anymore.

>>Do you think I could use my flats ? or does the container need to be deeper ?

Tamara -- i did see you said yours are 3.5" -- that should be adequate

The roots need a lot of room to roam... i find if the soil is less than 3", they dry out too fast and they die or you are watering much more often than need be. I've had that happen before.

Thanks Terese,now I need lids !!! Got DH on that one ,food for thought ,he will come up with something !!

Huggergirl,

Rx....

Have your DH tape a couple sticks or rods to the corners of the flats and make a tent. Slip the whole flat into a clear plastic bag (a dry cleaner bag will do). The sticks should keep the tent from collapsing. Vent it with air holes for oxygen and to catch the rain. Put it in your yard where it will catch sun and rain.

Call me in the morning...

Diamond,
Regarding the Sterilite tubs with the cups inside. I rarely used my lids! Only when the temps were dipping below freezing at night, or when it was going to rain so the seedlings wouldn't get pounded to death from big drops. Otherwise, it was the side WALLS of the container that provided protection from the blustery winds! I'm sure there was some thermal situation going on inside that tub with heat building up during the daytime. Since the lids weren't on during the day (as long as the temps were right), they got cool air too. My average daytime temps were between 50-45?, with nice sunshine.

I used a broad tip Sharpie marker on the cups. I used 16 oz. Red plastic Solo cups, not styro, although I know some people do use styro...

I used a pair of scissors to snip and twist slits in the bottoms of my 16 oz cups. They were pretty substantial size drainage slits in the bottoms.

I did NOT put any holes in my Sterilite tubs. I think I was rationalizing using them again for something else. Not having holes allowed me to bottom water the cups inside the tub. Also, I could catch some gentle rain when I wanted to. I generally put the lid on during a hard rain to keep it from pounding the seedlings. After they grew larger (around 8-10") and were drinking a lot, I put the lid on catty whompers, leaving some corners open, and weighted it down with something to control how much rain dropped into the tub for watering.

At some point, I started adding a weak solution of MG water soluable when I watered the tubs.

Hope this helps!

Linda

Tamara -- at this "supply house" i have near by -- they have those heavy duty domes... they are about 7" tall -- so comes in really handy for when seedlings are growing taller. they have vents in the roof too.

I just threw away 2 lids for flats ,thought I willl never use these,I needed the flats bought the kit ,now I want the lids hahaha... Iam sure I will find something before I need them .Thanks everyone !!!!

diamond,

I have used both clear and opaque lids on my sterlites. Clear are the best but you can get by with opaque until the plantlings get to a certain size.

I used a small drill to put holes in the lids (making sure the holes were evenly distributed over the cups to provide rain water) and also in the bottoms for drainage. And I used a sharp pointy knife to poke holes in the cup bottoms.

I think with our wild and cold winter weather the cups of seeds can profit from having the lids on during the worst of winter. In springtime when the weather warms up, that's a different matter and you can remove the lids if you need to/want to, although having the lids on (or at least propped on top) will help keep the soil moist and reduce watering in many cases and protect delicate seedlings from this crazy rain we are getting.

I can't remember what I used to label. I often take red plastic drink cups and cut them into strips for labels and write the plant names on them with ball point, although that is not at all fool proof. I think paint pens are the best and then possibly markers.

Sometimes, if I am setting out seeds late like in April, I will use those lidded clear plastic containers that strawberries or mixed lettuce greens come in. They already have holes for circulation and lids attached. I might use these to start zinnias or some annual that doesn't need to take the whole winter to germinate since these containers are a little flimsy.

I have started many seeds in those small clear berry containers. In fact I have washed and reused them for a second year. I cover them with produce bags until the seeds germinate. It works better outdoors than indoors as if heat is used, they can dry out...must be watched carefully. I start those on shelves on my cold back porch in winter. Good for perennials and slow-growing annuals like snapdragons. Also I have started tomatoes indoors in them. they have worked so much better than some "professional seed-starting kits", in many cases.

The only thing that I wintersow in those peat pellets are lupine. I usually transfer them to cellpacks when they get big enough.

I have been kicking this long, underbed, clear plastic storage box around for years - without the lid (used to hold my socks under the bed)(where the lid is God only knows). Linda - did you mention - someone did - using one of these to sow in? I guess there's an idea. If I only felt safe in leaving a giant tray full of soil outside with all the squirrels, rodents, birds in my garden . . .. But I don't.

Can all you creative people throw some ideas my way?

About learning from mistakes - I have been WS for 5 or 6 years now, and I never do seem to get around the problem that my Sharpie "permanent" markers ALWAYS fade from weather/wear/sun. If I don't have a good idea what the seedlings are supposed to be or supposed to look like, then it's a mystery. Hummmmm.... I like the idea of plastic cutlery - the knives would be my pick to use because they are straight and tall.

A.

You need to buy one of those brother p touch machines that prints the labels for you. Ask Fruity (FOTV) about them. She has one. I have plants from her and the names are still attached to the tags! Great little machine!

Erin

Thanks. :)

I'll ask her about it. we are going to the RU in Kentucky together in September. Plenty of drive time to pick her brain.

A.

I'm thinking about getting one too. I believe that this is the only way that my tags are going to be readable! Have fun!

Erin