Economical seed starting contraption
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Economical seed starting contraption
- From: D* M*
- Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2001 22:41:03 -0500
Since at least some of us are still starting seeds for the year, I'd
like to share a nifty (at least to me) little seed starting tray that
seems to work well for me. It allows the seedlings to benefit from
higher outdoor light levels.
You can see it at: http://www.execpc.com/~llmen/startingtrayduo.jpg
Basically, it consists of 2, 70qt semi-transparent underbed storage
boxes (about 20 x 36 inches) - I got mine at Home Depot for about $12
each. Them come with opaque covers, but those aren't used.
I place the tray on top of an inexpensive waterbed heater which is,
in turn, placed on a thick piece of plywood.. I put about 1 inch of
water in the bottom tray and invert 1 or 2 of those 10x20 inch
plastic seedling trays (the ones that hold 4-6paks of plantlets) in
the bottom of the storage box and on top of the inverted tray, I
place my pots of seeds to be started.
The other storage box is used at the top and is kept in place by a
wooden piece on each side. An small digital thermometer (Radio
Shack) monitors the temperature - the readout can even be brought
through a nearby window for easy monitoring from the recliner. The
water in the tray helps to maintain a more even temperature, but even
so, if the tray receives a lot of sunlight or the outside temperature
gets too warm, the top should be removed so as not to cook the seeds.
I've been keeping this on my screened in front porch, but this
probably could be used out side, as long as the heater control was
protected from rain.
--
Don Martinson
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
l*@execpc.com
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