Water & wind question...

stormymater · March 20, 2009

My 9 day old seedlings are beginning to put out their first real leaves! These are the 2 trays that ERUPTED in 2days on the heating blanket (I turned the heat down for the next 2 as the first got kind of leggy really fast). I have them under lights - set for 16hrs a day & I set them outside from about 10 - 11 am to 5 - 6 pm then back under the lights. I think by next week when the weather warms they can go into cold frame?
Water - I have been bottom watering when the trays feel light. Is there a better way to determine?
Wind - I have been letting the seedlings get what blows at ground level (up 10 feet on the deck is quite a bit more here) - how much is too much? Beach winds today are 11 mph sustained & gusts to 25 mph (but this is measured at 30 feet off the ground).
I so don't want damp-off as we have made it this far. Any recs/suggestions appreciated.
Oh, thinking of cold frame also to free more space under lights for the "next class" of 4 trays coming up.
Thanks folks, appreciate the advice.

March 20, 2009	#1
stormymater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleasure Island, NC 8a Posts: 1,162	Water & wind question... My 9 day old seedlings are beginning to put out their first real leaves! These are the 2 trays that ERUPTED in 2days on the heating blanket (I turned the heat down for the next 2 as the first got kind of leggy really fast). I have them under lights - set for 16hrs a day & I set them outside from about 10 - 11 am to 5 - 6 pm then back under the lights. I think by next week when the weather warms they can go into cold frame? Water - I have been bottom watering when the trays feel light. Is there a better way to determine? Wind - I have been letting the seedlings get what blows at ground level (up 10 feet on the deck is quite a bit more here) - how much is too much? Beach winds today are 11 mph sustained & gusts to 25 mph (but this is measured at 30 feet off the ground). I so don't want damp-off as we have made it this far. Any recs/suggestions appreciated. Oh, thinking of cold frame also to free more space under lights for the "next class" of 4 trays coming up. Thanks folks, appreciate the advice.