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Seed Starting -- Comment and Question

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html


Well, folks, I'm about to start some seeds. ::sigh:: It's the bane of my
existence. Maybe some of you remember my problems in the fall. I now
believe if I ever get this seed-starting down, everything else about
gardening will be a snap. (Okay, I exaggerate. Slightly.)

Anyway, in the fall my broccoli and cabbage and kale all got terribly
leggy, despite the fact that I had them snuggled up to (even touching) the
grow-light. Despite efforts from this list to help, nothing did, altho one
idea -- to transplant them deeper -- did help a bit, but it didn't solve
the initial problem.

FINALLY last night as I was reading various books in preparation for
starting these seeds, one little piece of information jumped out at me, and
I thought I'd share it. This is from "From Seed to Bloom" by  Eileen Powell
(p. 10):

>>Once seeds have germinated, they prefer a temperature kept constantly
around 60 degrees F; sturdier plants will be produced at this moderate
temperature. Sufficient light is also essential for strong, healthy
development of seedlings. Once seedlings have sprouted, the containers
should be placed in a bright location, but not in strong sunlight. Although
a south-facing window will do, it is not ideal. Plants that have been grown
in even a sunny window MAY BECOME SPINDLY DUE TO RECEIVING TOO MUCH HEAT IN
RELATION TO LIGHT. Also, without added insulation, the nighttime
temperature next to your windows may drop too drastically for the plants'
liking.<<

I think that's it -- my problem was too much heat. If plants prefer 60
degrees, our indoor temp is always around 70 degrees at this time of the
year. My family would throw me out if I tried to turn the thermostat down
to 60. Yikes -- I'd try to run away from home myself! I doubt in the very
early fall that the nighttime temps were an issue, so that leaves my
too-warm room in a bright south-facing window with some direct sunlight
during mid-day.

Now, the question.

What do I do NOW? (boohooooooo) I was going to put them in the garage with
some bigger grow-lights once they sprouted, but we've had a cold snap and
it's way cooler out there than 60 degrees -- in fact, the temps fluctuate
quite a bit. The only room in the house that may be cool enough is a
bathroom in the basement, and there's NO room in there for them, altho as
we speak I'm checking the temp just outside the bathroom. 

What do ya'll do? I have to believe this seed-starting business CAN be done
--  everyone else seems to start seeds with no problems, and I sure can't
understand why I'm having all these problems *getting it.* I surely can't
see buying a space heater for the garage -- and OTOH, here in zone 7b,
sometimes it gets warmer than 60 during the day. We had nearly 70 just the
other day. Do I need one of those rubber mats that have wires running
through them to heat things up? 

I'm REALLY frustrated here, and need some good ideas. Help???????

Patricia

P.S. Without some good ideas from ya'll, the only other idea I can come up
with is to just FORGET IT. Buy seedlings, maybe. But I DON'T want to do
that.


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