Growing from seeds

[Nylah]

okay, I have been scouring the net for heirloom vegetable seeds and such. I want to try growing more vegetables from seed this year.

So, I have determined that mid-April is the best time to start for me. However, from what I am reading when you plant seedlings indoors that you should not place growing seeds on window sills because the winter light is pale and indirect.

It suggests to place seedlings above the fridge for warmth plus they need approx 12-16 hours of light.

So how do you reconcile the two issues then? Being above the fridge isnt alot of light either. Do seedlings grow well with direct indoor lighting?

Do I have to consider buying some lighting system? If so then I am gonna give up

[kia027]

Re: Growing from seeds

get one electric heating pad and put dem unda de seedlings, place in whatever light you need

[Nylah]

Re: Growing from seeds


ohh! YOU are brillant Kia

that can work!

Yeah, I think I will continue shopping online then

[Nanook]

Re: Growing from seeds

I have limited knowledge of this since it's so cold so late here it's just easier to buy plants. Anyway, I saw how a friend that owns a successful greenhouse starts his seeds in his basement on shelves in old refrigerators. Of course they aren't plugged in or anything but they are dark and hold moisture I guess. I'll call him tomorrow and ask him some questions if you want me to!

[Nanook]

Re: Growing from seeds

Oh I like the heating pad idea!

[Nylah]

Re: Growing from seeds

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nanook</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have limited knowledge of this since it's so cold so late here it's just easier to buy plants. Anyway, I saw how a friend that owns a successful greenhouse starts his seeds in his basement on shelves in old refrigerators. Of course they aren't plugged in or anything but they are dark and hold moisture I guess. <span style="font-weight: bold"> I'll call him tomorrow and ask him some questions if you want me to!</span>
</div></div>


Yes Please

So much of what I have read suggests but doesnt necessarily spell out what light source is best. If I can use the window sills in my basement then that would be ideal.

Until last year, I have always just bought seedlings like you Nanook. However, I want to give the from seed thing a go and see if I can do it. Honestly, I find the whole process intimidating but I want to give it a shot.

[MarieK]

Re: Growing from seeds

hence y mi guh mawkit guh buy wat me want

[Nylah]

Re: Growing from seeds


I come back to check on my thread only to find you chatting
-ish up in here

bout mawkit

watch when armegeddon come you be begging for some of my bounty. and I'll say



you dont have nobody else to terrorize?

[Stormmey]

Re: Growing from seeds

Also Nylah for lighting why not invest in a portable fluorescent lighting lamp, I find they are ideal for plants. I have seen some advertised in plant store and it specifically says for those places where you do not get enough lighting for indoor plants.

So!! you could place one of those lamps directly above your seedlings, you can also get a timer that you can regulate the lighting if you are going to be away from home for extended periods of time.

[Nylah]

Re: Growing from seeds


that's where it starts to seem too complicated for me stormey


do you have any idea how much those lighting systems costs?

[Stormmey]

Re: Growing from seeds

Nylah I really don't know how much they are, never paid attention to the price. I know bout them as I was there with my granpere wife and she bought a couple of them for plants I will ask her she into plants and seedlings as she calls them.

I know her seedlings thrive with the lighting over them, then she transplant them when it gets warm outside.

she bought the timer separately and my granpere rig it up for her.

[Nanook]

Re: Growing from seeds

Ok Nylah, I called...

This guy has a couple of huge greenhouses. Anyway he starts the seeds in some old refrigerators in his basement with a heat lamp in there to keep them warm. You don't need light to start seeds, but warmth.

But, once the seeds are sprouted they need light and it is a delicate balance with grow lights not to keep them too far away from the sprouts so they grow all leggy, or too close so you don't burn them. Then of course, as they grow taller you have to raise the lights.

I'm sure you can google lighting times etc.
------

Another friend is a truck farmer. She has a small unheated greenhouse that she uses for starting seeds. She will put them out there pretty soon now, and they will sprout when it is warm enough in her little greenhouse,not before but she always has the early veggies at the farmers market!

This all reminds me that a few years ago we had a discussion here in this forum on this and I had come up with an idea to start seedlings on the south side of my house and get them going early. I was pretty successful but it wasn't really worth it in the long run, just the satisifaction of doing it at the time I guess.

Anyway, I have one of those metal bakers racks that were all the rage a few years ago. I got mine from a recycling center for free. Anyway, I set it up on my south facing deck and wrapped it in plastic sheeting and started seeds out there and it all went really well. For a few days there I had to bring in my trays of starters to keep them from freezing at night. The only thing I lost doing this was morning glories.

Also, I started the seeds on my hot water heater on a tray. Just keep them moist.

As I was talking about this on the phone today all the memories came flooding back of back when I used to think this was a fun thing to do.

Now I just plant flowers and I buy the plants or transplant my perennials and I buy my veggies at the farmers market for the year and freeze them.

Hey, do you have a spot on the south side of your house where you can place a makeshift tent with plastic sheeting and 1 X 4's? Up against the house will be nice and warm and things would sprout easy. Then on warmer days you can take them in and out for sunlight and so they don't burn up under the plastic and keep them tucked away at night and cooler days. Even on cool days it would be toasty warm under the little tent. What I am picturing you wouldn't have to nail to your house or anything, but just set it up next to it. And no grow lights involved.

[Nylah]

Re: Growing from seeds



Thanks Nanook for asking questions for me

I'll check tomorrow at Home Depot for lighting systems. If it seems too much money and stuff I might give this a pass

My house faces East to West and I have only one window on the south which is in the stairwell so not really located well for plants

Plus, the south side of the house is blocked by a split level house so the amount of sun that side gets is minimal.

It is good to know that warmth is all I need to get going though. I am going to give it a shot and see how I can or if I can incorporate an expensive light system in the kitchen where I have an East facing big window.

Since we have such a short growing season, I was thinking this would be a good solution to get stuff going early as to get more out of my growing time. I'll see how much effort this all takes and decide if I will do the same thing next yr.

We have some really great greenhouses around here but you will pay and arm and a leg for them. I find when I purchase cheaper plants from WalMart, etc. they dont bloom well or last thru the season. So I need to buy from the good but expensive greenhouses who drain my pocketbook

[Nanook]

Re: Growing from seeds

Ok so no south facing outdoor space so nix that idea. Oh and you cannot use a window no matter what direction they face because they would get too leggy.

As for a place to buy plants, go for locally grown as opposed to shipped in like to walmart. Visit your local farmers market is best, or a greenhouse. It's funny how plants are so sensitive as to where they are from sometimes. I moved Lilacs here from my place in Minnesota several times and none grew. Then a couple of years ago I dug some from a few miles away and planted them in the same place and they are thriving! My Minnesota place was just 40 miles away too.

[Nylah]

Re: Growing from seeds



this is getting more complicated by the minute

nonetheless, sseds have been bought so I will give it a go. I'll also sow some seeds directly outside once May rolls around. I want to try some heirloom vegetables this summer which you only can get from seeds around here.

Since I live on the edge of the city, bordered by farm land, I do have some excellent local farm/greenhouse choices.
Nearly all are organic as well but you definitely do pay for the quality. I dont mind because purchasing from them agrees with my ethics about certain things but it still is costly when I am still building up the foundation of my garden.

I moved my Peonies bush to the back of the house and then I was told that Peonies dont like to be moved We shall see how they fair this spring. I only got one big fat bloom from the bush and then that was it. I am hoping the back provides a bit more shelter from the wind in the back.

I'll keep you all posted on my progress though.