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Re: Seed Starting -- Comment and Question

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

Thanks, Patricia, for your post.  I'm just getting ready to start cole crops
too, and was wondering how to cool down my baby plants once they've
germinated...maybe in the basement near the boiler?  Anyway, I'm heading out
with my handy-dandy thermometer to do some sleuthing.  Let me know what you
decide to do!

Mary
Appleton, WI


Patricia Santhuff wrote:

> 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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