These are pictures from Saturday when I planted a couple trays of seeds. I also planted 8 new begonia tubers in pots. (A bag of pink dahlia tubers waiting on my shelves for outdoor planting.) My indoor lettuce is doing well. Time to start thinning it soon!
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Gorgeous lettuce!!
I just planted my first seeds today….while it was snowing… Ha ha
The lettuce looks great!
I just ordered 2 sets of growing lights. I have never used a growing light before and I have a question {and I'm sure it is going to sound REALLY stupid}.
Won't the light burn the plants?
I noticed how close your light was to your lettuce so obviously the light won't burn the plant… but how high above the plant should the light be kept?
I plan on starting tomato seeds under the lights.
🙂 Mavis
The lights won't burn the plants. The fluorescent light bulbs don't get hot. Keep the lights as close as you can to the plants. They need as much light as they can get. The level the bulbs produce isn't nearly as much as real sunlight.
Thanks Kathy. My lights should arrive tomorrow. 🙂
Your post reminds me that I've got to get a move on my sowing too. So far I've got tomatoes, leeks, ginger and onion seed growing but there's a pile of seeds waiting to SPRING to life.
I wish I could effort to buy lights. But until I could I will be grow them with natural light facing long stems 🙁
Kathy, I was wondering how fast your seeds sprouted? Without heat or artificial light it took my seeds ~5 days to sprout (except celery and celeriac, but they are slow we all know). I ordered heat mat, but now I am not sure I needed. May be will be good for high temperature germinating seeds.
Huli
Yes celeriac take up to 2 weeks.
My lettuce and broccoli types come up in about 2 days. They pop open almost fast enough to watch! Sounds like your our heat mat will help. And it will be really good for peppers, which won't sprout unless temps are about 75*F.
I raised my seedlings in windows for years. Yes they get really spindly, but they did OK. I brought them outside as much as I could whenever the weather was above 50*F.
Thanks Kathy, this helps allot :]
Just made my own grow light today. I used these very well written and easy to follow directions. It says it will cost about $60. I bought everything listed for exactly $50 today. It took me about 45 minutes to build. My husband helped me cut the PVC, but I did everything else on my own.
http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/10376/diy-pvc-grow-light-stand
Hi Kathy,
I read your blog a least once a week and I love how broad your knowledge is. Question about damping off… This is my first year starting seeds indoors. My plants are great until about 2 weeks and then wilt, I read this can happen because of overwatering. Any suggestions on how often to water my seedlings and how I can prevent this from continuing to happen?
Damping off is not really about watering. Its a fungus. Here's a good article(UConn)
Use new or bleach cleaned planting pots. Here's my post on cleaning trays. Use sterile soil. Keep the temp up so the seeds sprout fast. And don't over water.
I only water after the top of the soil is dry of the plants wilt. Usually every two days. With most potting soils you can see a difference in soil color when the soil is dry.
Wow, looks good, I have my cabbage up and will be starting my tomatoes and peppers this month.
come on spring!
Looks good, I only have my cabbages up and growing.
come on spring!
Looks good. I have cabbage coming up. Can't wait for spring.
Beautiful photos!
I have some small light's but things are hard to grow with my little space. My winter-sowing is doing much better. I'm right near you so it's nice to see what you have and compare. Although I have very little space. I'm thinking of joining a community garden or just taking over my dads yard.
That lettuce looks simply divine! I am so very, very jealous of the amazing salads you're clearly in store for this year!
Wow, your garden starts are looking great! It's so exciting knowing the warmer temperatures are coming and buds will be blooming very soon!
I also just started my seeds last week for my expanding garden. Just prepping the soil now…loving it!