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.

ContainerTed · March 20, 2009

Stormy, on standard 1020 trays, I've found that if you pull outward on the long side in the middle, you can see the bottom easily. The other thing I did this year to better facilitate that was to leave one cell empty. That also gives a place to add the water. Transplanting the contents of one cell to a plastic cup will also make you a "view to the bottom".

I also use a small (10 inch) oscillating desktop fan set up about 15 feet away from the seedlings while they are under the lights. The gentle breeze the fan creates helps with oxygen circulation as well as introducing them to moving air.

Ted

**nctomatoman** · March 20, 2009

I actually start minimizing the time under lights - after a day or two, they go right out into the sun during the day, and I bring them in only if it is going to frost. The best thing to avoid damping off is sunlight and fresh air. I don't have or use a cold frame either. Tomato, pepper and eggplant seedlings are quite tough - the only no-no is temps at 32 or below (frost/freeze)

stormymater · March 20, 2009

Thanks guys - I knew you'd come through! I have done my last tomato planting today - re-seeding some that didn't germinate well from 3/10 (Virginia Sweets, Earl's Faux & a 2007 packet of Marianna's Peace had gruesome germination rates) & my selection of pinks.
Good to know about outside all the time (excluding frost) because starting Sunday that's where my first 3 trays are gonna be.
One more question for y'all - can basil be treated the same way or does it need to stay warmer & coddled more? I'm going to be sowing 3 or 4 different kinds tomorrow. Any special tips? Thanks again.

newatthiskat · March 21, 2009

I threw my Basil outside with the tomatoes. They are doing great. Could be just pure dumb luck on my part

Kat

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.

March 20, 2009	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Stormy, on standard 1020 trays, I've found that if you pull outward on the long side in the middle, you can see the bottom easily. The other thing I did this year to better facilitate that was to leave one cell empty. That also gives a place to add the water. Transplanting the contents of one cell to a plastic cup will also make you a "view to the bottom". I also use a small (10 inch) oscillating desktop fan set up about 15 feet away from the seedlings while they are under the lights. The gentle breeze the fan creates helps with oxygen circulation as well as introducing them to moving air. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch Last edited by ContainerTed; March 20, 2009 at 06:48 PM.

March 20, 2009	#3
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	I actually start minimizing the time under lights - after a day or two, they go right out into the sun during the day, and I bring them in only if it is going to frost. The best thing to avoid damping off is sunlight and fresh air. I don't have or use a cold frame either. Tomato, pepper and eggplant seedlings are quite tough - the only no-no is temps at 32 or below (frost/freeze) __________________ Craig

March 21, 2009	#5
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	reply I threw my Basil outside with the tomatoes. They are doing great. Could be just pure dumb luck on my part Kat