Breaking the rules brings success sometimes

mcasey · July 10, 2007

Determined to be free of those plain transplant offerings found at local garden centers, I started in early January on different ways to start seedlings. There were several challenges to overcome in my situation which is why I started so early. It gave me time to order or purchase or try again in case of failure. The challenges: a house full of felines who ate every plant I brought in the house, no basement space suitable to start seedlings, no garage and an unheated greenhouse not built until Valentine's ( awesome gift from fiance!!!), and keeping the heating bill low. Things I tried....old fishtanks with covers and lights.....plastic dome covered greenhouse on a regular heating pad.....those mini greenhouse things with shelves and a plastic zip cover with natural compact flourescent lighting attached to the shelves. I've seen the dome lid crushed then dumped the next day....lost some to damping off, poor lighting in the fishtanks, bad air circulation even a whole tray to setting them out for a few hours in colder than what I thought day temps. End results:

Success with a combination of 110 veggie transplants for my square foot/ container yard garden.

Only garden center purchase of transplants was an impulse buy of sweet potatoes.

I even had enough plants to share.

The success far outweighed the losses of the trial and error part.

And only 2 plants eaten by a kitty....

Had I bought the mini greenhouses and lighting earlier , my success would have been better.

Had I seen the dense planting Craig does earlier (which I did try a few in the end), my success would have been higher.

Lesson here- try the unconventional on occasion- it may work after all.

Mary Ann

johno · July 10, 2007

There is never improvement without experimentation. Good for you!

July 10, 2007	#1
mcasey Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Coastal CT Posts: 10	Breaking the rules brings success sometimes Determined to be free of those plain transplant offerings found at local garden centers, I started in early January on different ways to start seedlings. There were several challenges to overcome in my situation which is why I started so early. It gave me time to order or purchase or try again in case of failure. The challenges: a house full of felines who ate every plant I brought in the house, no basement space suitable to start seedlings, no garage and an unheated greenhouse not built until Valentine's ( awesome gift from fiance!!!), and keeping the heating bill low. Things I tried....old fishtanks with covers and lights.....plastic dome covered greenhouse on a regular heating pad.....those mini greenhouse things with shelves and a plastic zip cover with natural compact flourescent lighting attached to the shelves. I've seen the dome lid crushed then dumped the next day....lost some to damping off, poor lighting in the fishtanks, bad air circulation even a whole tray to setting them out for a few hours in colder than what I thought day temps. End results: Success with a combination of 110 veggie transplants for my square foot/ container yard garden. Only garden center purchase of transplants was an impulse buy of sweet potatoes. I even had enough plants to share. The success far outweighed the losses of the trial and error part. And only 2 plants eaten by a kitty.... Had I bought the mini greenhouses and lighting earlier , my success would have been better. Had I seen the dense planting Craig does earlier (which I did try a few in the end), my success would have been higher. Lesson here- try the unconventional on occasion- it may work after all. Mary Ann

July 10, 2007	#2
johno Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arkansas zone 6b Posts: 441	There is never improvement without experimentation. Good for you!