6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

Funny thread. My biggest oops was last year's first time seed starting under lights. Everything was in the basement. I was pretty sure my set-up was good. But, why oh why, were my seedlings not taking off. Well, I finally discovered the outlets (except two) in our basement are all connected to the main light switch. So, when I checked on them, lights on. Back upstairs, lights off. The only thing that saved them was my boys' new xbox game that they kept sneaking downstairs to play!

Ali, that's hilarious! Frustrating, I'm sure.

Thanks for the help. Im growing a little of everything to start my garden outside in may. I have about 7 trays. And no power outside unles we use a extenion cord. And again using 7 trays i think i would need to plug in would need to plug in 7 cords. Thx

Then why not just germinate them in the house where you can supply the heat and then move them to the hoop house once they are sprouted? That would be the easiest way to go since they are in trays.

Dave

I would add just one other comment. I have found (and read) that potting mixes with fertilizer in them can sometimes inhibit germination. Just a thought if you used different soil in the greenhouse than in the baggie.

The seed starting mix that I had doesn't say anything about fertilizer. it just says 100% organic.

And I am still currently waiting on some 4 o'clocks, zinnia, and Dahlia. I have had some zinnia and 4 o'clocks sprout already, but I have yet to see any dahlia seedlings...

I think it was the giant teddy bear that was causing them all that stress =)

lol! But the broccoli leaf is as big as his head in that picture so he shouldn't be that intimidated! Maybe it was the whole gang of stuffed animals that were putting on the stress!

I'll have to watch the background better next time.

Thank you. That helped a lot!

Another reason to hold back would be if your last average frost date is still in the future. Just because the weather's warm now, does not mean the warmth is here to stay. We had temps in the 80's at the beginning of the week. Yesterday the high was 45 and the hilltowns had night temps in the twenties. Planting out early would have been disaster, unless the gardener had a way to protect the plants from a hard freeze. You're in a warmer zone, so you may be good to go.

Those guidelines for what to start when are intended to help the gardener have a healthy plant of an appropriate size at the safe plant-out date, usually the last average frost date.

I agree with sleepy. The plants look healthy they just need more light. I also agree that with that amount of light they must be on a window sill.

I put a fan on them, and I will put them under shop lights for 12+ hours and see how they do!

Thank you so much for all of the advice, it may just save my seedlings!

What kind of seeds did you start?

Keriann~

I have no answer as we're in different climates, but am interested in any others answers. Is it appropriate for me to ask similar question here, or start new thread? Im in low desert and already in high 80's. Got yellow bells from seed in plastic cups now 2 inches tall. Is it time to plant in the ground? thanks.

I concur with Keriann; that kind of problem among multiple flats has got to mean that either you had a fungus in your flats or starting mix to begin with OR that you've somehow gone from sucessful seed-starter to causing damping off conditions since last year. Since you said you'd started seeds successfully before, it seems unlikely that you'd suddenly start over-watering or using techniques likely to cause damping off, unless you've changed your setup or location somehow. So if everything else is the same as years past, you gotta have had unsterile mix or containers. And sorry to say, no amount of No Damp or anything else is going to fix a systemic problem like that. I'm afraid your only alternative (as I see it) is dumping everything, sterilizing everything and starting again. Might get fresh mix too, just to be safe.

PS I would start your sunflowers, morning glories and castor beans outside when the last frost has past.

Keriann~

Keep your head up, this is half the fun of gardening.. learning and growing.. no pun intended : )

Here is a good start on reading about leggy seedlings for you.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Leggy seedlings discussions

I see on your other post on the Tomato forum that we are talking about tomatoes. They are quite leggy per your pic posted there. Tomatoes benefit from deep transplanting ASAP. Bury them right up to just below the leaves and then provide more, closer light or they will just get leggy again.

Dave