bumping down

This looks like it would be a great set up for seedlings. Does the room face south or do you have to supply quite a bit of light? This year I am going to try growing quite a few annuals from seed. I have been filling in my gardens with perennials and have not been able to afford annuals. So it will be fun to play with them this summer. ;)

Hi Ladylotus. No, the windows are on the east and north. There will be florescent shop lights hanging from the ceiling above the top shelf, and under each shelf except the bottom. I'll have to see how much they effect the electricity bill, but when I've raised seedlings before (except for winter seeding, of course) I've kept the lights on them 24x7. I also keep a fan blowing in the room to help prevent damping off.

The seedlings are a lot of fun, even though they are a fair amount of work when grown indoors, because of all the watering they take once they are growing. You can't let them sit in water, but still they dry out pretty fast so watering is a 'check at least twice a day' and water almost every day sort of thing. Watching them grow is pretty gratifying though, and I love the earthy smell of the seed starting mix and growing plants. It's a good way to help get you through the winter :-)

As I look around my cluttered office/seed room I appreciate your new clear space. What fun you will have getting all your seedlings growing.

Before wintersowing I started everything inside. Now I am down to just a few, peppers/tomatoes/some salvias. Lights are left on for 14-16 hours/day. Somewhere I read that plants need some darkness to grow. Anyway, 14 hours works well.

Bobbie

Jel,

Every year I say I am not going to start any seeds indoor this year and every year come February I get that gardening itch and I start various seeds. I hear you when you explain the amount of work trying to keep them moist, not too wet as to let them rot or damp off.

This year I am going to start my seeds for the first time in my greenhouse. I can't wait. Hopefully, it will be completed by then.

By the way, I don't think it would be a big expense for your lights. I think it is such a relief to be able to play in the soil during mid winter that the expense would be worth it. ;)

Tj

Joyce -
Nice setup. I have had my grow area setup for a few years now in the basement storage room and love it. The lights go on and off automatically and are on for about 16 hours. The small desk/table top fan circulates air pretty much most of the time. I sometimes turn it off when I'm working in the grow area. The light fixtures are 4 ft / two lamp shop lights (14 fixtures). One lamp is cool white the other warm in each fixture.

It's so nice to be able to garden at some capacity year round!

Sandy