| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| minismith |
Posted - Jan 21 2012 : 8:29:16 PM
Does anyone have ideas or sources for *inexpensive* soil warmers for my seed flats? I have an extra bay in my unheated garage and will have fluorescent lighting, but the garage is often below 60 degrees.
Any suggestions?
Nancy
Naturalized Farmgirl
Live a Savory Life!
http://www.liveasavorylife.com |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Arctic Flower |
Posted - Jan 29 2012 : 4:06:19 PM
Nancy, My houseplants are on wooden slated shelving units with grow lights over each shelf. The top shelf is left empty and is where I start my seeds each spring. The grow light under the top shelf provides the perfect amount of heat for my seed flats and then I hang an additional grow light above the seed flats for light and cover them to retain moisture. Works like a charm.
Farmgirl #2416
Believe in the power of Love! |
| minismith |
Posted - Jan 28 2012 : 7:50:36 PM
Thank you all! I've cleaned out a spot in my garage and suspended a fluorescent light from the garage door opener motor. I still have to create the cover for the shelves to conserve moisture and heat. I hope to be planting by next week. Thank you so much!
Watch for updates on my blog, Savory Jardin, accessible on my website below.
Nancy
Naturalized Farmgirl
Live a Savory Life!
http://www.liveasavorylife.com |
| Pasthyme |
Posted - Jan 25 2012 : 08:49:44 AM
I keep it cheap and recycled. I bought some heating pads at the thrift shop, took off the fabric cover, and have very cheap seedpot heaters. I also use small cat litter boxes from the dollar store as trays to put my seed pots in. Just put the litter box on the heating pad. Easy. When it gets a little warmer out, I made a hoophouse to put the seedlings in. Right now there is a lot of lettuce growing in the hoophouse. I plant lettuce in black plastic garbage cans cut in half crosswise to make 2 planters. Fill will compost and soil mix.
www.pasthymesfashions.webs.com
www.ozarkfolkcenter.com |
| Clumboy |
Posted - Jan 25 2012 : 04:08:04 AM
nancy--there are two types of soil heat cables. first there is a heat mat--which looks like a heating pad. about the same size as well. these warm to about 10 degrees higher than the air temp regardless of what it is. they are not cheap and not that big. i have one because at the time i was hunting it was all i could find locally. the other type is a wire cable with a thermostat on it. this is the type i prefer. i use the wire bakers racks like victoria does, but it put aluminum foil on the shelves and then tape the cable down to it--you just bend it around to fill the space (its quite flexible). this type of cable comes in many lengths--you can also buy a cable with no thermostat, which is cheaper, but unless you know how to add a thermostat to it, i wouldn't recommend it. as long as the root zone is kept warm air temps that drop into the 50s shouldn't bother most plants unless they are quite tender.plants--you could certainly do vicki's method of enclosing the area in plastic--or you can get some floating row cover and lay it over the plants at night. the wire cables with thermostats are not cheap either, but you can buy them in many lengths and they last for years. the small cable i have in my germination box has been around for over 10 years. the main thing is to keep the cables dry when you are not using them so the plastic coating doesn't rot out. greenhouse supply is one of many places that carry them. hope this is helpful--chris
not a boy--long story |
| EastTXFarmgirl |
Posted - Jan 23 2012 : 10:44:41 AM
Nancy I would take a picture of my seed starter so you could get a better idea but we are remodeling the house right now and it is in the back corner of the basement. I can't get to it. I start my seeds every year. The room I use has no heat and often drops into the 40's-50's and my seeds do great in the setup I put together. This is what I used - a 5 shelf stainless steel bakers rack (found at yard sale, they do have them at Walmart), a roll of the thickest clear plastic you can find (the first year I used a clear shower curtain that worked great but a couple of years ago I found a small roll of very clear greenhouse plastic), 4 cheap fluoresent light fixtures (do get the double bulb ones) and a roll of clear packing tape. Measure and cut the plastic to where it drops over the top front about 3 inches, covers the top and all the way to the floor down the back; then do the same to both sides, use the clear tape to secure the sides to the top and back (you will not be able to see the tape after it is pressed down), for the front measure your plastic to about 6 inches back from the front edge so that when you attach it the top you can lift it all the way up and lay it over the top to work in your "little greenhouse". I used some old chains and made hooks out of old wire clothes hangers to attach the lights to the shelves that way I can move my lights up or down during the growing process. When the lights are on and the plastic is down it stays 80 or above. I keep a small thermometer on one of the shelves. I have not ever had to add additional heating. Remember to lift the front cover on very warm days. It will also cut your watering needs in half because the plastic allows for condensation. A couple of years ago I found a multi plug extension cord in the after Christmas sale that allows you to plug in several items but has an on/off switch. Now I just leave my lights on and put a timer on the extension so the off time is automatic. The entire set up, at that time which was about 7 years ago, was less than $25. It works as good if not better than the one my sister paid $300 for at the garden center.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
