for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

NFT: BBI gardeners- anyone start their *vegetable* plants indoors

jcn56 : 2/25/2017 10:00 am
Notice I state vegetable - I've been able to find a lot of good resources online for growing things indoors, but mostly of the green leafy variety (NTTAWWT, but not what I'm looking for).

Was thinking of starting from seeds this year, and would probably have to get going soon, if not immediately. Been looking at a number of different items, grow lights, tents, germination trays - but not sure how everything slaps together.

Was hoping to start some cukes, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers and zukes from seeds, in addition to some herbs (yes, I know).

Anyone doing this today?
I start my plants indoors, including flowers  
VTDAD : 2/25/2017 10:59 am : link
I don't think you need to start cukes and summer squash early. they grow fast once the soil is warm.

Up here in the Great White North, I plan on getting my tender plants in the ground around Memorial Day and I use black mulch to warm the soil. That means starting them around town meeting day.

For lighting, I use 4 foot shop lights... on a timer for about 18-20 hours a day.

Feel free to email me off-list if you want to discuss more. Good luck
I'm also doing this  
mainiac : 2/25/2017 12:16 pm : link
and VTDAD's advice is the way to go imo. Fluorescent shop lights or cfls do a fine job (don't use incandescent), and are cheaper to buy than official grow lights whether traditional or LED. The fluorescents will also cost nearly the same to operate. Fluorescents are most effective when close to the plants (6" or so). Tall plants may not respond as well, so some people arrange shop lights vertically on the walls of their grow area to deal with this. No lights will penetrate foliage as well as the sun, so be aware of that also.

If you're on a budget, you can get some "panda sheeting" (black on one side and white on the other) and make your own "tent" rather than buy one. I just sectioned off a few feet of a basement corner and fastened the sheeting to the joists and let if hang loose to the floor. The white faces inside and proves great light retention.

If you don't mind spending, then a 400w HID light with ballast will do a great job on 4' by 4' area, especially with the height difference in some of your plants. You can stretch it to a bigger area, but the edges may not get enough light (I'm trying basil, oregano, green onions etc in these areas to see if I can use the areas with less light for something).

Also, as I'm sure you're aware, temp is important...but humidity is just as important. Inside a tent can get humid sometimes, and you end up with mold on your soil, then your plants. Experiment and have fun with it!
and to clarify...  
mainiac : 2/25/2017 12:20 pm : link
if you're only starting them indoors and then transferring them outside then you probably don't even need a tent (unless you're plan on growing them for a month or more indoors).

The main concern if transplanting outside would be shock from different temp/light cycle, soil moisture retention, etc. I go start to finish indoors, so ask around about keeping your plants healthy when moving them outside.
Just built an addition that also adds a new basement room-  
Del Shofner : 2/25/2017 1:50 pm : link
I plan to start with this in a month or so - will read this thread with interest...
I'm missing the quotes an insinuations  
pjcas18 : 2/25/2017 1:57 pm : link
but I started tomatoes and green beans from a pack of seeds last year around mid-to late march and just put them in 3 foot planters on tray tables near my window large sun room window that gets a lot of sun.

I was amazed at how well they grew. I transplanted most into my garden weekend after Memorial Day. I brought the tray tables out for a few hours a day to get them used to the wind and changing temps and brought them back in at night..for a bout a week before planting.

The pack of seeds cost maybe $2 each, and yielded more plants than I could fit in my garden. I used to go to Lowe's or a garden center and buy plants to put in the ground and I'd spend around $100 (but I got more variety of plants).

Anyway, I'm doing it again this year with more variety of veggies.

If you mean weed I have no advice....yet, but living in MA I'm legally allowed to grow 4 plants and I'm planning to this year since for now at least it's legal in the state. I don't think I'll start them inside though or use grow lights or anything, just find some decent seeds and plant right in the ground. Separate from my veggies. I don't want to wind up with tomacco (Simpsons reference).
Thanks all - pj, I meant that when I ask  
jcn56 : 2/25/2017 2:30 pm : link
the implication seems to be that the advise is for weed and not anything else.

There's a pretty big hydroponics store walking distance from my house, and when I said vegetables the guy said 'right, "vegetables"'. I'm just assuming that the advice isn't transferable, and while I don't mind people growing whatever they want in the privacy of their own home, the advice doesn't help me any.
RE: Thanks all - pj, I meant that when I ask  
pjcas18 : 2/25/2017 2:36 pm : link
In comment 13371285 jcn56 said:
Quote:
the implication seems to be that the advise is for weed and not anything else.

There's a pretty big hydroponics store walking distance from my house, and when I said vegetables the guy said 'right, "vegetables"'. I'm just assuming that the advice isn't transferable, and while I don't mind people growing whatever they want in the privacy of their own home, the advice doesn't help me any.


well like I said I didn't use any grow-lights, fancy plant food or anything else. I had a few packs of seeds, three planters and placed them in a location that got a lot of sun.

that was it and the best crop yield I've ever had. I also used raised beds for the first time this year so the rabbits couldn't get to the plants as they were growing. In the past rabbits ate all my green bean plants, eggplants, cucumbers, atc, but for some reason wouldn't touch the tomatoes.

Anyway, that's all I did, so if you have a room that gets good sun and some tray tables to place the planters on, some good soil and start with that, very low cost way to start and it worked really well for me.

My problem is I'm growing them in the basement  
jcn56 : 2/25/2017 2:58 pm : link
where there'll be limited natural light. The temperature is fine (like the rest of the house, lowest it'll go is 72), but not enough light.

I'll go with a couple of shop lights and see how that goes. I've seen all kinds of crazy tent setups with high powered LED and CFL lights, but I'm assuming I don't need that for vegetables. Might go with one of the smaller LEDs just for the sake of space. They have germination kits where they have a 50-75 pods with compressed soil that you just add water and seeds to, probably going to start there and see how it goes. Only thing I figure I'll need is a rack, since I don't have a lot of space and I want to get at least 2-3 of those trays going (not sure how many will be viable to transport when the spring rolls around).
One question I forgot to ask - when did you guys plant?  
jcn56 : 2/25/2017 2:59 pm : link
I found conflicting advice. One said 8 weeks before the first frost (which would make me about 2-3 weeks late), and the other said 4 weeks (which puts me 2 weeks early). I figure the only trouble from planting too early would be larger seedlings that need to be transported while it's still actually too cold outside.
RE: One question I forgot to ask - when did you guys plant?  
pjcas18 : 2/25/2017 3:12 pm : link
In comment 13371323 jcn56 said:
Quote:
I found conflicting advice. One said 8 weeks before the first frost (which would make me about 2-3 weeks late), and the other said 4 weeks (which puts me 2 weeks early). I figure the only trouble from planting too early would be larger seedlings that need to be transported while it's still actually too cold outside.


I did mid-to-late March for both the tomatoes and green beans

Keep in mind you can plant seeds in the ground in the Northeast after the last frost, you plant seeds inside and then transplant the plants outside after Memorial Day you're just getting a head start on the growing.

I built a rack in my basement  
oghwga : 2/25/2017 3:15 pm : link
I grow microgreens and herbs and start my seeds. I use a heated grow mat and have 2 shop lights on a 12 hour timer. You can buy grow light fluorescent rubes that work well.

Leave the lights as close to the plants as you can without them actually touching. If I wasn't so lazy I'd post a picture.

I hang the lights from the ceiling and adjust them up and down with rope and eye hooks.
The same advice for pot is good for seeds although you need less light for seedlings because you put them outside once they're big enough. Shop lights are more than adequate for that.
I believe you are too early  
I Love Clams Casino : 2/25/2017 3:16 pm : link
You need to be able to take the plants out of their containers once they have outgrown them, so, no matter what anybody has told you in the past, size matters.

You can transplant them only after all danger of frost has passed, or before.....if you're willing to do some quick maintenance the night before frost is announced by covering them somehow. The guage that has never failed me for determining the last frost date is planting post- Mother's Day.....If your containers are the seed starting type, where ther are 70-80 seed containers or pods in a standard flat, your seedlings will outgrow this in about 4 weeks, after 4 weeks from today it still to soon to move outside ( for this Ny/NJ region) so you'll need to move them to bigger containers, or they will die. This can create a space issue. Simply put, I would start with the larger containers....obviously you'll get less plants, but the headaches in transplanting and preventing an over abundance of plants is worth it.

I fell into the trap last year and gave away hundreds of dollars worth ( Home Cheapo prices) of plants.

Recommend black potting soil mixed with vermiculite to retain moisture. If you are in a garage or unseated area, you may need a warmer mat, although I've heard mixed reviews on them.

Good luck
Milton will have the best advice  
Diver_Down : 2/25/2017 3:21 pm : link
on growing herb.
I am starting mine indoors...  
EricJ : 2/25/2017 6:33 pm : link
and then transferring them to my portable greenhouse. Bought that at Home Depot for $29. Unreal buy.
Not veggies, technically fruits  
buford : 2/25/2017 8:05 pm : link
but I am growing roses from seed. I did try some hybridizing, but the darn chipmunks ate all my cross hips. So now I just have a bunch of open pollinated rose seeds. I tried last year, but didn't do too well. This year I gathered a lot more hips and instead of stratifying them with paper towels, I used seed starter soil moistened and in plastic bags. Rose seeds have to chill for a few weeks before they will germinate. A few weeks ago, I was able to see some germinating, so I took them out and planted them in a seed tray I bought. I also bought a heat mat and a small grow light. The grow light has made a huge difference. I had about 20 nice seedlings just from one rose. I did have some damping off issues, so that's been cut down to about 10. I transplanted some and took more seeds out of the fridge and into the seed trays. This year has been so weird weather wise that I am still getting hips with viable seeds on my roses. I haven't pruned yet, I will probably do that this weekend. Anyway, here is my set up.



right now I have a bunch of good seedlings and more popping up. Hopefully I get a few good new roses, but most likely they will be blah pink single petals. But this spring I am going to do more crosses, and make sure the chipmunks don't get them.
No need for anything fancy or expensive  
VTDAD : 2/26/2017 10:54 am : link
I use yogurt containers, milk jugs, cool-whip tubs, etc and regular old potting soil.
Dollar store plastic wrap and a nail to punch drainage holes. I usually set them in shallow microwave plastic pan or aluminum pie tin to catch the overflow.

The expanding pellets are convenient, but if you use the type with netting, make sure you cut it apart before transplanting. I plant my tomatoes and peppers it larger pots... sour cream / cottage cheese size, so I don't have to be moved before putting into the garden.

And don't forget to plan on a week or 2 to "harden-off" before transplanting.

And about transplanting  
VTDAD : 2/26/2017 11:07 am : link
Some seeds like leaf lettuce, carrots, peas can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked, but tender plants like tomato, egg plant, peppers and seeds like beans squash & cukes need frost free AND warm soil.

Better to plant late than early with those. They'll catch up quickly under the right conditions.
RE: I'm missing the quotes an insinuations  
Floyd_Fan : 2/26/2017 3:58 pm : link
In comment 13371268 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
...yet, but living in MA I'm legally allowed to grow 4 plants and I'm planning to this year since for now at least it's legal in the state.


I don't know if you remember this, but I was seeking college advice for my daughter about a year ago. I had mentioned that she was interested in attending WPI but I had some 2nd thoughts. You and others said to let her make own choice, which I did.

So she is at Worcester now and last November, she expressed her opinion on legalization, which now seems to benefit you in turn.

Interesting.
RE: I'm missing the quotes an insinuations  
Milton : 2/26/2017 4:58 pm : link
In comment 13371268 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
If you mean weed I have no advice....yet, but living in MA I'm legally allowed to grow 4 plants and I'm planning to this year since for now at least it's legal in the state. I don't think I'll start them inside though or use grow lights or anything, just find some decent seeds and plant right in the ground.
If you plant them right in the ground (in April or May) be prepared for them to grow very large if they are under good sun and well fed. Something on the sativa side could easily grow ten or twelve feet or larger by the time October rolls around. An indica would be your best bet, but under the right conditions your are still looking at a plant that will grow six or eight feet tall and stink up the whole neighborhood. So also be prepared to wake up one morning and find them gone.
Back to the Corner