FW: How do you do that?



-----Original Message-----
From: Grem, Beth A 
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 1999 2:53 PM
To: 'Gareth Bramley'
Subject: RE: How do you do that?


Hi Michelle,

  How's the weather up there today?  We just have rain (St Mary's county).
I start all my seeds in plastic 6-packs .  I use Schultz's soiless potting
mix (pre-wetted- it is really tough to wet the stuff after planting seeds).
I plant 2 seeds per cell, cover with a baggie and set on my water heater.
Obviously, I only start a few things at a time-my water heater isn't that
big!!  I start seeds in spring for outside planting the same way.    As soon
as the seed's sprout, I move them 2" under fluorescent lights for 16 hours a
day (shop light fixtures that hold 2 tubes.  I have 2 suspended from the
basement rafters by chains so that I can raise them.  Soon to have 4!  I use
an old folding table for setting plants on).  One thing I've learned is if
you don't give them enough light or it's too warm (greater than 67 degrees)
they get long and leggy and weak (been there, done that). 
   When they have their true leaves, I transplant to individual 4" pots.
This is big enough for the herbs for winter use.  I pinch back the basil to
keep it short and bushy. Oregano is already short and bushy.  My 2 fixture
setup has room for 2'x 4' area under lights.  I use a short, wide pot for
lettuce and seed thickly (1 seed per inch) to harvest young.  I'm now trying
carrots and swiss chard in 8" pots.  That's about it. Theoretically, there
is not enough light under tubes for a tomato plant to grow fruit, so I may
hike mine upstairs to sit in a sunny south window all day and downstairs
lights at nite. (this is when my roommate starts to think I'm loony- oh
well) 
  Well, I guess I've rambled long enough.  

Beth (MD zone 7)

-----Original Message-----
From: Gareth Bramley [a*@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, January 14, 1999 10:27 AM
To: veggie-list@eskimo.com; GremEA@navair.navy.mil
Subject: How do you do that?


I know a little about what you're supposed to do start seed inside. What 
I'm wondering is, how many flats do you have set up for all that stuff? 
And how many lights? Can you give me particulars?

Greetings from Northern Maryland, btw. I live in Carroll County!

Michelle
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