Starting seeds inside.

[Jessica Ann]

Due to an unfortunate greenhouse incident we shall never speak of I had to come up with a plan B for starting plants indoor.This setup (i saw something similar online)worked great!Ive got heirloom tomatoes & peppers coming out the wazoo and even started onions,strawberries & asparagus from seeds!A 1st for me.The setup cost me about $240 new and has probably already paid for itself in plant costs.super easy all you need is:
Small plug in shop lights.Sorry the pics uploaded sideways.
Bulbs
Shelf unit
Zip ties

The shelf unit I got is plastic and already had holes in the edges.The lights came w/ chains which I threaded up through the shelf & back down and zip tied the chain to itself so all u gotta do to adjust the height is cut the tie and adjust.

 

[bairleafarm]

Looks like a nice setup. Still to early to start seeds here. I did get a order of 100 packs of heirlooms in. Im getting excited and this seed porn youve posted makes me want warm weather now.

 

[old_anorak]

Good looking set up. I normally just start my seeds in the laundry/mud/ utility room, but it's way too early now. I am just hoping for a better season than last year.

 

[Jessica Ann]

Me too although last year was better than the year before.I got about 3 weeks before planting onions & potatoes still gotta get the garden tilled if the rain will cooperate

 

[Bravery]

Very nice Jessica Ann!!! By the way, how did you get all the cups to stay on the shelf? Everytime I try do put my shelves sideways like that everything falls off.

On a serious note... have you looked into the LED grow lights? They are consume a LOT less energy and save money.

I am looking into getting into sprouting seeds and beans. Seeds and sprouts have so much more nutrients than seeds and beans themselves (From what I've been told). I also read that sprouted beans are easier on the system than cooked unsprouted beans.

Thanks for posting those pictures!

 

[Jessica Ann]

No I haven't yet this was kind of a trial test with inexpensive stuff.My aunt sprouts but not beans I think she said alfalfa and something else I don't remember lol

 

[ChickenLittle]

WOW, looks like the makings of a good size garden. Do you recommend sprouting all your seeds inside or just certain plants?

 

[Clyde]

Due to an unfortunate greenhouse incident we shall never speak of I had to come up with a plan B for starting plants indoor.This setup (i saw something similar online)worked great!Ive got heirloom tomatoes & peppers coming out the wazoo and even started onions,strawberries & asparagus from seeds!A 1st for me.The setup cost me about $240 new and has probably already paid for itself in plant costs.super easy all you need is:
Small plug in shop lights.Sorry the pics uploaded sideways.
Bulbs
Shelf unit
Zip ties

The shelf unit I got is plastic and already had holes in the edges.The lights came w/ chains which I threaded up through the shelf & back down and zip tied the chain to itself so all u gotta do to adjust the height is cut the tie and adjust.

That is a cool set up! I might try to employ something like that. My only problem is not in setting it up, but rather I know nothing of gardening.

 

[Jessica Ann]

Certain plants some dont do well after being started like melons.I only have tomatoes,peppers and onions started.Normally for onions you buy the bulbs and plant them & there's no reason to start early but I wanted to try seeds.I guess it depends on your climate.Here it gets too hot for tomatoes to produce by about July so they are the most important for me.most things grow easy and don't need to be started at all,just stick them in the ground and wait,like corn,beans and greens.

 

[Azazelcrey]

Looks like a nice setup. Still to early to start seeds here. I did get a order of 100 packs of heirlooms in. Im getting excited and this seed porn youve posted makes me want warm weather now.

Thats a great setup

 

[Azazelcrey]

 

[TimeTraveler]

I just came home and I have some tomato plants and lots of flowers that are peaking through the soil! Tonight I will soak my pepper seeds and get them started.

I have had an unfortunate event happen some time while I was working this week, my heat lamps BOTH went out on me. I am not sure why, I think we may be using too high wattage bulbs for the lamps so tomorrow were headed to the hardware to seek out some better ones.

IF I have time before I go back to work I am cleaning out my front bed and getting it prepped for the new planting season. I have a ton of greens and broccoli ready to harvest!

 

[Jessica Ann]

Ready to start planting and get this mess out of my garage but it's been too rainy to get the ground broke up ugh.hopefully by Monday it'll be all good.
I have never grown broccoli before.

 

[old_anorak]

Hey Jessica, if I were to ply you with fresh baked snickerdoodles, would you speak of the greenhouse that shall not be spoken of????

 

[jayjay1]

Great set up. I've been using tomato seeds from my gran since she died almost 8 yrs ago -can't beat home grown tomatoes. She got them from Russia (where she was born ). If anyone wants to try some I will send some - just send me a message. No charge either - IMHO they are the nicest, juiciest tomatoes I have ever eaten. I don't have a great abundance, so I will only send 8-10 each request.

 

[Chicknladee]

Jessica Ann, love your seed starting setup. We have nothing nearly as neat as what you have...we have a bunch of shop lights suspended over a couple old desks...we can move the lights up and down depending on the height of the seedlings. We start the seeds on heat mats we purchased eons ago but we've added thermostats (the sensor goes into the soil and turns the mat on/off depending on the temp of the soil). Some seeds like it warmer/cooler than others so we have multiple mats at different temps. We've always used peat pots but I really want to find reuseable pots and you've given me an idea. Did you punch holes in the bottom of your cups so they can drain? I need to get off my tush and start my seeds. I started artichokes last year and had good luck...I mulched them in the garden to try to over-winter them but that is always a crapshoot here in MN. Hubby has hot peppers started already and it is time for me to start getting my bell peppers and tomatoes going!

 

[rdnkbear]

ive been seeing posts about this for a little while now,, Im interested in trying it out,,

 

[Bravery]

Very nice Jessica Ann!!! By the way, how did you get all the cups to stay on the shelf? Everytime I try do put my shelves sideways like that everything falls off.

On a serious note... have you looked into the LED grow lights? They are consume a LOT less energy and save money.

I am looking into getting into sprouting seeds and beans. Seeds and sprouts have so much more nutrients than seeds and beans themselves (From what I've been told). I also read that sprouted beans are easier on the system than cooked unsprouted beans.

Thanks for posting those pictures!

Let me correct myself... LED lights don't consume a lot less energy than fluorescent lighting but they last longer than fluorescents last. Damn ... I hate it when I'm wrong... but I like it when I correct it!