Discussion forum for the various methods and structures used for getting an early start on your growing season, extending it for several weeks or even year 'round.
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February 15, 2014 | #1 |
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Location: Vista, CA
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Richard's Indoor Propagation
Here's my indoor setup for propagation this year (quite scaled down from previous years! ) This is in the sun room of my house, facing ENE.
In the photo can be found:
The heating pads are controlled by a timer set to come on from 5pm to 9am. The light fixture is also on a timer from 7am to 4pm. Next week I'll be filling up the plug trays and the whole growing process begins!
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Richard _<||>_ |
February 15, 2014 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Omaha Zone 5
Posts: 2,514
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Richard, you are a neatnick! What a pretty room you have for indoor gardening, with a view to look out on. Love your setup too, easy to keep organized and easy to expand. Do you have a potting area or is there a designated garage or basement space to get messy in?
-Lisa |
February 15, 2014 | #3 | |
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Quote:
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Richard _<||>_ |
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February 16, 2014 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Western Ky
Posts: 282
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Outside the window
Is that a pile of dirt or is it compost.
Your setup is really neat. |
February 16, 2014 | #5 |
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Thanks Ken. That's about a cu. yard of dirt outside the window. I bought this home in April 2014 and renovations are almost complete. I'm going to build some raised beds outside where the dirt pile is.
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Richard _<||>_ |
February 21, 2014 | #6 |
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Today I completed the first round of seed planting.
First, I filled the plug trays with damp seed starting mix about 1/4" from the top. Then I placed the seeds directly on top of the soil. Next I covered the seeds with vermiculite. Following that, I took the trays outside and soaked them with a very fine spray mister. Finally, I put the trays back on the propagation table with the hoods on for better moisture retention -- the humidity in my house is barely 30%. This method (seeds on soil covered with vermiculite) has always worked well for me with small seeds; as opposed to say, beans. Below are some photos. The seeds planted are:
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Richard _<||>_ |
February 21, 2014 | #7 |
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Location: zone 6b, PA
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Nice, Richard- even your labels are neat! I imagine that the vermiculite might help deter mold, fungus, damping-off, too.
kath |
February 21, 2014 | #8 | |
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Quote:
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February 21, 2014 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Pilot Hill, Ca.
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Richard, why do you bother to cycle your heating pads?
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-Dennis Audios, Tomatoville. Posted my final post and time to move on. |
February 21, 2014 | #10 |
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I did some measurements of soil temperatures in my environment. The daytime temps in my sunroom along with the radiative heat from the light fixture are plenty. If the heat pads were on the soil temps would rise into the high 80's. I suppose I could have spent $60 on a nice thermocontroller, but from past experience I knew that taking a few measurements could reduce that cost to $7.
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Richard _<||>_ |
February 22, 2014 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: selmer, tn
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NICE.
JON |
February 22, 2014 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Sterling Heights, MI Zone 6a/5b
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Don't thank me yet for the raspberry tip, as they are extremely hard to propagate! They may need scarification and stratification. I recently talked to the breeder of the Niwot black raspberry and he uses a 3 hour sulfuric acid bath to scarify. I'm think when I cross fruit to take the fruit and ferment like tomatoes. I'm going to at least try it. I can do the acid bath, but don't want to unless it is the only way. Currently I have seeds out all winter in pots in a cold frame. Too early to tell if it worked.
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February 25, 2014 | #13 |
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Location: Vista, CA
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This morning I found 5 varieties sprouted overnight:
Cherry Tomatoes - Sun Gold, Black Cherry, Galina's Small Bush Tomatoes - Bush Champion II, Red Rocket
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Richard _<||>_ |
February 25, 2014 | #14 |
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: SoCal Inland
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Germinating tomatoes is so rewarding
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February 26, 2014 | #15 |
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Location: Vista, CA
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This morning I was greeted by
Coyote (last of cherry tomatoes to come up) Early Sensation Bell (first bell) Chichen Itza chili pepper (first chili)
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Richard _<||>_ |
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