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?
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
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!
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.
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).
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Better to plant late than early with those. They'll catch up quickly under the right conditions.
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.