My new idea for 2011

I have started seeds indoors for years, and this year I am trying Winter Sowing in Milk jugs outside. But I still will be starting some under lights. I just found something that I think will work better than my electric heat mats, which are a bit too warm.(I won't spend big bucks for the thermostats they need). I found this white rope light at Lowe's for $6. It's 6ft long, and I attached it under a wire shelf with my handi-bundler that I've had forever! It also comes 20 ft long.It gives a very gentle heat-much less that the mat. And it also makes light for plants below it. I have the flourescent light up above for later. Today I planted some Dill, Cilantro, and Cutting Celery.

Jo, very nice set up and a great idea on the rope lights -- my heating pad could then be used for my aching back! Also like your shelves; where'd you get that?

The shelf unit was gifted from a friend who was moving and couldn't use it.The shelves slide out- I use it outdoors in the summer and in my sewing room in the winter.It's 2 ft long, but all the lights I had were 4 ft, so I hooked one under the top shelf- It will be OK- even though it hangs over a foot on each end. I can put plants up on boxes under them if I need to! Sometimes you just have to go with what you have on hand.

I have a 4-shelf unit that my hubby made for me.

I have found the heat from the 4 ft shoplights heat the shelves above enough for indoor sowing of vegetables. I keep the lights on at night for sixteen hours, and off during the day.

Honey,
Were those seedling started in those cups or is that a pic of a pot up?

Gymgirl - I put one seed in each 3oz cup. I count back from the date I want to set transplants into the garden, add however many days it says on the package for the seeds to sprout, and then add another 7 days "just to be safe"

I do this 3 times so that I always have back-up plants if we get a late frost, or bugs/birds/voles eat the first ones once they have been set out!

Those pots in the photo are set in wallpaper trays that I purchased from Lowe's. I've had them for a few years so don't know if Lowe's still carry them.

Wallpaper trays! What a great idea, they are perfect, and yes, I think they are still available. Thanks for the tip, much more manageable than what I'm currently using.

oops, forgot to mention that I like Jo's string of lights for a heat mat idea. You guys are so great in the do-arounds you come up with!

This message was edited Dec 13, 2010 5:41 AM

Dogs_N_Petunias -

What a great idea! Thank you for sharing it.
I am going to try it with my Himalayan poppy starts where the fluorescents
seem to be too warm!

i use a four shelf mini greenhouse which i purchased from farm tek www.farmtek.com

the shelve are 2 ft. long and about 16 inches wide. i use two, 2 ft long shop lights on each shelf which can be raised or lowed as the seedlings grow. i do not need a heat mat since the greenhouse comes with a plastic cover and the lights keep the seeds warm enough. when the seedlings emerge i open up the zipper on the plastic to get some air in as the plants grow best at 60 degrees. i keep thel ights on 16 hours a day. i have them on a timer from 6 a.m. till 10 p.m.




This message was edited Dec 15, 2010 8:45 AM

HERBIE43 - I've seen those mini greenhouses and they seem like a great idea.

I have some 2 ft long shop lights set up on wooden shelving units, but have not used them to start vegetables. I'm assuming from what you wrote that they do a good job?

My set-up is one left over from raising African Violets, but it has adapted well to the raising of vegetable seedlings.

I don't have my shelves wrapped in plastic, although I have thought of doing so. Do you have a problem with mold growing inside the plastic? I worry about tomato seedlings being susceptible to damping off if they were within a plastic wrapped enviornment.

I'd be worried about air circulation and damping off too. I've found I got my best seedlings when they were growing in a cool room (cooler than the rest of the house temp) with some air circulating.

This go round, any that get sown inside will be in the garage under shop lights...

Are the rope lights?--the new LED kind? or older type?
Some say the new LED do not give off heat???

I don't know about old vs new LED rope lights. Since Lowe's sells them in their lighting dep't I assume they are the new type? LED or not, they give a VERY gentle heat. I don't have the container so can't say for sure. All I know is they are good for the job. Since my seeds have all sprouted they are unplugged until my next batch. I have Cutting Celery, Dill, & Cilantro, 2 cells of esch in a jumbo 6pack. I will pot them up and keep them for winter use-moving out and in as the weather demands.

Sounds good, and it is nice to hear of someone starting plants this early.

Gymgirl - W-mart carries some inexpensive fans that can be used in your garden room.

Is your garage heated in any way?

You offered a good point when you said your garden room is cooler than the rest of your house. Mine is, too, but I had overlooked the importance of it being cooler. I figure plant roots need to cool off a bit when the lights are out to simulate out-door conditions.

HoneybeeNC,
No, my garage isn't heated. This'll be my first time starting seeds at my new location.

I have a great opportunity this WS season to carry on a number of seed-starting comparisons: some outside in the jugs (no special treatment except to make sure the potting mix stays moist enough); some inside in the cool rooms under fluorescent lights for 16 hours/day; and, some in the garage (cooler still) under fluorescent lights for 16 hours/day.

I should have a pretty clear picture of where my best seedlings came from by plantout in mid-February!

I can't hardly wait to get started. Gotta clear a spot in the garage for my seed center!

Bubba, where are you?

Gymgirl - keep us/me posted on your trials in the garage, I would love to be able to try this myself. I could then take back the garden room in my house which is the largest room!

Ok, HoneybeeNC!

sorry i didn't make myself clear on the plastic. it has a zipper down the entire fromt and i unzip it about halfway and have never had troujble.

honeybee - the lights do a wonder job

Thanks, Herbie - I'll give the 24" shoplights I have a try in a couple of months.

(Me thinks I should put "potting soil" on my shopping list)

Like the rope light idea.. going to dig mine out of Christmas stuff..LOL
thanks,

hey HoneybeeNC,
Looks like I'll start potting up to 16 oz. cups tomorrow. Since I have approximately 90+ seedlings, I can afford to put a few out in the cold garage under lites. Getting closer to that first bite.

Gymgirl - my mouth is watering from just thinking about that first bite into a just-picked juicy tomato!

I realized this morning that this will be the first year that I will actually be home to take care of this NC garden. We moved here in October 2006. I set up the garden during February/March of 2007, and then was offered a part-time job, which I started on April 7th 2007.

For the past three years I've only been able to garden to any extent on the weekends!

I am so looking forward to our 2011garden!