My seedlings are seedlings I think?

As per my last messages I had planted all my tomatoes and peppers in Boca Bob's coconut coir seed starting kit, my cukes in Garden Supplies APS self watering seed starting kits (24 size) and my eggplants in Garden Supplies APS self watering seed starting kits (6 size). Here is what I have so far, the peppers still haven't come up, but that is a given, as they have only been planted a week ago, my tomatoes which I planted a variety and 2-3 seeds per spot, all came up. I haven't weeded out the weak ones yet; as I still think it may be too early. They have bitty sprouts on them and not quite big enough yet, I don't think to consider them to have their first true leaves yet; so, just used a mixture of sea magic, MG tomato fertilizer and 1/2 tsp epsom salt to water the tray with underneath and put the dome back on. So; far so good, no sign of mildew, and plants are turning a nice color green. My cukes are shooting up already, (I think I was way early on planting them), but nothing with the eggplants or the peppers yet.

Questions: When do I remove the dome? Since I planted the tomato seeds and the pepper seeds in the same dome tray, what should I do when it's time to remove the dome lid? I do have 18 number 3 kombi-pak pots with a self watering mat and tray and I do have 12 number 4 "shuttle tray combo" pots. These pots have holes in the bottom so you can place them on the moistened capillary mat which is watered from the tray below. I was thinking maybe when the toms get their first true leaves I might use some coconut coir in these shuttle tray pots and other pots and then place them on the shelves with lights, like about no further than 2 inches from the lights? Then I could just put the dome back over the peppers and wait for them a while, and continue on with the toms.

Also, when should I be expecting my eggplants to pop up, they were planted 4 days after the toms and the same time the cukes were planted.
joy112854

Here's my two cents, the tomato seedlings need to be under those lights real close. That means the 7" dome needs to come off. Peppers take much longer and need bottom heat to germinate. I would put saran wrap over the area where the pepper seeds are so the tops don't dry out and kill the seeds being so close to the light. Or if you remove the net pots with the tomato seedlings until the peppers sprout.

BocaBob

Bob: Ok Think I will remove the net pots, that means the light can get closer to the tomatoes also.
joy112854

Bob: Is it too early to cover the stem? I put them as is, left in their pots, (I removed the pots from the tray) under the lights and turned the lights on; but won't that dry them out? If I put them in the gumbie pots I could then cover the stem right? NO?
joy112854

bob: Glad you didn't mind answering my call and helping me out here, I feel so much better now, I have put the tomatoes back into Bob's starter kit, removed the pepper plants and placed them in the burpee tray and the dome fits right over the tray, that dome fits over anything.

Folks, here is something I noticed that you might want to make note of: I have been filling my trays in the kitchen as I have the fertilizer/sea magic mixture in the fridge and add warm water, must add warm water as the mix in the fridge is cold when I add it to the tray, what I want to point out is this, I then have to carry the tray to the back bedroom where I have it converted into my garden grow room.

Now, get this, the jiffy tray and the Burpee tray when it has the seedlings in it, and the water in it you can't carry it that way, gotta put one of my sturdy shelf trays under it, they are very flimsy, so don't try this at home hear? But; Bob's? No problem, it's sturdy enough to lift right up, dome and all and carry right back to the room, no slosh, no jiggle that makes you worry that you might not make it back to the back room, just does it.

So, now tomatoes are safe and sound back in the seedling tray, and about 2 inches under the light. I did plant about 2 -3 seeds per pot, and must tell you this all pots have at least one starting in them, most have about 3 in there, I will weed the weak ones out later on down the line. The peppers will be fine as it was time to add some water and it was warm water, so the dome should mist up again. I noticed perhaps a little growth in the pepper pots too, just a few bitties though and not much. Stay tuned for updates
joy112854