Let the Games Begin!

Do you ever get a little fustrated Weez?? I do..even though I grow everything from seed. I can get a little attitude sometimes...he he he. I have been know to throw a whole tray out and start again. I seem to learn from my mistakes..One for instance..If you don't take the plastic dome off as soon as they begin to germinate. Then it can be hard to keep them alive, when they get use to the humidity and no air. I have many many seeds to start and I find myself dreading it sometimes. But I get over it and start sowing...LOL LOL

Yes, I get frustrated, too. The better I get at this, the less frustrating it is, but there is always something to try your patience when you are growing plants from seed. I used to leave the domes on until I transplanted, but it was always hard to wean them off the lids... I'd crack the lid a bit for a day, then take it off... sort of hardening them off. Now I get the lid off while they are littler, but it's easy to overwater when watering from the bottom.

I think the thing that frustrates me the most is that there is only one of me and I am getting fatter, older, and stupider... none of these are good qualities when growing plants! LOL!

I prop the lids open with popsicle sticks on one side till most of my seedlings germinate. Keeps the humidity down for the ones already up...and use plain old shoplights too. I start about 500 tomato and pepper seedlings every year and assorted annuals. This is in the house where I can control the germination temps better. I turn a fan on the seedlings as soon as they get a set of true leaves to keep air circulating.

Doing most of my annuals in the greenhouse this year. I cover them with big sheets of bubblewrap. Works great.I can take it off during the day and put it back at night. I'm not using any heat here in zone 7...gotta have fans sucking it out all day. Low temps are hovering in the 45 /50 degree range at night and I try and hold the temps down to about 78/80 during the day. Got coleus, portulaca, sweet peas, 4 o'clocks, ipomoea, mina lobata vine and giant cockscomb all coming up now. .....and yes sugarweed, I will promise to make pictures of the seedlings :)

Uh, oh. I have the Cosmos (which are popping up) and some Hollyhocks in the same flat (which are not popping up yet). Now I'm worried about the lid whether to keep it on or take it off? You think propping up one side of it would satisfy both types, melody?

That's what I would do. If the cosmos start getting leggy, put a sheet of bubble wrap over the part with the hollyhocks. You can just lay it over the potting mix, no need to fasten it to anything.

I get bubblewrap for free from body shop sheet metal packing. Each hood has a huge sheet of BR and lots of plastic bumpers have giant sheets covering them. We happen to have an auto refinish shop, and I get tons of the stuff...but you can stop in anywhere they repair cars, and they will be more than happy to give you all you can carry.

Thanks. Almost all of the Cosmos have sprouted now. It's happening by the minute!! I have some collards sprouting, too. I just planted two days ago and I'm soooo impatient. It's maddening I tell ya. Do you worry over your 500 little babies?

I used to...it's not as maddening anymore...I do still check hourly when things are starting to pop...it's a miracle that too few people stop and enjoy..love to watch them poke their little necks out of the ground!

I planted salvia in pots 2 days ago on top of the soil- and yesterday, the hard little brown seeds had all swollen and turned gray. Today I see fine white threads of life coming out of them- it's amazing.

Really, I think it's amazing and a great metaphor for life in general. Something so tiny, with all the odds against it really, just doing it's thing and not only surviving, but GROWING. Brings a tear....

Critter, I just saw your earlier post. I must have missed it, sorry. You and Weez are giving great advice, thanks. I must say it is a little intimidating at first, but I'm glad I can come here and get questions answered and support. DG is truly wonderful and everyone's knowledge is so impressive!!

I'm up to over 35 seedlings. The little grow light system is working beautifully.

Good work, loba! I started out about 10 years ago with a few pansy seeds in a flat. I killed lots of seedlings for the first couple years, but each mistake was a learning experience. I seem to grow more and more each year. Opening a nursery business was mostly a way of allowing myself to keep growing more and more. At first, I gave all my extra plants away, then I donated them to the local garden club plant sale, then I started selling, as well. I still donate lots of plants and baskets each spring, but I also sell lots, so I can pay for my habit.

I started growing from seed because I just hated to spend all that money on bedding plants each spring. I only had a few perennials, and I either dug them up along roadsides or friends shared with me. I used to look longingly at the plants in the nursery, occasionally buying a new perennial. I always envied the folks who could afford to buy anything they liked and fill their beds with color.

Well, now I have tables full of plants. I can have anything I want in my beds. I can walk over to a table full of pansies or petunias or lobelia, grab a basket, and put together whatever I want to hang on my porch. I can grow any veggies I want, I can chose from 30 different kinds of columbine to add to a bed. Sounds great, doesn't it?

Ah, well, the truth is that I don't have time to weed my beds, much less add plants. I have run out of bed space, so I'll have to evict an old familiar green guy to put a new green guy in. Whereas I used to smile from ear to ear to see a six pack of pansies in early spring, now I've been dealing with those pansies since February!

I guess my point is that my interest in propagation started with a desire for the plants. Now dealing with the plants is a way to facilitate my desire to propagate the seeds!

Pleaseeee don't talk about killing seedlings Weez!! ha ha ha ha
Is there really a such thing??? he he he... batting my eyelashes..

Oh, I don't kill them intentionally, Kim. I never 'thin', always worry out the roots and transplant. I think that's why I get so many flats from a small container. I've been told by people that have worked in professional greenhouses that you just can't be that kind hearted. You stuff the best in plugs and throw the rest away... can't do it! Guess I'll never be rich. (Go ahead and bat your eyelashes, but all you're getting is the seeds! LOL!)

Me neither..!! ha ha ha..I feel sooo bad when I have to thin. Seems like a waste of a plant that wants to live. Especially when the other ones just fall over and die. I was just being funny when I said "Is the really a such thing as killing seedlings??" Because I know I've killed about a zillion in the beginning..he he
I think I've somehow killed about 30 this week. Oooops not intentionally..he he he. I didn't ween them from the plastic domed and they fell over and died. So I just started another flat.

Question: my cosmos are over an inch tall now and i planted two to a cell in a flat. Should I transplant one from each cell or thin? I hate to kill them, too, Kim.
At this point I feel like I might have to transplant them a few times before they can go to their final container outside. Any advice?

Jen

Jen, You'd be surprised how long a seedling can stay in a 2x3 pot. Some will even flower in these little pots. How big are the cells? I just transplanted several plants into 3x4 pots. They will stay in these until Probably May. If you can..Try to transplant once to save you time. Hope this helps!

Yes, that is very helpful, Kim. Thanks. They are in the 2"x3" flat cells. I will leave them and see how they do. I think I will either thin the second seedling in each cell or try to transplant it.

I have another problem now. I used peat pots for my tomato seeds and the pots are molding. They are only just sprouting. Should I re-pot?

Yesss..I would. Get them into plastic to eliminate some of the mold. I used peat pots the first year I started out. I will never use them again..Also I can not live without soapshield. One pint last me all year. I just put a capfull in a spayer bottle. It keeps mold away and doesn't hurt the plants. Actually the plants are over all more healthy with it.
http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=8066

Weez--so impressed by your light setup and your plant nursery. I was trying to figure out how close you have your lights to your seed flats...is that about 7 inches? I think mine are set at 12 inches and I bet that is too far away...mine are getting leggy...thanks for all the good info. t.

Hi, tabasco. Yes, your lights should be closer until they get bigger. I'm afraid I haven't been watching the distance the way I should this spring. I have chains on the the light fixtures so I can raise or lower them according to the plants under them.

Hey, Kim, I used to leave the dome lids on my seedlings until I was ready to transplant. Since I sterilized, they didn't dampen off, but they were a bit delicate, as you mentioned before.

Hi Weezingreens! Thank you so much for posting the "games".
How are all your babies coming along?
I have some questions, if you don't mind.

My set up is like yours except I don't have the room to have them back to back.
I love the PVC shelves. They were so easy to put together.

Back to the Questions:
When do you start fertilizing your seedlings & with what?

How do you get them to bloom by Memorial Day?

What do you use for watering them? You said you bottom water after the lid is off, I think, so what do you do? Take a cell pack out & dump water in?

You have so many babies, so I'm sure you have learned some good tricks to make things easier & more effective.

Any other tips & hints are greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much!
I intend to do much better this year than last year, with help from gardeners like you.
Pam

I also have a question-- what potting medium do you use? Do you use a seed starting medium and then pot into "potting" soil when you prick them out? I have lots of babies that I thought I was going to have to "off" but seeing your method I think I will try pricking them out and want to give them the best chance

heather

Heather, yes, I start with starter medium. I use a Promix starter that is really fine and easy to lift the plants out of. Even when new out of the package, I bake it to sterilize it. When I transplant to cell packs, I use potting soil. My favorite is Sunshine #7 mix with the water polymers in it.

Pam, I don't like to start fertilizing the seedlings until they have gone out to the greenhouse and gotten some size to them. I'm not very professional with nutrients, I'm afraid. I just add some Miracle Grow (like Twinkies to plants), a bit added to the water when I bottom water the flats (yes, I just take out a cell pack, pour in some water, and put it back. If you add Miracle Grow from the top, it will crystalize on the soil surface.

In order to get some of my plants, such as petunias, to flower by opening day, I start them about 14 weeks before. With any luck, they will be just beginning to bloom by then. I begin violas (& pansies) about the same time.

Thank you so much!
I appreciate you!
Pam

Weez,
How far apart did you put your shelves? I'm putting one together but can't really guessitmate how far apart to start the shelving.

Thanks, Rosemary

Weezingreens-your light/rack setup is just about professional grade.VERY impressive.I've only got one shop light over a small shelf under a window-4-5 flats at most.I hate transplanting tiny seedlings,si I start with the 24 pack cells & 3" peat pots.Mine do pretty well,but I don't grow such a variety.A gardening friend sent me some Goji seeds,and they have already sprouted.I have to find a good spot for them pretty soon.

Yes, a good time to bump up this thread! There are a lot of good reminders in it for me!

This year I am trying to start so many seeds and to try to do it 'efficiently'...not an easy thing to do!

And I can see already so many mistakes I made thus far!

Thanks for all the good photos, again, weez! Really appreciate it!

great thread! Even the second time around.

Weez ... this is my first year for salpiglossus. None have germinated
yet and its been a few weeks. I have them on bottem heat in the greenhouse.
Do you have any suggestions? Are they difficult? I am doing much better
with germination using lights in the basement w/lids. I think the greenhouse
just has too much temp. variation plus I can't use lids 'cause that would bake
the seed pots with the sun beating down.

Tam

Carol, you amaze me. My goodness, I just see all that pricking out and potting up. Such energy, girl.

hi all
i got purple violet
i want to get white one and try to
combin them together
to get a white and purple
does any one know how or
can not you do it

Sorry it took me so long to reply. I've been really busy doing just what I posted here 3 years ago! I got the idea for the light racks at this website: http://www.tsflowers.com/plantstand.html Tammy, salpiglossis should germinate at about the same rate as petunias. It's really important to keep the soil moist, as the seed is surface sown. I mix mine with sterilized coarse sand before putting them on the starter mix. Ned, isn't it amazing how a few seedling trays can become so many flats when transplanted!

Hi Weez, that's where I got my plant stands from too well after I bought two expensive ones from garden supply lol That was before I learned about DG's they are so easy to put together and really hold a lot of plants I have three of them.

I have all kinds of plants from you growing downstairs :) Thank you soo much! Although I'm well on my way to sowing seeds after a few years I still enjoyed this thread the second time around ;-) I have some slapiglosis to get started too so thanks for the hints!

I'm slowly running out of room on 5 plantstands need to get the ones transplanted that need to be to see how much room I'm going to have left, just a couple of seed trays can sometimes end up being almost two shelves! LOL I still have 24 seed trays that haven't germinated yet too!

Lea

Weeze-I'm a lazy man & hate transplanting tiny seedlings.I start mine in big enough cells that when they start getting rootbound,into the ground they go,thinned out if needed.

Weez I put together the same light set up from Tsflowers that you have. It works great. This is my 3rd year with it. I probably have 20 or 30 varieties of seeds in it and the cold frame is filling up already.
Its really great to hear about your adventure.

well hello everyone. What a great load of information. This is my second year trying to grow seeds last year was complete failure but after reading this I am sure I will have better sucess. Well off to Home Depot to buy some PVC thanks again.

Timeinabottle--just wondering what Zone Louisville is in -- same as Cincinnati ? Zone 6? and also wondering when you transfer your seedlings to the cold frame? I was thinking of making a cold frame to move some of my seedlings out of the basement. Any thoughts?

Yes, I agree, Artwestallis, great thread here. I'm so happy someone resurrected it because I am learning more from it this second time around, too.

Today I planted two flats of various poppies and campanulas. I also transplanted nicotiana. I'll never get all those seedlings planted, I'm afraid. All I can do is just keep plodding along. I'm loading my last two plant stands, and once those are full, I'll have to turn on the halide light, and that will make the electric meter spin!

I think transplanting is one of those things that one either loves or hates. It is so tedious, but I take such pleasure in knowing those little plants will soon be big and healthy. When I open my little nursery each memorial day, I look out across all those tables of plants and I can't believe I did all that!

Tabasco
Louisville is zone 6. I transpant my seedlings and then give them a couple of days under the ligh ts to adjust after they were transplanted.
Some general thoughts on cold frames.
I make mine using discarded windows I find on junk day. I have tried using plastic but csan never strestch it tight enough to keep water puddling on the plastic.

Mine faces west. Best facing is south. There was no way I could get mine to face south so I had a choice of east or west. I chose west because that gets afternoon sun. I close the lid down about an hour before sundown to trap some of the heat to keep iot warm overnight.
Yesterday here was cold and overcast so there was no sun to heat the
cold frame. The temp was predicted to be 31 degrees so I ran an extension cord out to the frame and put a 100 watt light bulb in it to be safe. Then I covered the frame with a tarp for the night. I probably was being overly safe.

When the sun hits the glass it gets hot in the frame real quick. The plants will burn up. The glass must be propped up.

I have a seperate cold frame for rooting cuttings and starting seeds that require more than a year to germinate. It has sand and peat moss in it.

Weeze jump in on this when it comes to cold frames

John

Thanks, timeinabottle, My neighborman has a window replacement company and I can get some old windows from him. And I have a nice southfacing place for it so maybe I will try to get something set up. I guess I didn't think coldframes required daily attention (like the lightbulb and the lid lifting) but that certainly makes sense. Thanks again.

Weez--I can only imagine the satisfaction you must feel when you open your plant store! Must be fun too, even though loads of work!

I added this thread to the 'Tagged' list up on the right. Every year I'll need to refer to all these good tips! (-:

Tabasco
you will want to put some shading on the glass . I make mine with half hydrated lime and salt.

Keep us posted

I made the mistake of putting my cold frame far from the house, in the vegatable
garden. I thought it'd be convenient when planting time came but its too far
to go to take care of the plants in there. Especially on cold muddy days.