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Seed Starting Sticky! Please post your questions and answers here! - Page 4

post #61 of 111
3/1/09 at 7:13pm
Onions!!!

I'm a zone 4, I think (in vermont). According to our local feed store we should plant outside memmorial day weekend.

So what about onions and leeks? I've never planted them before. Should I start both inside?

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post #62 of 111
3/2/09 at 5:21pm
Okay my question for the day; I have started my onions ans aparagus seeds. I covered the onions with foil until they sprout, was this right or should I have left them exposed to the lights?
post #63 of 111
3/2/09 at 5:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blooming View Post
Okay my question for the day; I have started my onions ans aparagus seeds. I covered the onions with foil until they sprout, was this right or should I have left them exposed to the lights?
I think onions are supposed to be in the dark. I don't know about asparagus. The onion seeds I planted 6 days ago started to sprout yesterday.
post #64 of 111
3/2/09 at 6:09pm
oops, they've been under the lights all day.
post #65 of 111
3/2/09 at 11:17pm
I think they germinate with day length. Anybody know for sure. I didn't cover mine and they are up fine, actually better than I expected with winter sowing them, esp. the ones that were a few years old.
post #66 of 111
3/9/09 at 11:48pm
I'm pretty sure I've asked it before...but I just can't find the answer.


How long should I leave my heating pad on for tomatoes and peppers? I know I need to leave the light on for about 15 hours.
post #67 of 111
3/9/09 at 11:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by notwonamesalike View Post
I'm pretty sure I've asked it before...but I just can't find the answer.


How long should I leave my heating pad on for tomatoes and peppers? I know I need to leave the light on for about 15 hours.
Just until they germinate.
post #68 of 111
3/10/09 at 12:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by FarmerCathy View Post
Just until they germinate.

So non-stop until that happens, yes? I don't turn it on and off with the light? Sorry for my denseness. :0
post #69 of 111
3/10/09 at 1:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by notwonamesalike View Post
So non-stop until that happens, yes? I don't turn it on and off with the light? Sorry for my denseness. :0
Yep, non-stop. No problem.
post #70 of 111
3/10/09 at 3:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by notwonamesalike View Post
So non-stop until that happens, yes? I don't turn it on and off with the light? Sorry for my denseness. :0
You can leave it on all day, or do it with the timer/lights. Unless where you're seed starting has an ambient temp of less than 50* or something. And yeah, until they're germinated and you have cute little baby greenery to pet.
post #71 of 111
3/10/09 at 4:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lmonter View Post
You can leave it on all day, or do it with the timer/lights. Unless where you're seed starting has an ambient temp of less than 50* or something. And yeah, until they're germinated and you have cute little baby greenery to pet.
Guess what? I've got greenery to pet! Wheeeeeeee!

: http://farminginsuburbia.blogspot.com/ :
post #72 of 111
3/14/09 at 1:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by FarmerCathy View Post
Just until they germinate.
Okay, here's a REAL absolute beginner question. How do you know when they germinate? Doesn't that happen underground? Or is it when they pop through to the surface? I guess I'm unclear on the definition.

Also, if yogurt cups are bad, can you use old cans for this? Like soup or bean cans?

I'm doing this all for the first time his year . . .
post #73 of 111
3/14/09 at 3:51pm
I guess I just count germination as when I see for sure two little baby plant eaves. Eh, whatever floats your boat.

The reason why yogurt cups earned my curses was because the roots stuck to the non-slick inside of the cup (thus effectively killing more than half the roots) and because my yogurt cups weren't flexible enough to get all the dirt/root out in one piece. Which led to more root issues. I think soup/bean cans (if tin/metal) would most likely have the same problem.

If it's money that's tight, have you thought about using just plastic cups like Solo or something? You know, the ones that you always see in movies at parties with beer and such. Just poke a few holes in the bottom or on the sides just above the bottom, and viola! The cups are super flexible, inexpensive (less than $3/package I think?), *and* you can write the variety name on the side of the cup with a Sharpie to boot.
post #74 of 111
3/14/09 at 5:23pm
Imonter- I like the plastic cup idea.

(I have never planted onions) So my onions have come up! They are all 2-3 inches tall. Some of them still have the seed head attached. Should I move them a bit now? Or should I trim their heads?

I'm concerned because some of them have begun lying down. I really don't want them to die!
post #75 of 111
3/14/09 at 5:26pm
You can thin 'em out a little if you want, or add a little extra soil on top to help 'em stand up a little. Not sure I'd give them a haircut quite yet though...
post #76 of 111
3/16/09 at 12:10am
I just got my lights and got most of my plants started (zone 5/6) a little late. I forgot to get the eye screws to hang up my light in the basement, so for tonight they are by my window (north facing but nowhere else to put them). My heating pad isn't big enough and turns off after 20 minutes. Will they be ok for tonight? My fridge is freezing on top of it, not warm like I thought it was supposed to be, and so is my water heater.

For the grow lights, I just got a shop light with 2-32w (all it will take) cool white light fluorescent bulbs. Is that alright? I got it from walmart because that's all that's open here until Tuesday.
post #77 of 111
3/16/09 at 1:08pm

confused about lettuce.

So my husband planted some lettuce following Mel Bartholomews advice for 10-20 seeds.

He planted them in small 3 inch containers and they've been in our garage under the lights and on a heating pad. Coming up quite nicely.

My question is about thinning.

Each pot is now FULL of sprouted seeds. Do we just plant the whole thing into the square foot garden, or do we need to thin each small 3 inch pot down to one sprout?

I don't know who lettuce comes up.

I feel like such a gardening Newb. (Oh wait, I am.)
post #78 of 111
3/18/09 at 5:30pm
I am blissfully dreaming of a seed order that should come in soon. My oldest daughter though talked me into getting her these little sun flower seed cups. We followed the directions, and put two under a grow light, one in a afternoon indirect sun window, and one in a morning sun window. All with the covers on as directed. They all seem to have spidery white mold/fungus on them now a week after.

Can I fix this? These where going to go next to veggies outside and I worried it would spread specially as I have no idea what it is.

Help!
post #79 of 111
3/28/09 at 3:40pm

judging seed starting numbers???

Hi,
If I want to end up with 9 pepper plants, how many seeds do I start? I'm assuming there is some loss due to those that don't germinate and some loss when transplanting, so how many should I start?

I'm finding this question to be difficult for all the indoor start things...tomatoes, parsley, etc.

thanks!
Kerry in Ottawa (nak with a feverish babe)
post #80 of 111
3/28/09 at 3:42pm

container size?

Hi,
Can someone explain the value of starting in small containers? If the packet says to start and then transplant to 2inch cells, and then to 4 inch and then to 6 inch - why not just start in 6 inch and save the work of transplanting?

Thanks so much!
take care,
Kerry in Ottawa (nak with a feverish babe - really needing this to be a minimum of work)
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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › Natural Family Living › Diggin in the Earth › Seed Starting Sticky! Please post your questions and answers here!