The Boxes Have Arrived

Even the UPS man asked what are these?  I told him they were my plant starting lights and he looked at me like what are you talking about!  Isn't it a little early, he said, no I explained that these were for indoors and then we put them outdoors.  He petted Reggie who barks non-stop at him each time his truck pulls up.  You would think Reggie would know him by now!

I am planning on using a sterile synthetic soil because if it has any real dirt in it the seedlings can suffer from a sickness called "damp off."  This is devastating to see happening, watching one plant after the other fall over at the soil line and die,  expensive and not fun to watch.

There are lots of pieces

It's ready to go, each set of lights plugs in separately.

These are the little peat plugs that came with the pans and covers.  It was difficult to find just the trays, it seems everything comes in a kit.

I have decided to use the little peat pots for the very small impatiens seeds.  I filled the container with warm water until they were saturated.

There are only twenty-five seeds of this new introduction so I can't afford to lose any.

I would normally used a sterile synthetic soil and will for some of the other seed starts especially the larger seeds.

The lights are on a timer 14-16 hours is appropriate for seed starting a cover is necessary in the beginning to retain moisture (many years I just used a sheet of plastic).  I do not have a heated pad under these or the seeds would germinate faster.  Lights are adjusted low and will go even lower when the cover is removed (when all the seeds have sprouted).

They are really small but are beginning to sprout!

Wild Thing Impatiens

Hopefully, this is what I'll get!

It's Only The Beginning

The seed starting light stand is on its way and I have placed an order for the seeds from Burpee.  I received many catalogs and went through each one to see where I could order the most seeds at one time rather than paying numerous shipping fees.  For what I needed this year Burpee had the most of what I wanted.

I ordered the narrow four-shelf model which will fit very well in the space that I have available in my basement storage room.  The plant light stand is from http://www.birds-n-garden.com/

For the veggie garden I am going more conservative this year with varieties that I know will perform well.

Baby Leaf Mix (5 gourmet baby lettuces)

Looseleaf Blend (5 loosleaf lettuces)

I find that my family likes the lettuce blends so this is a better choice for me rather than the new single introductions.

Mariachi Pepper (2006 AAS Winner)
Very prolific pepper on the spicy and hot list

I am going to start some old friends like Amaranthus and some new zinnias, impatiens and petunias.

Amaranthus 'Love Lies Bleeding'
I will grow this in full sun this year not overshadowed by grasses.

Amaranthus Green



Zinnia, Zahara Double Fire

Zinnia, Highlight Zahara Yellow

Tidal Wave Petunia Silver (All America Winner 2002)

Impatiens Wild Thing

Well, I am back seed starting after several years of down time.  I didn't think I would take this on again, but this is one of the results of blogging and wanting to try some plants that were not readily available on the market. 

I won't be starting any of the veggies under lights this year, buying already set plants in the spring. but the flowers will take center stage with selections that I have not seen at the nurseries or garden centers.

Seed Starting

My husband decided to get rid of my shop lights that I hadn't used in many years.  I had two forty-eight inch lights that I hung on chains above a long bench in my old old home and my last home.  For many years I started seeds in my basement under these lights, veggies, geraniums, impatiens, petunias, salvia, etc.  I had great fun every year scanning the catalogs and choosing unusual seeds for plants I could not find at the nurseries.

I had a routine, watering each day before I went to work and raising the lights as the plants grew a little higher.  It is important to keep the lights low in the beginning, almost down to the soil, so that they stay short and fat, not tall and spindly. 

This is a nice one with plenty of planting space for me, but it is quite long and I am not sure it will fit in the space I have.

Well, guess what, I have developed a new passion for wanting to grow seeds again, but in a more high tech manner.  While teaching, I used a tiered plant growing system which worked very well with the trays and timer and the ability to move the trays up and down - no chains.

This would probably be the most practical for the space I have.

I think this will be my after Christmas present because they are quite expensive.  Stay tuned, Gardener's Supply has free shipping so this may be my choice.  I just don't know whether to order the one, two or three tier system!