6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
I bought the exact same light and figured out immediately that I would not be happy with only one. We went right out and bought another complete set and I have two lights over my top shelf of my mini greenhouse. I'm honestly now thinking I'd like two more for my bottom shelf of my mini greenhouse.
The set you have is right, but you need the light distributed over the entire flat of seedlings or you will still have leggy seedlings. They will all stretch toward the light and the outside ones will stretch the most. I don't even think you could keep the light to within 2" of the seedling tops cuz then the outer plants just don't get enough light. I know the sets are expensive and it's a pain putting them together, but you'll never have to buy the sets again, if that's any help...
First, as some of the friends mentioned, it is not sucha big mistake.
Second, it depend how big the peat pots are. If they are 6 OZ or more no problem at all.
Third, you can fill them as the seeds grow in the pot. Actually this might turn out to be a plus and a new discovery (LOL).
Fourth, you can do a juggling trick to add more soil and fill them up to the rim here is how:
Get an empty pot(same size or little bigger.)
Put the empty cup, face down on a misfilled pot, holding them together with two hand (one hand aroun each pot)
Flip them over quickly. Now your original pot is empty. put some more soil in on top of play cup to compensate you MISTAKE(!!!).
Repeat the flipping trick in reverse to get the soil backm into the original pot.pack it as needed. Voilla!!
I wouldn't worry too much- I second the no peat pellets, however- the roots don't find their way out, depending on the plant- that has been my experience as well. I use a variety of containers- soil blocks, cell flats (some have 200 cells) paper pots. My favorite are soil blocks and the 200 cell flats. The mini soil blocks fit right inside of the 2" soil blocks when it's time to move them on and give them more room. They take up far less room too. The 200 cell flats are really nice- all it takes is a large nail in the bottom to pop out the plugs and then place the little babies into their new home :). These are nice for growing plants that will go in hanging baskets. You can visit my blog to read about the soil blocks.
If you're really worried about them not having enough soil, wait a week and sow some more. :) I really like Cyrus Gardner's suggestion too!
Happy spring to you and good luck!
Tessa
Hey, Im 15 and I love growing plants. Mostly trees, but I sometimes wander around the other forums. I think by you tilling the ground up now it couldnt hurt too much. We did it a bit earlier than needed and we did fine. But, who knows maybe that was just us.
Yum! Watermelon! I started mine in paper pots this year and they are doing fine. Usually I heat up the area that I'm planting in with some black plastic about a week before. I would not work your soil if it has been pouring- do a test, grab a hand full of soil and make a ball- bigger than a ping pong ball, but a little smaller than a tennis ball. Place your thumb in the middle of it- if it crumbles pretty easily you can work in it without damaging the soil structure and causing clods later on. If it drips water- you know it's too wet. Happy gardening!
Tessa
Well "benefit" from pinching may be too strong a word. ;)Many plants will tolerate pinching back but it is usually done for the benefit of the grower, not necessarily the plant itself.
The article linked below is somewhat informative about this optional custom.
You'll also find several discussion on the pros and cons of pinching over on the Annuals forum.
Dave
Here is a link that might be useful: Deadhead, Pinch Back, Disbud and Candle
Hmmm, I've never heard that before. I know there are some plants that you definitely don't want to pinch- those that grow on a single stem, for instance, but everything I've ever pinched has grow to be much bushier and lush, and it's that the point of growing something? To make them as healthy and beautiful as we can? I did some comparisons with Ageratum, what a difference the pinching made. The ones not pinched looked leggy and unhealthy despite my caring for them as usual and the pinched ones were much bushier :). Vines to will be much more lush too. When you take slips, it's the same thing really. The plant sends hormones to the nodes below to promote growth there, instead of the plants tips.
I think I'll head on over to that link and see what the story is- thanks for responding :)
I transplanted the first flat yesterday, to larger pots and noticed that not nearly as many as I had first thought have the lime color look. possibly the lights were playing tricks on me.. It does appear that they are all of one kind, I believe the seeds came from Jung Seed. They seem to be healthy inreguards that they are still growing.. I have not fertilized with anything and they are all still in pro mix..wetting my fingers did help to get the seeds off, thank you Jessica..:~)
I've noticed the same things on my pepper plants. The seed leaves are fine, but the first true leaves are a different color like that, a yellowish green. Overall the seedlings seem healthy. They're still growing, and don't look sickly at all. I have them on top of a heat mat. I bottom water when the surface looked dried and cracked.
For now, I'm just going to let them go and see how they do. Not sure what else I can do besides what I'm already doing... but if anyone has any ideas it would be helpful. Thanks!
More experienced people will have better answers but here's my thoughts:
Fertilizer.... I wonder if you could use some Superbloom type fertilizer at the right time to get them blooming and then feed the heck out of them...
Length of day... some flower require a specific length of day before they begin blooming. Cosmos come to mind. Find out if you need to artificially create that in order to force your blooms.
What did you start? If it's Zinnas you might be OK.
If I were in your place, I would talk with an expert at a local garden center (or several experts) to see what they recommend. I agree that having already spent money and time on seeds, you'll want to get what you can out of the investment. Also, network with your family and friends. They might have gardens you can pick from. My mom's friends pitched in to provide flowers for our tables at our wedding. If you can find some people with peonies, you'll be in the pink (or white or red). They make beautiful tables. Good luck and congratulations!
thanks janbanks! I hadn't thought about day length, just temp, good thought. I will def talk to someone at my local nursery, but all the good ones were closed Sunday! What? Here's the list of what's started, what is still in the ground from last year (which was our first yr in this house), and what's left to be started from seed. I am gonna not going to start anything else inside, unless it has to be, because I've run out of space under the lights and I haven't even thinned out yet ( I'm scared to, I'm not sure if they're ready, or exactly how to do it, or where I'm gonna put em. I'm a virgin when it comes to growing from seed). I'm going to try to wintersow the rest of what I've got. Does it look like all my seeds can be wintersown? I'm hoping to get to to them this week, but I have a 1 yr old, and a daycare, so it's not looking good this week.
Already Sprouted:
Columbine
Portaluca
Tobacco
Snapdragons
coneflower-white swan
Petunia
Scabiosa
Ranunculus
Bee Balm
Astilbe
Dahlia
Angelonia Serena
Tomato
Swt banana pepper
Sweet Pea
Left to Sow:
canterbury bells
alyssum
yarrow
nasturtium 'milkmaid'
bells of ireland
impatiens
Columbine 'Alpine''Maxi Star''mckanna's giant mix''crimson star'
Larkspur 'salmon beauty''Blue Cloud'
Delphinium Burpee's Cutting mix
Lobelia 'crystal palace'
white swan coneflower
monarda red
Scabiosa 'summer berries mix'
Astilbe
Snapdragon 'frosted sunset' 'pink rocket' 'rocket lemon''rocket white'
Impatiens Athena 'red flash'
Ranunculus 'magic mixture'
Stock 'vintage white''vintage lilac'
Angelonia Serena white, lavender, purple
Dahlia 'double extreme'
nicotiana 'jasmine'
moonflower
sweet peas 'royal pink''elegance white''high scent''royal wedding''everlasting peas''frolic''mollie rilestone'
Sunflowers (11 different kinds)
Marigolds (9different packets, inc vanilla & snowman)
Cosmos 'rose bonbon''sea shell mix'
celosia cockscomb bombay mix
Poppies 'imperial pink''pink peony''fluffy pink'shirley poppy
zinnia 'purity''envy''giant lime' 4 different mixes
Hollyhock
four o clock 'Alba''tea rose'
Pearly gates morning glory
calendula
In the yard already:
a peony
a lilac
some hosta
a few sedum
snaps that should reseed
a fountain grass
rudbeckia
echinacea (1 white swan and 1 purple)
a daylily
mums
a couple of SAD roses
I got sucked in at kmart and boought a few (or twelve) more packs of seeds. I am obsessed! And I can't stop looking in my neighbors recycling bins! ;)
If you go to their website, they have a list. Try the link below. Good luck with your garden! :)
Here is a link that might be useful: All American Selections Website
I extracted all the veggies:
2008 Eggplant Hansel
2007 PEPPER F1 Holy Mol
2006 PEPPER Mariachi
2006 CARROT Purple Haze
2006 CILANTRO Delfino
2006 PEPPER Carmen
2005 TOMATO Sugary
2005 EGGPLANT Fairy Tale
2005 SQUASH Bonbon
2004 WATERMELON Sweet Beauty
2004 MELON Amy
2004 SQUASH Sunshine
2003 SQUASH Papaya Pear
2003 MELON Angel
2002 PUMPKIN Orange Smoothie
2002 CUCUMBER Diva
2002 SQUASH Bush Delicata (Winter)
2002 PUMPKIN Sorcerer
2002 BASIL Magical Michael
2001 TOMATO Jolly
2001 ONION Super Star
2001 CORN, SWEET Honey Select
2001 PEPPER Giant Marconi
2000 PEPPER Blushing Beauty
2000 CORN, SWEET Indian Summer
2000 CABBAGE Savoy Express
2000 PEA Mr. Big
1999 TOMATO Juliet
1999 WATERMELON New Queen
1999 SQUASH Eight Ball
1999 PUMPKIN Wee-B-Little
1998 BASIL, LEMON Sweet Dani
1998 SWISS CHARD Bright Lights
1997 OKRA Cajun Delight
1997 BASIL, THAI Siam Queen
1997 CABBAGE Dynamo
1994 CUCUMBER Fanfare
1994 TOMATO Big Beef
1993 PUMPKIN Baby Bear
1993 TOMATO Husky Gold
1992 CARROT Thumbelina
1992 DILL Fernleaf
1991 SQUASH Tivoli
1991 WATERMELON Golden Crown
1991 BEAN, SNAP Kentucky Blue (pole)
1990 SQUASH Sun Drops
1990 SQUASH Cream of the Crop
1990 PEPPER Super Cayenne
1990 BEAN, SNAP Derby
1988 PEPPER Super Chili
1988 CUCUMBER Salad Bush
1988 OKRA Burgundy
1988 CORN, SWEET Honey 'N Pearl
1987 PUMPKIN Autumn Gold
1986 CORN, SWEET How Sweet It Is
1986 OKRA Blondy
1985 SQUASH Sunburst
1985 LETTUCE Red Sails
1984 PEA Sugar Ann
1984 TOMATO Celebrity
1983 CUCUMBER Sweet Success
1982 SQUASH Jersey Golden Acorn
1982 SQUASH Peter Pan
1981 PEPPER Gypsy
1980 SQUASH Gold Rush
1979 SQUASH Sweet Mama
1979 SQUASH Early Butternut
1979 PEA Sugar Snap
1979 CUCUMBER Saladin
1979 KOHLRABI Grand Duke
1979 PEPPER Dutch Treat
1978 TOMATO Florimerica
1978 WATERMELON Sweet Favorite
1978 CUCUMBER Liberty
1977 PUMPKIN Spirit
1977 SPINACH Melody
1977 SQUASH Scallopini
1977 CABBAGE Savoy Ace
1975 CAULIFLOWER Snow Crown
1975 WATERMELON Yellow Baby
1975 BROCCOLI Premium Crop
1974 SQUASH Bush Acorn Table King
1974 BEAN, SNAP Goldcrop
1973 SQUASH Aristocrat Zucchini
1972 CABBAGE Ruby Ball
1972 CUCUMBER Victory
1971 CORN, SWEET Early Xtra Sweet
1971 CABBAGE Red Head
1970 TOMATO Small Fry
1970 SQUASH Waltham Butternut
1969 SQUASH St. Pat Scallop
1969 TURNIP Tokyo Cross
1969 CAULIFLOWER Snow King
1969 CABBAGE Stonehead
1969 CABBAGE Harvester Queen
1969 BROCCOLI Green Comet
1969 SQUASH Kindred
1968 CUCUMBER Spartan Valor
1967 PEPPER Bell Boy
1967 TOMATO Spring Giant
1966 SQUASH Gold Nugget
1966 LETTUCE Butter King
1965 SQUASH Chefini
1965 CUCUMBER Triumph
1965 CANTALOUPE Samson
1965 CABBAGE Savoy King
1964 BROCCOLI Zenith
1964 BROCCOLI Cleopatra
1963 SQUASH Greyzini Zucchini
1963 SQUASH Hercules Butternut
1963 LETTUCE Buttercrunch (Bibb)
1963 CABBAGE Emerald Cross
1963 BEAN, SNAP Executive
1960 TURNIP Just Right
1959 BRUSSELS SPROUTS Jade Cross
1959 BEAN, SNAP Gardengreen Snapbean
1958 BEAN, SNAP Choctaw Wax
1958 BEAN, SNAP Pearlgreen
1958 LETTUCE Ruby
1957 SQUASH Black Beauty
1957 RADISH Champion
1957 BEAN, SNAP Greencrop
1957 MUSTARD Greenwave
1957 BEET Ruby Queen
1957 CUCUMBER Smoothie
1956 CARROT Gold Pak
1955 CORN, SWEET Golden Beauty Hybrid
1955 BEAN, SNAP Seminole
1955 CANTALOUPE Pennsweet
1952 BEAN, SNAP Wade
1952 CANTALOUPE Golden Delight
1952 LETTUCE Salad Bowl
1952 PEPPER Vinedale
1952 PUMPKIN Allneck Cushaw
1952 SPINACH America
1952 BEAN, SNAP Stringless Hort Snapbean
1951 TOMATO Urbana
1951 CABBAGE O.S. Cross
1951 CANTALOUPE Granite State
1951 WATERMELON New Hampshire Midget
1951 MUSTARD Prizewinner, C.L.S.
1951 CUCUMBER Surecrop
1951 CORN, SWEET Iochief
1951 CORN, SWEET Golden State
1951 CORN, SWEET Big Mo
1950 SQUASH Unconn
1950 WATERMELON Congo
1950 BEAN, SNAP Topcrop
1949 LETTUCE Premier Great Lakes
1949 SQUASH Caserta
1949 BEAN, LIMA Triumph
1949 CAULIFLOWER Ideal Snowball
1949 CORN, SWEET Flagship
1949 RADISH Cherry Belle
1949 LETTUCE Penlake
1948 ONION Excel Bermuda
1948 PEA Freezonian
1948 BEAN, SNAP Supergreen
1948 BEAN, SNAP Puregold Wax
1948 BEAN, SNAP Cherokee Wax
1948 BEAN, LIMA Peerless
1948 PEA Victory Freezer
1947 BEAN, SNAP Ranger Snapbean
1947 CORN, SWEET Erie
1947 LETTUCE Bronze Beauty
1946 BEAN, SNAP Longreen
1945 BEAN, LIMA Bush Early Market
1945 BEAN, LIMA Bush Fordhook 242
1945 BEAN, SNAP Florida Belle
1945 BEAN, SNAP Improved Commodore
1945 CORN, SWEET Goldengrain Hybrid
1944 BEAN, SNAP Keystonian
1944 CUCUMBER Cubit
1944 LETTUCE Great Lakes
1943 PEPPER Early Pimiento
1943 BEAN, LIMA Cangreen Bush
1943 TOMATO Jubilee
1943 CUCUMBER Marketer
1943 BEAN, SNAP Potomac (pole)
1942 SQUASH Fordhook Zucchini
1942 BEAN, SNAP Medal Refugee
1942 BEAN, SNAP Decatur (pole)
1942 CORN, SWEET Lincoln Hybrid Sweet
1942 CORN, SWEET Topflight Bantam Hybrid Sweet
1942 LETTUCE Cosbert 600
1942 LETTUCE New York PW55
1942 BEAN, SNAP Long Island Longpod
1941 PEPPER Sweet Banana
1941 TOMATO Victor
1941 SQUASH Yankee Hybrid
1941 CORN, SWEET Allegheny Hybrid
1941 BEAN, SNAP Tender Pod
1941 CANTALOUPE Honey Gold
1941 CORN, SWEET Spancross Hybrid
1941 ENDIVE Cos-type Batavian
1941 OKRA Louisiana Green Velvet
1940 TOMATO Mingold
1940 BEAN, LIMA Baby Potato
1940 CORN, SWEET Ioana
1940 ENDIVE Deep-Heart Fringed
1940 PARSLEY Evergreen
1940 PEPPER Fordhook
1939 PEA Top Notch
1939 OKRA White Lightning
1939 OKRA Clemson Spineless
1939 SQUASH Conn. Straightneck
1939 BEAN, SNAP Granda
1939 SQUASH Golden Table Queen
1939 BEAN, SNAP Plentiful
1939 CANTALOUPE Queen of Colorado
1939 CANTALOUPE Wayside Market
1939 CORN, SWEET Ear Pack Bantam 12-Row
1939 EGGPLANT New Hampshire Hybrid
1939 CORN, SWEET Aristogold Bantam No. 1
1938 RADISH Billiard Ball
1938 TOMATO Cardinal
1938 SQUASH Ey. Prolific St'neck
1938 SPINACH Del Monte
1938 CABBAGE Chieftan
1938 PEPPER Rocky Ford
1938 TOMATO Harkness
1938 BEAN, SNAP The Commodore
1938 CABBAGE Sauerkraut King
1938 LETTUCE Spearhead
1938 BEET Perfect Model
1937 SPINACH Darkie
1937 SPINACH Bloomsdale No. 5
1937 SPINACH Resisto
1937 SPINACH Summer Savoy
1937 SPINACH Winter King
1937 PEPPER Windsor A
1937 CARROT Claudia
1937 ONION Yellow Valencia
1937 CABBAGE Earliest of All (Red)
1937 PEA Teton
1937 CARROT Supreme Half-Long
1937 ENDIVE Prizewinner
1937 KOHLRABI Triumph of Prague
1937 LETTUCE Atlantic
1937 PEA Canner King
1937 CABBAGE Moskow Market Pride
1936 TOMATO Penn State
1936 TOMATO Burpee Globe
1936 RADISH Jewel
1936 RADISH Comet
1936 PEA Confidence
1936 PARSLEY Paramount
1936 CORN, SWEET Golden Colonel
1936 BEET Asgrow Canner
1935 PEPPER Asgrow King
1935 RADISH White Pearl
1935 SPINACH Viking
1935 TOMATO Scarlet Dawn
1935 MUSTARD Giant So. Curled, L.S.
1935 CORN, SWEET Hybrid Bantam
1935 CABBAGE Just Right
1935 CUCUMBER Colorado
1935 CUCUMBER Straight-8
1935 LETTUCE L.S. White Boston
1935 CANTALOUPE Imperial
1934 PARSLEY Peerless
1934 RADISH Glowing Ball
1934 CABBAGE Penn State Ballhead
1934 BEET Asgrow Wonder
1934 ENDIVE Batavian Full Heart
1934 BEET Good for All
1934 PEA Little Marvel
1934 BEET Perfected Detroit
1934 CORN, SWEET Stowell's Evg. Hybrid
1934 CARROT Morse's Bunching
1934 CORN, SWEET Kingscrost Bantam
1934 CUCUMBER Barteldes
1933 SPINACH Giant Nobel
1933 TOMATO Pritchard
1933 WATERMELON Graystone
1933 BEET Ohio Canner
1933 CUCUMBER Clark's Special
1933 CARROT Imperator
1933 CANTALOUPE Honey Rock
1933 BEAN, SNAP Asgrow Stringless Green Pod
1933 BEAN, SNAP Asgrow Stringless Black Valentine
1933 CANTALOUPE Improved Perfecto
And I would prefer to start them all indoors because we are still in danger of frost here in Baltimore. then it is too early to start many - depending on what varieties you have.
Again, a list of the seeds you are talking about would be a big help. ;)
Dave
Does anybody know if Icicle lights will produce heat?
Incandescent? Most definitely. In fact, there's someone up here in Iowa who used to have a mature palm tree in the ground -- in Iowa! -- thanks to Christmas lights. Each winter, he trimmed off the side branches, wrapped the whole tree like a column in house insulation, and used christmas lights on the particularly cold times for supplemental heat.
I have a spot gro light, not sure of the watts though - but I do recall directions stating not to put closer than one foot to seedlings - I've got melted plastic seed trays as evidence. At a foot away,they work great and your setup sounds like it will work fine.
It would be better to only plant the bigger ones. Do not overcrowd the garden! Use the spacing recommendations that came with he seeds.
Watermelon, squash, and cucumber sprawl out and take up a lot of space. You could trellis the cucumbers on the north side of the garden to free up some space.
Tomatoes should be supported in cages, stakes or a trellis. Supporting tomatoes will cause them to grow up rather than sprawl out.
Give those extra seedlings to someone else who needs a garden (and who doesn't?).
Jon
Two years ago I set up a table out in front of my house with my extra seedlings on it and just gave them away. And we're not on a major road or anything, and I didn't advertise. Despite not asking for it, some people knocked on the door and insisted on paying us. All of them - hundreds of plants - were gone by the end of the day. Even more obscure plants like amaranth.
It's nice to know that they went to good homes.
Dave, I apologize. I am fairly new to the GW and do not know all the ways to post or where. I was hoping the OT would signal to everyone the intent of the post and seeing it multiple times, one would just ignore it. Some people go to only a few favorite forums so I thought this would be a way to inform most. I must apologize a second time, as I think I may have replied to you in an email. Sorry for the intrusion.Truly. Elizabeth
No need to apologize Elizabeth and I do recognize that your intentions were good ones, just over enthusiastically applied. ;)
But forum SPAM, in any form, is a real problem so please do review Forum Instructions and the forum use guidelines (link below) that we all agree to when we sign-up.
Dave
Some seedlings require warmer temps. Petunias seem to like it more on the warmer side, like 68-70 degrees. Broccoli is a cooler season crop, so they should be happier with the cooler temps. Maybe you could move them to a sunny window upstairs during the day? They may respond well to this.
Sarah