I’m starting to plan out my garden for next year and trying to figure out how to get seedlings grown. It seems like we will need to buy warming mats (to keep the temp. constant) and maybe even grow lights (since we are on the north side of a mountain and may not get enough daylight in Feb. and March). But, I don’t want to spend more money or use the energy to power this stuff. Once it gets warm enough outside, we can use our cold frame for starting the seedlings. But, to get the greens, broccoli, kale, and such started in early March, it will be too cold outside, even in the cold frame. What do you all do?
I know seeds supposedly get a better start under lights, etc. Honestly, I just start mine in sunny windows in the house. I have a little indoor greenhouse that’s basically a metal wire shelving unit that has a clear plastic cover that zips up. I keep my seedlings in there to start ’em. I’ve also started them in those clear plastic boxes that fruit (like strawberries) sometimes come in at the grocery store. The plastic keeps it warm (you can see the “sweat”) and the light helps them grow. Someday a real greenhouse, until then for me its sunny windows.
I was wondering the same thing a few weeks ago. I usually start the seeds in their trays on top of the fridge then move them to a sunny window (hope the cat doesn’t knock them down).
I also set up saw horses and plywood in front of the double doors in the heated cellar as they get bigger and keep rotating the pots every day….
There must be an easier way without the expense of the heat mats and lighting.
I’ll see what everyone else has to suggest, it will be interesting.
~Karyn 🙂
It seems you have the ideal place in your house to raise seedlings…. in front of the french doors w/ the trays setting directly on the heated concrete floor for warmth. The question is will Daisy leave them alone?? I’ve grown seedlings under grow lights but as good as your south facing sun exposure is, you should be fine w/ mother nature. I really like Kathie’s idea of plastic wrap to keep the soil moist. I would water/fertilize the seedlings w/ a weak solution of manure tea w/ a fine mister/sprayer.
I have found that my cold frames work well for established plants during the cold temps but not so well for establishing seedlings since they require warmer temps to germinate.
I’d thought about that too, but wondered how much Daisy would try to bother them. And right now our floors are in the 50’s… we just haven’t had enough sun to warm them up. If we had a run of cloudy days I would still need a warming pad. But the french doors would be a good spot.
Ive always been lucky starting the seeds in containers on top of my refrigerator…i assume the heat from any appliance that runs all the time (dvd player , dvr, etc) would have enough heat in it to get them going.
To echo some comments already made. Heat is more important when nothing has poked out of the ground yet.
As for light I’ve lined many window ledges with seedlings in the past. 🙂
I’ve actually used lights the past couple of years. The one advantage to this is that you end up with transplantable seedlings in a very short period of time….so you don’t have to start plants as early.
But, liked you mentioned, I would like to learn more about starting seeds w/o electricity. I have yet to try cold frames.
Will be interested to hear what works for you.
Hi Maria,
I have used various methods over the years but last year tried winter sowing. It worked surprisingly well. http://www.wintersown.org is the website. I plan on continuing to experiment and work my way away from the lights and heat mats.
i just put mine on a sunny ledge and cover with plastic wrap to keep them moist. last year, we had a plastic greenhouse that i used which worked well but the cheap plastic rotted in the hot summer sun.