Started Tomatoes

[kyratshooter]

Let us hope no such mistake is ever made.

I would hate to see something that started as tomato seeds wind up with mass casulties.

They really don't want to pi$$ off those chickens!

My "grow lights" are actually the remains of a Aqua Grow system for providing lettace and salid goodies, grown on the kitchen cabinet, through the winter. It is doing a fantastic job on the tomatoes, several of the plants being almost 3" tall at this point.

I must also report that these heritage seeds from Bountiful Gardens have ALL SPROUTED! There was not a bad seed in the bunch.

[hunter63]

[/COLOR]

And in the next episode of Weed Wars we'll ride along with the Kentucky State Police as they raid a commercial growing operation.

"We know they've purchased grow lights and yesterday's recon shows they have at least one trailer, a homemade boat and killer chickens. Watch yourself boys."

No need, just dial in address on Google Maps street view...scary...

[grrlscout]

Uh oh...

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That was back in January, though.

Plus I recently ordered Clonex. I'm definitely on some sort of watchlist now.

[ClayPick]

Here’s mine on the 23rd of last month. Best trick I found is keeping the moisture, temperature and light at a constant level. My light get turned off for 4 hour a night so they can respire.

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[Cast-Iron]

I'm usually too late for starting my own seeds, so I stimulate the local economy by purchasing a few transplants. I just never seem to get my garden routine organized early enough. I did want to ask if you folks were using grow mats to maintain a higher germination temperature, but it looks like you are from the pics. Or am I mistaken?

[ClayPick]

My mat has thermostat sensor in the upper left cell and a temperature probe in the lower right. I use to use a cardboard box with a light bulb in it and a dimmer switch. It worked good to.

[Cast-Iron]

My mat has thermostat sensor in the upper left cell and a temperature probe in the lower right. I use to use a cardboard box with a light bulb in it and a dimmer switch. It worked good to.

That seems like a nice set up. Just to make sure I understand the two probes: is the themostat sensor there to power the heating elements when it falls below a set temperature (and is this temperarure range adjustable?) and is the temperature probe there to record/display current soil temp?

[hunter63]

One word of caution....
I tried a merc-vapor 3000 watt, light with a step up transformer, borrowed for a friend, that ....ah, has "crops".....in his basement.

Was so bright, from the outside of the house, looked like I had a spaceship in my basement, with the light streaming out the windows.
had to block off windows.....

Raised a few eyebrows, and drew so much power, that the timer was cycling every 1-1/2 hour.
Don't use that any more.

[ClayPick]

That seems like a nice set up. Just to make sure I understand the two probes; is the themostat sensor there to power the heating elements when if falls below a set temperature (and is this temperarure range adjustable?) and is the temperature probe there to record/display current soil temp?

You got it. The thermostat for the mat gets set at 75 and I fine tune that by the thermometer. It’s always between 73 and 78

[1stimestar]

Since I live in a pretty small cabin, I don't have room to start plants and buy seedlings from a local nursery, as do most people here. It has been snowing for the last 2 day and we have another 6" forecasted. I want to get out and play in the dirt but spring is coming late this year!

[grrlscout]

I'm usually too late for starting my own seeds, so I stimulate the local economy by purchasing a few transplants. I just never seem to get my garden routine organized early enough. I did want to ask if you folks were using grow mats to maintain a higher germination temperature, but it looks like you are from the pics. Or am I mistaken?

Yes. Some seeds, like peppers and tomatoes, require soil warmer than what the ambient heat in the room provides. I actually have two mats now, and have foamcore under them, to direct the heat more upward. I see Clay has a similar arrangement.

I leave the mats on all the time, but turn the lights off at night. I'd like to add a thermostat or timer in the future.

[ClayPick]

Sunny and 60 finally. My tomatoes are getting potted up and liberated to a small hothouse today. It will be nice to get my windows back.

[birdman6660]

snow and ice finally all gone .. am fillin up my containers with mixed soil ... 8 parts composted hardwood sawdust ( from the old mill site ) 1 part chicken poop 1 part rabbit poop .. I mux 'er all up in my cement mixer followed by a couple frosties !!!

[ClayPick]

I like the cold ones first. It’s like getting my priorities strait and getting the horse before of the cart right away.

[Davidlastink]

can direct sow greens but belive it or not still bad weather here for warmer crops like tomatoes.

[ClayPick]

I forgot to turn on the heater in my tomato house and it got down to -.4 C. Worst hit was Defiant which is a blight resistant hybrid. Only one plants terminal bud survived the rest of them still have suckers, there’s a reason for leaving them on. Most of the leaf growth is lost. A paste type tomato that comes from years of selection fared well with only a bit of frost spackling on the leaves. The biggest surprise was an heirloom, Chocolate. It never got bothered in the least. I’m kicking my *** for letting it happen. Interestingly enough I’m getting some really early fruit set.

[birdman6660]

Well .. finally got all the containers seeded .... im trting to do everything in "portable"containers ... even though Im remote .. I have a place to be way more remote and I would want to take my garden with me if possible .. just tried to post pics using the phone ... cant manage it lol .. will post from lappy !!

[birdman6660]

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ok .. finally got the laptop fired up ... heres the beginnings of the container vegetable garden ...

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[birdman6660]

ok .. finally got the laptop fired up ... heres the beginnings of the container vegetable garden ...

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[birdman6660]

dang .. cant get the doubles outta there ... Oh well .. you get the idea !