Comments on A Growing Tradition: Assembling Indoor Seed Starting Shelves

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2010-05-24T05:35:20.164-04:00

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2010-03-01T20:36:54.645-05:00

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I did it! http://bankside-jms.blogspot.com/2010/02...

2010-02-06T18:55:41.917-05:00

I did it!
http://bankside-jms.blogspot.com/2010/02/always-have-fresh-clean-snow.html

Thanks again for a great post, Thomas!

Jain

Hi Thomas Wonderful blog, it was great to 'goo...

2010-01-31T10:15:38.032-05:00

Hi Thomas Wonderful blog, it was great to 'google' (zone 6 and seed starting) and find you. I'm on blogger too: my focus...living simpler lives...seed starting, baking from scratch, gardening, family life and my vintage collectibles shop bringing you inexpensive (new to you) treasures from the past. I would appreciate a follow by you and your followers.

I started my seedlings successfully for the first time in 18 years last February. Meaning I used to do it in Feb (as a project) with my young children and get to the spindly seedling stage before they all wilted and died. At that time it was just a fun project and in May I went and bought my seedlings from a nursery. Well not anymore. Last year I grew my veggies from seed in my basement. A similar (but not as nice set up as yours). I used grow lights for the first time and sure enough it was a seedling jungle down there, so incredibly exciting. Of course my youngest is a teen now and the project wasn't on her priority 'to do' list so I did it much of it myself but I cannot tell you the joy it brought...meditative actually. I had just lost my mom and that was my spiritual time.

We had a VERY RAINY June last year. My tomatoes weren't as prolific as I had expectd but my herbs and lettuces were incredible. I have a small plot and I too will be blogging about my accomplishments and failures. Hopefully we can all learn from each other.

God Bless Tom, I'll be checking your blog regularly. I'm going to post this on my blog as well so new folks can follow you too.

Follow me at www.footbridgecove.blogspot.com

Wow, what a gorgeous setup. How does it compare to...

2010-01-26T21:41:58.372-05:00

Wow, what a gorgeous setup. How does it compare to mine? Hahaha. No comparison. I'm experimenting this year with starting seeds here in coastal southern California in flats on top of the chicken coop roof, which is the only part of our yard that gets any sun this time of year. All I can say is that my flat of mesclun has sprouted, but it's no where near as pretty as your setup. My plan is to just cut the mesclun directly from the flat. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Wow, seems like nice setup you have going :) We&#...

2010-01-26T15:18:22.512-05:00

Wow, seems like nice setup you have going :)

We're looking at getting something (functionally) similar with fluorescent lights, probably only using rearrangable(sp?) wardrobes and hanging the lights from them, above the temporary beds.

I guess you have separate heating depending on type.

// Kash

Donna, those ARE a lot of question! I will try an...

2010-01-21T23:34:46.066-05:00

Donna, those ARE a lot of question! I will try and give you a proper response this weekend. Unfortunately, it's off to bed I go for now.

Thomas..nice set-up....i'll be anxious to watc...

2010-01-21T19:58:46.714-05:00

Thomas..nice set-up....i'll be anxious to watch this from the beginning....looks like fun...love it.....

thanks for stopping by Farmhouse..always good to see you, my friend

Kary

Wow nice set up...and although expensive to begin ...

2010-01-21T14:56:27.463-05:00

Wow nice set up...and although expensive to begin with, it will last throughout the seasons and really pay off I am sure. You are so organized! I never thought about doing something like that in the basement.

Hi Thomas! Thanks for greeting me! I adore your bl...

2010-01-21T14:28:50.887-05:00

Hi Thomas! Thanks for greeting me! I adore your blog! Thank you so much for keeping up with it and having one! I have lots of questions!
What transplants are you going to start out with? What are you going to try and do to control Damping Off? How large are your growing areas? You use mainly Heirloom seeds, correct? Are you also an Organic gardener? You are in New York, zone 5 correct? And one last little thing, You have a very nice sidebar with Interesting Videos I have one more to add if you think it is good enough it is called Synergistic Gardening. I believe it can be found on the Google Video site and it is by a French Lady. Oh! And if you don't already own this book the Root Cellaring book by the Bubels is Awesome! Check out this post: http://subsistencepatternfoodgarden.blogspot.com/2010/01/basement-full-of-garden.html

Hey Thomas, get cracking' on perfecting your s...

2010-01-21T13:09:17.805-05:00

Hey Thomas, get cracking' on perfecting your soilblock routine will you, my stuff will be here any day now!

Very nice set up Thomas. Lots of space and nice an...

2010-01-21T00:07:39.542-05:00

Very nice set up Thomas. Lots of space and nice and clean looking. I have thought about getting a shop light or two this year. I will have to see if I run out of room.

I have been using a 400watt Metal Halide light for quite a few years now. Mainly to overwinter plants though but it works equally well for seed starting too.

Very nice set up! My excuse for not starting seeds...

2010-01-20T15:23:05.934-05:00

Very nice set up! My excuse for not starting seeds has always been that i don't have enough window space (small house, the side with the sunny exposure of course is also favored by the cats for sun bathing). I probably could have set up shelves like those in the basement before a new hobby took over any vacant floor space. Now i will just have to 'fess up to being a lazy gardener/busy person who only puts out a half dozen or so plants anymore!

That's an excellent setup! Mine sits on the fl...

2010-01-20T13:51:26.296-05:00

That's an excellent setup! Mine sits on the floor, which is rather inconvenient. But I've had it for years and it's still working just fine so it stays.

You may not have to use the heat mats all the time, especially since the room isn't cold. Right now I've got various brassicas, beets, and a few other things under lights without the heat and they are very happy. They are doing much better than my last attempt with the heat on. I'll use the heat to start my peppers, tomatoes and eggplant because they want the heat to germinate. Once they've germinated the heat goes off.

I did this set up last year first time and it look...

2010-01-20T12:08:04.445-05:00

I did this set up last year first time and it looks great!

I kept my lights on from 8-8 everyday, sometimes 8-10. I didn't have a timer.

Good luck. I'm still holding back a few more weeks :)

Andrea

this looks so great!! I can't wait to see all ...

2010-01-20T10:24:46.553-05:00

this looks so great!! I can't wait to see all of the little seedlings....

Nice setup, I don't have shelves, my grow ligh...

2010-01-20T10:16:59.796-05:00

Nice setup, I don't have shelves, my grow lights are in a spare bedroom on top of a table, can't wait to start seeds, please let us know how your soil block gadget works out for you.

Top drawer set up Thomas! I have a somewhat simi...

2010-01-20T09:26:11.108-05:00

Top drawer set up Thomas! I have a somewhat similar set up - just do not use the wire shelving units. I have a smaller shop light stand set up that is my overflow area when my starts overwhelm the larger light set up. Usually in February through March I am at the peak of my volume of seedlings and need the extra overflow area.

We have those exact same shelve (6 or 8 of them) a...

2010-01-20T09:05:08.751-05:00

We have those exact same shelve (6 or 8 of them) and I was going to get rid of them, but now I am thinking I should keep them for when I get my garden going. I won't use them this year as I haven't got the beds in yet, but definately next year. All I would have to invest in is the lights and s hooks.
Also please do use the fan it will help you grow hardy seedlings.
Good Luck. All gardening is expensive when started, but pays off over time.

I really like the versatility of the shelving, whi...

2010-01-20T09:03:48.199-05:00

I really like the versatility of the shelving, which allows you to change the growing height. It can get pretty expensive, but definitely worth it.

Daphne, that is so funny. I wondering what Erin wa...

2010-01-20T09:00:17.775-05:00

Daphne, that is so funny. I wondering what Erin was alluding to. I did not know that seedlings needed some "good vibrations". I'll have to dig out one of our extra fans.

It looks great. Currently I only have one shopligh...

2010-01-20T08:55:11.435-05:00

It looks great. Currently I only have one shoplight for seedlings, but it was really tight last year. Plus I had to take my onions out when I started the others (since they can't handle seeing long days when they are young). I really want two lights this year. So I'll have to go buy another one.

The only thing I've got that you don't is a fan. I like Erin's solution to put it on the washing machine. That is funny. But the plants need some kind of movement when they grow. Alternatively you can pet them. That also works. I did that last year with my onions before I had my fan up.

Thanks for all of the wonderful feedback everyone....

2010-01-20T08:42:31.879-05:00

Thanks for all of the wonderful feedback everyone. I'm planning on setting the timer to have the lights on 14 hrs a day, though I'm sure they would benefit greatly from 16. I have one heating mat, which I think will be sufficient looking at my sowing schedule. My basement is heated whether we like it or not since it's on the same heating zone as the 1st floor of our home. I can't wait to get started on the soil blocks this weekend! Just need to get a couple of more ingrdients.

That is similar to mine. I like having the double...

2010-01-20T07:47:14.712-05:00

That is similar to mine. I like having the double light strips because you have more flexibility with altering the height of the lights to suit the plants.

Part of my basement is heated (or can be), but I refuse to pay for heat for seedlings. Plus, I don't have a utility sink down there.

I am dreading the shelf set-up in the bedroom, but we will being assembling sooner rather than later! I better get my Johnny's order in!

That is just about exactly the setup I have! Alth...

2010-01-20T07:34:09.577-05:00

That is just about exactly the setup I have! Although I transferred mine to above the washing machine so they can get the "vibrations" when they were several weeks old! I have another of those wire shelving units on my deck right out the back door so it is really accessible for hardening off and I can't forget to bring them in at night. I didn't see a heat mat, but you will need one especially if you are in a basement. Not every seed needs it but tomatoes love it and it's essential for peppers. I started 100 seedlings last year but only needed one mat. I staggered their plantings since you only need the mat until they germinate, then I move the next tray onto the mat. My stuff is down from the attic and I can't wait to set it all up, even if it takes up more space than I have, lol!