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Post by partndn on Mar 11, 2016 3:19:11 GMT
I've used the newspaper fold cups for starts
and the toilet paper and paper towel tubes also.
I really like the not buying something, but how do you keep mold/mildew fuzzies from growing on them?
Mine are sprouting fine, but I'm sure that stuff could possibly disease the whole crowd?
I hadn't wanted to take the covers off and put a small fan because some are not even poked through, and I thought it would lower the temp too much. I already keep it 60 in my house when I can (it's dang 70 here this week).
Mine are in various containers under a light I leave 24/7
I have one of those ropes of led lights. If I trailed that sorta surrounding them, would it add warmth enough to remove my lids/top covers so that there is more air flow?
What are yall's tips for best conditions for seed starts?
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Mar 12, 2016 1:10:57 GMT
partndn , Several years ago we bought 100 plastic seed pots with holes in the bottom sides. We put a few sheets of toilet paper in the bottoms to keep water from just running out, fill with potting soil, and plant a few seeds in each one, to be thinned out later. Once planted, we cover them with a plastic sheet to hold the moisture in until they sprout. Once they're sprouted we mist them heavily every day, and water them once a week. We have a ceramic heater near the planting tables, and keep it turned up. They don't cost much to run, and keep the temps up enough for germination. We've had very good results this way. I should mention I built 2'x 4' planting tables with 2x4 sides. Then lined them with vinyl, and put plastic "egg crate" ceiling tiles in the bottom for drainage to keep any mold or mildew from building up. Also, I built frames over the tables to hold grow lights. Our grow tables are in the sunroom, so during the day we turn off the grow lights, otherwise they're on. I don't know if you're growing sweet potatoes, but we've been using Forerunner's method for starts for a few years with great results. We skewer a potato with a welding rod through the long side, and suspend it in a 1 gallon jar full of water. After a couple weeks it starts sprouting. When the sprouts are big enough, we dig them out with a spoon, and transfer them to plastic cups full of water, and when they grown roots, transplant them into the garden. We get about 30 plants from each potato.
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Post by partndn on Mar 12, 2016 1:51:59 GMT
Ozarks Tom, Those tables sound like a great set up. I have the stuff to whip that up now, but not a great place in the house to put it. I could do the basement with a warming light maybe. On the taters, how long do you call "roots" right before ready to put in garden? 1/4 inch? 2 inches? then bout how long til you dig em in your area? 4 - 5 months or so? sorry, lotsa questions. 
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Post by Ozarks Tom on Mar 12, 2016 4:28:16 GMT
When the roots are a couple inches long they can go in the ground. We transplanted our into the garden around the end of April last year, harvested in mid September. 30 plants gave us about 180 pounds.
The nice thing about sweet taters is how well they keep. We'll be eating last year's crop right into next harvest.
At tip on preparing them. As they store the skin gets like cowhide hard. Peeling them is impossible with a regular peeler. Throw them in boiling water for about 4 minutes and they'll peel like regular potatoes. Besides baked we do hashbrowns and french fries.
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Post by laurazone5 on Mar 12, 2016 12:44:12 GMT
Started my babies yesterday!!
My gf and I are gonna start a plot at her mamaws.
San Marzono's, Beef Steaks, Zebra Stripes
Paddy Pan Squash, Zucchini, herbs, peppers, spinach.
Cucumbers!!
I will start the melons and such in April!!
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