When to start seeds indoors?

I have tried grow lights. I have tried Plastic enclosed wire rack on wheels thing with lamp heat from bottom and sunlight or incandescent or fluorescent lights overhead. I still got leggy sprouts and then they fell over and died.

I have decided that container size MUST be 6 inch across mouth, at least that much deep. Soil has to be the same as where they are going in the ground (? ideas please). Ideas on how to keep the soil warm, say 68 minimum? mebbe warmer?
 
Starting tomatoes, peppers and eggplant this coming weekend. I bought a couple heat mats for starting seeds off Amazon this time. I used to just let the amish start everything for me but the last few years I have not been getting the varieties I thought I was getting. This past year my Early Girls were in fact Mr. Stripey and my Bradleys turned out to be Wrinkles and my jalapenos were sweet so this year Im all in for starting my own except my candy sweet onions I will still let the Amish start 200 of them for me.
 
I'm a week or so behind were I hoped to be but Im starting our seeds this Saturday indoors. Finally found a light that was priced fair and that should help the issues I experienced last year. 4 foot long 5500 lumen 5000 kelvin...LED...bought two of them to hang side by side over planter trays. Going to build wood frame that allows us to raise lights as plants grow.
Will report back on how it goes. The one south facing window we have just doesnt provide enough direct sunlight.
 
DoubleRidge said:
I'm a week or so behind were I hoped to be but Im starting our seeds this Saturday indoors. Finally found a light that was priced fair and that should help the issues I experienced last year. 4 foot long 5500 lumen 5000 kelvin...LED...bought two of them to hang side by side over planter trays. Going to build wood frame that allows us to raise lights as plants grow.
Will report back on how it goes. The one south facing window we have just doesnt provide enough direct sunlight.
Click to expand...
For my plant grow stand I got a 36inx14x70 5shelf wire rack on wheels from SAMS, then wrapped 3 sides in reflective mylar(those emergency blankets). Ordered a package of 6 - 3ft grow lights from Amazon currently using 3. Rigged up paracord so I could raise and lower lights over the seed trays. Lights are bigger and better than what I had last year too. Also using heat pads under trays. Attached a 6 outlet power strip on the middle shelf with a timer and lights are plugged into timer. Attached a 5 outlet power strip and plugged in the heat pads to it with no timer. I did remove the backside light deflector/shield off the light frame this gets reflected back to the seed trays for more coverage.
 
Forvols said:
For my plant grow stand I got a 36inx14x70 5shelf wire rack on wheels from SAMS, then wrapped 3 sides in reflective mylar(those emergency blankets). Ordered a package of 6 - 3ft grow lights from Amazon currently using 3. Rigged up paracord so I could raise and lower lights over the seed trays. Lights are bigger and better than what I had last year too. Also using heat pads under trays. Attached a 6 outlet power strip on the middle shelf with a timer and lights are plugged into timer. Attached a 5 outlet power strip and plugged in the heat pads to it with no timer. I did remove the backside light deflector/shield off the light frame this gets reflected back to the seed trays for more coverage.
Click to expand...
Nice! Sounds like a great set up! I will need to add some reflective panels or mylar and I do have one heat pad but will likely add another....dont have a timer yet....how long are you running lights? 12 on 8 off? Or?
 
Ive been running 12 on and 12 off for lights and 12 to 14 on heat pad. I do have the domes over my seed trays for now. The mylar blankets were cheap I got 6 of them for I think 8 bucks very thin and I need 1.5 to do 3 sides of my grow stand here is a picture. I still need to route my cords better. May add another light to each shelf, I like that its on wheels so I can roll it to wherever. Right now I have it in an extra bedroom. Here is a few articles regarding running grow lights, Most everything I have read recommends 12-16hrs of lights on, then adjust by how the seedlings are doing. Im going to get a timer for the heat pads too.

getbusygardening.com

When & How To Use Grow Lights For Seedlings - Get Busy Gardening

It's super important to use grow lights for your seedlings. Learn about the best bulbs to use, when to turn them, for how long, and much more!
getbusygardening.com getbusygardening.com

Best Time To Run Grow Lights – Night Or Day?

gardeningwithallie.com gardeningwithallie.com
 

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Forvols said:
Ive been running 12 on and 12 off for lights and 12 to 14 on heat pad. I do have the domes over my seed trays for now. The mylar blankets were cheap I got 6 of them for I think 8 bucks very thin and I need 1.5 to do 3 sides of my grow stand here is a picture. I still need to route my cords better. May add another light to each shelf, I like that its on wheels so I can roll it to wherever. Right now I have it in an extra bedroom. Here is a few articles regarding running grow lights, Most everything I have read recommends 12-16hrs of lights on, then adjust by how the seedlings are doing. Im going to get a timer for the heat pads too.

getbusygardening.com

When & How To Use Grow Lights For Seedlings - Get Busy Gardening

It's super important to use grow lights for your seedlings. Learn about the best bulbs to use, when to turn them, for how long, and much more!
getbusygardening.com getbusygardening.com

Best Time To Run Grow Lights – Night Or Day?

gardeningwithallie.com gardeningwithallie.com
Click to expand...
Nice set up...appreciate the info...just noticed my math was off with 12 on 8 off LOL....but 12 to 16 on makes sense and adjust based off how seedings are doing.
I do have a heat pad under my tomatoe tray until it germinates.
 
this is my first year trying my own seeds. I have as of now, 50 diff heirloom tomato's planted (cherokee purple, pink belguim, brandywine, and ??) I put 2 seeds per container (eggcrate style) and planned to pull one if both come up. So far each on has two sprouts. Right now i have a low watt heat lamp on them, trying to keep them around 70 degrees.

they have been planted for 1 wk and are now coming up. I am not sure what to expect, but i hope they work out.. I'll buy them from a greenhouse before I spend all day moving them around to find sunlight :)
 
Got all mine planted Thursday. Couldn't find my mortgage lifter seeds I just bought 😡. But I planted my Cherokee purples and yellow brandywines. Sitting at the window with my chestnut seedlings
 

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