First time using my little greenhouse

[kevinrs]

still would be good to call the gas company so they can check things just for safety, they may find leaks you had no idea about, and fix them for free, and let you know about any other problems they find, like bad appliances, fix settings etc. Especially on an older house, maybe any new owner should do do it.

[platys]

That is a good idea. We have a ton of old gas appliances - there are two ancient gas fireplaces that we haven't used, a document burner from the 30s or 40s (that's long been closed off), and a 1949 gas stove. However, that gas stove is the best stove I've ever had. It cranks out the BTUs like you've never seen. I'm never getting rid of it. Our home inspector was like "You are SO LUCKY". Not to mention, the early 70s Maytag washer and dryer. Those are oddly enough, highly sought after.

On the downside, we have carpet in the kitchen so old that we're afraid to remove it. It might attack us.

[Tom C zone 4/5]

I think you want a minimum/maximum thermometer for your little solarium. I think you want to know what the actual temperture(s) are in there. a record on a calender might also be a good thing.

My old cold frame kept night time temperature at just over 50°. Which was enough to grow already started tomatoes.

Shoot for a May 15 plant out. If you're a couple days late of that you should still be OK.

Born in Downers Grove

[platys]

My husband could not be convinced that I would not kill us all by putting my little ceramic heater in the imitation greenhouse. But, it turns out, I haven't needed it. I'm only starting a little tray, so I made a little foil tent with a heating pad:

Tomato home by knittergail, on Flickr

It got down into 30s last night, but when I checked the temp at 11pm, the ambient air temp was just below 70 degrees.

And this morning, I had more germination, the tent was holding steady at the same temp. And, they look pretty happy:

Tomatoes warm and cosy by knittergail, on Flickr

How close should I have them to the lights? I'm thinking I'm a little low.

[Gumbysqueak]

Great idea. They look strong.

[kevinrs]

the lights can be like 2-3 inches from the plants, the closer the better, as long as they aren't getting burned by touching a too hot light.

[platys]

I'm probably closer to 4 to 5 inches away. I'll move them up closer when I get home. Right now, lights are off, since I've using the lights at night to keep things nice and warm. I had another seed germinate overnight. Now I'm just waiting on Pink Egg, Berkeley Tie Dyed and and Pork Chop. But, I buried my seeds too deep - I might try the paper towel method on those three. I planted four seeds for every one plant I wanted.

[platys]

My tomatoes are coming along. I finally got Berkeley Tie Dye and Pink Egg to come up. Pork chop is still being stubborn - I got a couple of seeds to sprout a little root via the plastic bag method, so I planted those in today.

No true leaves yet, but it has been pretty cold in the greenhouse. A couple got a little leggy before I put them up closer to the lights.


Tomatoes growing by knittergail, on Flickr


Tomatoes growing by knittergail, on Flickr

[bigwad1]

Are you leaving the lights on all night and during the day?

[platys]

I'm leaving them on all night and most of the day. I need the heat from the lights to keep them warm at night. I've been keeping the lights off for at least 5 hours - usually from 6pm to 11pm. that's when I get home from work and when I go to bed. I'm honestly just making up that part - it was nice and warm today, so I put them in the natural light. The purple stems is a sign that they've been pretty cold, but from what everyone says, that'll fix itself as the temps warm up.

[cushman350]

Don't the seedlings need 6-8 hours of dark along with 16-18 hours of light? and I notices that if the tin foil touches a leaf, it reacts and a pinhole will appear and the leaf suffers from the contact, got crisp where it touched. White reflects light as well as foil, so white paper, formica or other material can be used.

[platys]

Yeah, I need to work out a better schedule - it'll be easier once its warm enough that I don't have to rely on the lights to keep things toasty. Given that its in the 80s today (WEIRD), that shouldn't be long.

[platys]

I finally got some Pork Chop up - I had to germinate via paper towel, then plant in my seed tray. I came yesterday to two pretty seedlings. The bad news is that I think I killed my only Rutgers seedling - I was trying to get the seed coat off an I think I mainly decapitated it.

I also got a marconi red pepper to sprout for me as well. I ended up putting it on the heat mat, UNDER the seed tray, in its plastic bag. Apparently that warmed it up enough.

[cushman350]

I was trying to get the seed coat off an I think I mainly decapitated it.

one or two drops of water and time, not now, just a little longer.....now. Opps!

[platys]

I tried super hard to not pick at it, but I figured after two weeks of being up, it wasn't going anywhere.

Of course, now I'm cruising the internet, looking for a Rutgers plant. This is bad, bad, bad, because you can't just order ONE plant. That would be crazy.