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Posted: Mar/03/2009 5:37 AM PST
I was wondering if there are any gardeners on site that are in the zone 6 area that start there own vegetable plants from seed and how soon do they start there various seed plantings. Do they use heated mats and grow lights as I do, and if so what temp do you set your mats at? How do you time your grow lights? I just started to do my own seed planting last season with some success but had problems with the seedlings after they were two to three inches tall. it seamed as though I couldn't get them to transplant to larger pots and survive as well. I had to move them from my basement under the grow lights to my house in a west exposed window. I'm not sure as to what temperature needs to be maintained. Perhaps someone on this site can give me some pointers. |
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Posted: Mar/03/2009 5:58 AM PST
I also live in zone 6 Ruth. I have started my tomatoes, peppers two weeks ago. I made a hot box (dont know how else to explain it). Eight feet long, three feet high. Made it out of 2 X 4s' and paneled the sides. I use a heat lamp but my the pots are not on the ground, they are raised up a little. The heat lamp is not directly on the seedlings, im just warming up the soil from underneath it. They have emerged and doing quite well. I will keep them in there for about 5 more weeks. I will then begin to harden them off. Take them out for a few hours a day to build their strength up. I use peat pots so I can just plant the whole pot in the ground when it is time. I do plant from the bottom of the leaf start and so far no problems. I have learned when it comes to gardening, there are SO many ways a person can trial an error. By far, I am not that good but I think if I hadnt had trial an error I wouldnt have learned better ways.. Goodluck and I hope in some way I could help. sincerely, tracie |
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Posted: Mar/03/2009 6:36 AM PST
Tracie: I do know what you are talking about as far as a hot box is concerned. I start my seeds in my basement on a table that my husband built last year it is 4'X8' we have two 4' heated mats and place the flats over them for heating the soil, and grow lights are hanging over them. What we did last year was to transplant the seedlings after they were about three inches tall into peat pots. Because the plants are in the basement they have to be moved upstairs in our house to continue growing. I would love to move them outside but we don't have a cold frame or a greenhouse so our upstairs is our greenhouse. I haven't started my seeds yet. I'm trying to wait a little longer to start them so I can perhaps move the transplants outside during the good days and just bring them in for overnight. Also I probably should have said we are between zone 6&7 it's a little colder here in the central part of NJ. |
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Posted: Mar/03/2009 12:31 PM PST
Just a thought Ruth. Something I saw somewhere and just slightly from my own experience which isn't much. As I read what you said the plants fail after you have transplanted outside and they are in peat pots. Myself I had problems yrs ago with peat pots not breaking down well in the ground. I quit using them. I saw the other day that a person when transplanting peat pots would tear off the bottom of the pot so the roots could spread and grow better. I'm thinking I will try it myself. Harding a few hours a day 1st sounds good too. |
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Posted: Mar/03/2009 10:52 PM PST
I tear off the bottom and it does help!! |
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Posted: Mar/04/2009 6:18 AM PST
Yes, I should have mentioned that tearing off the bottom helps big time! OOps! 
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Posted: Mar/04/2009 6:46 AM PST
I'm really not having a problem with planting in the garden. I usually remove the pots entirely when planting. I should have explained myself a little better, My problem is with transplanting the seedlings to larger pots and moving them from the growing table to my upstairs. That's when I start to experience plant failure,not all but some I'm not sure if it's the potting soil or to much fertilizer. I'm going to try mixing my potting soil with some bone meal and 10 10 10 fertilizer this year. Last year I was using a water soluble fertilizer and I think it was to strong. I'm not sure but I could have had some watering issues also. |
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Posted: Mar/04/2009 2:02 PM PST
Quote: Originally posted by Ruthm44 I'm really not having a problem with planting in the garden. I usually remove the pots entirely when planting.I should have explained myself a little better, My problem is with transplanting the seedlings to larger pots and moving them from the growing table to my upstairs. That's when I start to experience plant failure,not all but some I'm not sure if it's the potting soil or to much fertilizer. I'm going to try mixing my potting soil with some bone meal and 10 10 10 fertilizer this year. Last year I was using a water soluble fertilizer and I think it was to strong. I'm not sure but I could have had some watering issues also. sounds exactly like our set up Ruth...we have a 4x8 table in the basement, use two 4' heat mats. The heat underneath, it varies, the mats we have raise the temp to about 20° above the room (ambient) temp. As for failure afterwards, first, Don't transplant them, then feed them right away...lukewarm water, give them a few days, then a half strength solution of your preferred ferts. What type osf potting soil are you using? It's very hard around here, to find medium that hasn't got fertilizer added, which is sad, because when you are starting the seeds, they don't need any food, until they set their first true leaves. We travel to a seedsmans store, pay a premium for our mix, but it's great stuff Are they wilting, falling over, looked "pinched" at the base, could be damping off... Plain old, generic cinnamon, sprinkled on the surface, and that will no longer be a problem |
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Posted: Mar/04/2009 2:41 PM PST
Ok pharmerphil sounds like we do have the same setup, then I guess I shouldn't mix any fertilizer with my potting mix. after the plants are up and have two leaves should I feed them then? As far as transplanting I will wait till they are a few days older before feeding with any plant food. I will probably use Neptune's Harvest as a foliar spray. I have been using it on my herbs indoors and they have perked up wonderfully, I also use it on my garlic when the greens are up. Also it's OMRI listed so I feel safe using it. Do you feel bone meal is good to use for seedlings? such as peppers,tomato's and eggplant. |
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Posted: Mar/06/2009 5:45 AM PST
Quote: Originally posted by Ruthm44 Ok pharmerphil sounds like we do have the same setup, then I guess I shouldn't mix any fertilizer with my potting mix. after the plants are up and have two leaves should I feed them then? As far as transplanting I will wait till they are a few days older before feeding with any plant food. I will probably use Neptune's Harvest as a foliar spray. I have been using it on my herbs indoors and they have perked up wonderfully, I also use it on my garlic when the greens are up. Also it's OMRI listed so I feel safe using it.Do you feel bone meal is good to use for seedlings? such as peppers,tomato's and eggplant. bonemeal is very good, but I apply it when I set plants out. Neptunes Harvest is very good, and yes, as soon as your plants have their first true leaves. I have many natural recipes for garden problems, I make our own garlic spray Now, a lesson I learned many years ago... I was a young man, and while visiting a greenhouse, I spied a Lovely Young Hippie girl...Transplanting tomatoes... She smiled and blushed, thinking my attention was on Her.. However, It was what she was doing..(although she was very pretty) She had these wooden flats, with at least 500 tomato seedlings, about 1 1/2 inches tall.. She wouls SLAM these trays against the table, turn them over and spill out the seedlings, soil mix and all, then quick as could be, she's pick these up, toss them into 6 packs and then spill soil around them and thumb the soil around the seedlings... So, after I'd watched awhile, I asked, "how many make it after you transplant"..she said usually everyone...and she could do several thousand a day this way... So, I got Good advice a new "attitude" about handling the seedlings (which before I handled like NITRO) oh, and I also...got a date!! 
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