Seed Starting Setup - Shelving, Lights the works

[TNTiger]

I want to purchase a seed starting system and wonder if anyone can suggest a good one. I'd prefer to purchase a complete set-up that includes the shelves, lights, and timers. Any recommendations for a good one that will allow me to start about 100 plants from seed?

I want to be able to start tomatoes, peppers, and a few other summer vegetables and flowers from seeds. I know peppers are harder to start so I won't be heart broken if I'm not successful with them for the first year.

Thanks!

[newatthiskat]

I am in Texas and do not have any sort of "setup" I have grown several hundred plants in the past and probably that many next season. I am blessed with Texas being fairly warm and just put them outside on sunny days. Peppers I bought a heating pad and just put that under the peppers. I use those dome seed starters and use dense planting. The transfer up to Styrofoam cups with holes punched in bottom. I carry in and out as the temp changes. Since I have moved to a new house with less windows I might have to get some grow lights this year but we will see. I do not know what your average temp is where you are so it may be a totally different setup

[RJGlew]

http://parkseed.com/parks-intense-li...elves/p/32242/

[Father'sDaughter]

If you're just looking to start seedlings that will be moved outdoors, then you can get by with shop lights from the hardware store. A lot will depend on how much space you have and how many plants you want to start at one time, but for example, here's my basement set up, all from Home Depot:

A chrome shelf unit with adjustable shelves - http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-48-in...872C/100655787

My garden is not that large, so i only use the bottom three shelves for seed starting and have them set at different heights. As the seedling grow taller, I move them down to a taller shelf. I use the upper shelves for storing things like my canning supplies and equipment.

Two of these shop lights for each shelf - http://t.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Li...-RE/202052422/

I suspend them from the shelf above and can move them up and down as needed. And as both the light fixtures and the shelf unit are 48" wide, the work together beautifully!

One of these timers - http://t.homedepot.com/p/GE-Plug-In-...075/100685854/

The only other thing needed is a power strip or two to plug the lights into, then the power strip gets plugged into the timer.

[Marshallflyer]

I built a seed starting rack using these plans. I made it 18" wide instead of the 12" called for in the plans. I would also use two or three lights per shelf. The more lights I used the better plants I seemed to have.

http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/...ing-stand.aspx

[TNTiger]

Originally Posted by newatthiskat

I am in Texas and do not have any sort of "setup" I have grown several hundred plants in the past and probably that many next season. I am blessed with Texas being fairly warm and just put them outside on sunny days. Peppers I bought a heating pad and just put that under the peppers. I use those dome seed starters and use dense planting. The transfer up to Styrofoam cups with holes punched in bottom. I carry in and out as the temp changes. Since I have moved to a new house with less windows I might have to get some grow lights this year but we will see. I do not know what your average temp is where you are so it may be a totally different setup

Two years ago we had an unusually warm early spring so I started seeds outside and they did pretty well. If I had tried it this year it would have been a complete bust! Our spring was cool and rainy! Overall, I think we're a little too cool to start seeds in time to plant after risk of frost.

[TNTiger]

Originally Posted by RJGlew

http://parkseed.com/parks-intense-li...elves/p/32242/

Thanks - have you used this set-up?

[TNTiger]

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

If you're just looking to start seedlings that will be moved outdoors, then you can get by with shop lights from the hardware store. A lot will depend on how much space you have and how many plants you want to start at one time, but for example, here's my basement set up, all from Home Depot:

A chrome shelf unit with adjustable shelves - http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-48-in...872C/100655787

My garden is not that large, so i only use the bottom three shelves for seed starting and have them set at different heights. As the seedling grow taller, I move them down to a taller shelf. I use the upper shelves for storing things like my canning supplies and equipment.

Two of these shop lights for each shelf - http://t.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia-Li...-RE/202052422/

I suspend them from the shelf above and can move them up and down as needed. And as both the light fixtures and the shelf unit are 48" wide, the work together beautifully!

One of these timers - http://t.homedepot.com/p/GE-Plug-In-...075/100685854/

The only other thing needed is a power strip or two to plug the lights into, then the power strip gets plugged into the timer.

Thank you for a very complete shopping list! This is very helpful and perhaps this is exactly what I should do instead of looking for a complete "Kit".

My garden isn't that big and I've done a tally of the plants I want and came up with about 80 total. This includes some companion plants like marigolds since I've found that they don't start blooming quite as soon as I'd like when sown in the ground. I'm not sure how many extras I would need to start when I get going to ensure that I get enough for my actual garden.

I think my spreadsheet needs more work to include pot size and start date so I can have a better idea of how many I need to start at any given time. Ugghhh . . . I'd rather just play in the dirt than try to figure all of this out!

[Father'sDaughter]

Originally Posted by TNTiger

Thank you for a very complete shopping list! This is very helpful and perhaps this is exactly what I should do instead of looking for a complete "Kit".

My garden isn't that big and I've done a tally of the plants I want and came up with about 80 total. This includes some companion plants like marigolds since I've found that they don't start blooming quite as soon as I'd like when sown in the ground. I'm not sure how many extras I would need to start when I get going to ensure that I get enough for my actual garden.

I think my spreadsheet needs more work to include pot size and start date so I can have a better idea of how many I need to start at any given time. Ugghhh . . . I'd rather just play in the dirt than try to figure all of this out!

You're welcome. I hope it helps.

I just took a look at my plan for this year's garden, and for a point of reference -- I planted out 36 tomatoes, 5 eggplant, 25 peppers, 4 zucchini, 2 cukes, at least 20 heads of leaf lettuce, 20 pole bean and 8 bush beans, 12 herbs, and about 100 onions. All were started using just the bottom three shelves of that shelf unit. The secret is not starting stuff too early, staggering it based for the most part on plant out dates, and having someplace to move them to a week or two before plant out for hardening off. I have one of those plastic $20 portable green houses that I set up in the spring for hardening off, then pack away once everything has been moved to the garden.

And when I first jumped into this whole gardening thing, I picked up this book - http://www.amazon.com/Week-Week-Vege.../dp/1603426949

While it doesn't cover everything, It helped me a lot in having a quick and easy reference on what I should be starting when. I still refer back to it every winter when getting set up for the next round of seed starting.

Happy shopping!

[ScottinAtlanta]

Someone published last year on this Forum a plan for a rack made of PVC pipes. I made one for me - works great - 3 flourescent lights per shelf - and the whole thing was under $100.00.

I can't find the site now or I would publish the link.

[tlintx]

I've been wondering the same thing, since starting outside seems to be less than optimal for me. I end up with plants that are either lanky or broiled.

I am planning on utilizing the garage over the winter, and maybe a couple of south-west facing sunny windows. What lightbulbs should I get?

[matilda'skid]

The seed starting set ups are very expensive in my opinion and not necessary. I have no skills and I start too many seedlings inside for the garden I have outside. I use shop lights from Lowes with the cheapest 40 watt fluorescent bulbs (not plant bulbs) hung with chains and hooks. For storage I bought a heavy duty metal shelf at Sam's very heavy, sturdy and easy to put together. That is what I will use next year. If you are a Sam's member or know someone who is, go look at their heavy duty shelves. The shelves are longer than four feet if you are short on space you might not like them. The advantage is they can come apart and be moved and anyone would want them for storage if I get out of the seed starting hobby. I was able to get them in the basement because they come apart. I am a 68 yr old woman and I moved them in and put them together.

[JamesL]

Originally Posted by matilda'skid

The seed starting set ups are very expensive in my opinion and not necessary. I have no skills and I start too many seedlings inside for the garden I have outside. I use shop lights from Lowes with the cheapest 40 watt fluorescent bulbs (not plant bulbs) hung with chains and hooks. For storage I bought a heavy duty metal shelf at Sam's very heavy, sturdy and easy to put together. That is what I will use next year. If you are a Sam's member or know someone who is, go look at their heavy duty shelves. The shelves are longer than four feet if you are short on space you might not like them. The advantage is they can come apart and be moved and anyone would want them for storage if I get out of the seed starting hobby. I was able to get them in the basement because they come apart. I am a 68 yr old woman and I moved them in and put them together.

You aquired, moved to the basement and assembled?
Don't sell yourself short - You've got skills lady!

[Cole_Robbie]

I like the 150 watt equivalent $7 spiral fluorescent bulbs in cool white, screwed into a $2 socket and wired with a 99 cent extension cord. If you want to be extra fancy, you can fashion a reflector from a cheap aluminum baking pan. That $10 light will perform as well as "grow lights" that sell for over a hundred dollars.

[newatthiskat]

Originally Posted by tlintx

I've been wondering the same thing, since starting outside seems to be less than optimal for me. I end up with plants that are either lanky or broiled.

I am planning on utilizing the garage over the winter, and maybe a couple of south-west facing sunny windows. What lightbulbs should I get?

What part of Texas do you live in? I am east texas near Tyler