my seedling house

Tomatoes grow pretty fast, don't they! I'll be interested to see your transplanting set up.

grow lights also make plants grow fast cause they are stretching for the light---and they are lighter green too----using the real sunlight makes them look like they are growing slower cause they arent trying to stretch and they are darker green. Ive grown them both ways and there is a big differance in how they look but both methods grow to be healthy plants.

Ho Boy...can't touch the baby tomato's stems, Weez? How green am I, tsk?

I touch my tomato stems and they dont die. I have to touch them to transplant them.

You must have the magic touch, Cricket!

if those stems arent sturdy stalky stems you can barely fracture those stems during transplant and they will die and you will never know why. Did some of your plants live that you touched? Just coming up with an explanation since they shouldnt die by touching them. That subject just struck my brain into shock.

Heheh...the plants won't die by "touching" the stems, however, they will die if the stems aren't healthy enuff of handle being handled. That's just a given. Many many books state to handle young seedlings by their leaves (not cotyledons); I prefer only handling them when the stems are sturdy myself.

Like Weezin, I tend to transplant when there are some true leaves, and true leaves of a sizeable nature. (I agree, Cricket, give your plants another week or so...I bet less than a week you'll be able to transplant them though, depending on air and soil temp, and of course, light.)

As for "grow lights also make plants grow fast cause they are stretching for the light"...that will depend on the placement of the grow lights, as well as what kind of grow lights you use.

Looks like you're on a roll, Cricket! Looks like you're having fun to me! Enjoy! And thanks for sharing so much~!

HEY horseshoe-------i think someone was looking for you ---can't remember where at though.

thanks for the backup.

Shoe is right on top of everyting, (as allways) with good advice and never missing a beat. How does he do it? May I be as wise next year when I am as old as he is.

ok im jealous----i said same thing he did :P

anyone got yahoo-------cricketsgreenhouse--------yahoo id messenger

Put your id in my messenger you are not there, happens, but we are the ones that are jealous, with your greenhouse, wx, etc. Best of luck to you & yours. - Dyson

For your seed starter did you use promix or what??

Judy

I used promix-bx and removed the little sticks, tiny sticks as they got in my way. There isn't many tiny little twigs in it ---just some.

Where did you purchase the promix-bx? If you don't mind telling me.

I've read all sorts of stuff on the right mix for the right seed, etc. What I'm about to start are pepper, tomato and some larger variety flower seeds and because I saw how well yours started I thought I would use what you are. This thread is really interesting, especially since I have zero experience with growing seeds.

Judy

I picked a bale up at our local Co-Op . For my big orders---I go to 411 feed and seed in another county---2 1/2 hours from here ----.
Its about $22 a bale around here----but I have a supplier that sales it for $16-$17 a bale and its worth the trip to save that much money. I will be picking up 20 bales of it March 7th.
You just have to call around to find out who sales it locally.
I'll give a the main website---you can check it out and see if you can get a list of local suppliers in your area.
www.premierhort.com/website/afhome.html

Thanks so much!!!

Judy

I need another germination table--
I have to sow 7 more flats tonight
But since i dont have another table ready yet---as you can see there is some boards on top of my seedling boxes that my germinated seedlings are sitting on-----so I will put my other 7 new flats under those for about 3-4 days--till I get another table built.
Im tired. Worked on the other greenhouse all day and just dont feel like doing nothing more than i have to.

Ok --i sowed those other 7 seed trays------i have more seed on the way --will have to sow 14 more trays next week. I think my seedling house is almost too small. Next year it will have to be twice that size. I have the hoops to make it longer. Just didnt think i would need that much room this year. Its normally 35 feet long----but i only covered 15 feet in plastic this year.
And of course --the big greenhouse is too small too. I need another one of those but have no room for one more that big.

seed house hoops last summer :::::::::::::::::::::

I finally got to transplant some tomato plants--pic of some.

I have a metal swing set frame sourrounded with wooden pallets as sides. After reading this thread I think I will put plastic around and over to make into a better seed house. Water is already there, extension cord for electricity, and I am in business for my own needs. I already have a small table in the space and a old book case that I put pots on that have come from the nursery over the years. Some Iglo containers, picked up at garage sales, keep grass seed and other things dry. I also keep my rakes, shovels, and pvc repair items in there. The glue stays in the house. A couple of garbage cans too keep soil in, and move my compost pile closer, put in a worm bin, and maybe I could stand in one place, and work. The comfory that is on the floor will need to be moved, it will grow too big with all the plastic around.

sounds like that would be nice frame-------you could even add an addition on to it if you needed more space. Good Luck

Cricket, your transplants look GREAT!!! You are one hard working woman.

Judy

Ah---today was just fun-------the hard work comes later on when i have to transplant 850+ 6 inch pots and 400 flats then trying to keep up with 480+ tomato vines.
What motivates me is-----i remind myself that the hardest part---transplanting---will only last 3 weeks----the rest is down hill.

Great Attitude, so wise for your tender years.

Judy

Gosh I am so jealous but I really worked hard reading this post, now I have to do some inventing here. Where do you get all this engery? I just transplanted 60 marigold in to 6 packs and I am ready to sit . Lol to be young again. You are doing a great job here. Best of luck , you really got it going on.
Carolyn

I'm 35 with arthiritis and tendonitis in my feet and hands and knees. Mom is always asking how will i do this in my condition. My answer is: Just like I do any thing. Pop a pill and keep goin. (ibuprofen) I am my own boss---so i can take a break when I need to. But I dont abuse it---or I'd lose it. (boss)

The key to labor is simplify your situation. If you transplant alot---make a work area thats not hard on your back----tables----soil table. Get your flats ready and in a stack before you fill them with soil so your not bending back and forth so much. Just do what ever it takes to make it comfy. When i dont have a table-----I use a wheel barrow and a chair. Get all your flats ready---fill wheel barrow fulll of soil---moisten---mix---sit in chair to side of wheel barrow facing wheel barrow. Fill a flat--place it to the side and grab another one. If you set it all up just right----you can fill those flats in no time by hand. Wish I had a machine but I aint that rich. ($3000+)
When your done fill flats-----Stack them at your table for transplanting. Pre punch holes in flat cells. Start transplanting. I want to make a dowel board-------that prepunches all cells at one time. Using 3 inch pegs---screwd on from opposite side lined up for each cell. (36 cell flat )
I might go shopping for that today. Will take pics during the process.

Cricket!!!! What a positive attitude!! That's what it takes to be a winner!

Judy

oops--i dont have the flat that i need to make my dowel board. wont have it til march 7th but i can buy all the hardware and stuff to make it.------
You cut a peice of thin plywood (1/4 inch) or what ever you got handy, cut it just a little bigger than your flat-----place flat upside down on plywood to measure it out----- then cut---------- then place your flat upside down on your board--centered---your flat cells have holes in bottom---poke a marker in that hole and mark your cell spot for your dowel screws. If your cells dont have hole in center---make your own hole. Start your screws on your mark and place dowel on other side --screw dowel on. Wala---
Saves alot of time in the long run.
You can do this with any size flat. Even the 1801. which has 18 single 3 inch pots per flat. You can order a case of 1801 from Cassco---100 sheets per case======thats a total of 1800 3 inch pots for $31.75 plus shipping. And case of 6 inch pots (560 pots) is $59.25 plus shipping. 1800-962-1922

This message was edited Feb 22, 2005 8:57 AM

You've got mail!!!

Judy

got it judy---with response.

gosh---me and hubby spent 8 hours traveling and picking up supplies, containers, soil and plugs today. Im tired. And I still have to go out and water my seedlings.

Truck load of Pro Mix==20 bales

9 (512) annual plug flats that we picked up at Dixie Green in Centre AL today..
Petunia red
Petunia white
Petunia midnight
Begonia Gin
Begonia Vodka
Dusty Miller
Impatiens
Vinca
Coleus

tomato plants for 6 inch pots are almost ready---will transplant next week----it is little coldddddddddddd right now.

Will Tall Zinnias sale good in 6 inch pots? Tall Mix cut variety?

zinnia babies almost ready to transplant

It really is marvelous to read this thread, you all have so much talent with these plants....>jealous...lol.

They call us green thumbs----but i swear my thumbs are always brown.(dirt)

My tomatoes for 6 packs have germinated today. And I have to sow 8 more flats---4 more varieties that came in today. I have no idea where im gonna sit the flats. Im running out of room in the seedling house. ARGGGGGGGGGGG

I put 2 1x4 8feet long across back end of germination bed. I put the tomatoes that were germinated back there so i could put 8 new flats in the germination bed today.

cricket

oh--did i tell ya already that i had to put plastic over the germination box soil so the new seedlings wouldnt try to root into it. Well , i did.

cricket

Cricket you amaze me!!!! Keep up the good work

Judy

I CHEATED !

I really didnt have the time nor did i want to take the time to put 2000 tomato seeds in its only little cell . So I took some cardboard shipping box deviders and put them on my potting table, put some soil in them, sprinkled my seed, then covered my seed lightly, then watered it.
Now i can go mix dirt for my grow bags. Later Gaters.