Who is starting seeds indoors this season?

[ducks4you]

After putting a LOT of thought into it I decided to resurrect my metal shelving unit in the basement to start my 2018 garden this winter. I tried using my other gardening shelving unit, the one that comes apart and has the plastic cover with a zipper, but I tried that last year and little seedlings died of drought AND it made my rug on the 2nd floor east facing dormer room wet. Didn't like either of those and I still ended up buying small cabbages and onions anyway in 2017. Counterproductive to buy seeds and not use them. Some seeds can germinate if they are not new and the cheapo seed packages are probably full of 2-3 yo seeds.
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/how-long-do-garden-seeds-last
Some tomato seeds can be decades old. The University of Illinois once germinated a pumpkin seed that was 50 yo! Don't even THINK about germinating old onion seeds, bc that is futile.
I wanted to have my seedlings in a place where it would be safe to have a light on while I am gone. The basement with a cement floor and the metal shelves are safe enough, plus I change into my feeding clothes down there 2x/day and can check on them.
I found 2/3 of my "under the counter" lights and I bought replacement growlights for them, 3, just in case I locate the 3rd one. I have one up and running and should have the timer hooked to the extension cord in a day or two. I am taking the advice of several YouTubes videos and keep the lights on for 16 hrs/day. It is cool in the basement, 40-50 degrees F, but to the onions, cabbages and lettuce that shouldn't be a problem.
I am still reusing trash, but if it can break easily I will probably only use it once. If not, it will need to justify itself. I saved and cleaned out 4 clear glass quart candles with the tops that have the seal. I started onions, cabbage, thyme and pansies in those on top of the fridge to give them warmth. Since the cabbages and onions sprouted, I have moved them under the one grow light.
Just had a Monical's family pleaser take out, so lettuce got started last night in that after I cleaned it out.
Pictures and explanations to follow this coming weekend.
What is everybody else doing?

 

[majorcatfish]

just chomping at the bit to get seeds started.........

 

[aftermidnight]

I will be starting the few tomatoes I'll be growing next month in the house under lights until I can move them to the greenhouse, then they will be potted on until weather permits planting out. We never know what kind of a summer we have so I always start early.
Annette

 

[Smart Red]

Bought seeds to start in Aerogarden. Obviously chomping on the big here. I need to play in dirt!

 

[thistlebloom]

I'm starting peppers this weekend. First time ever starting them before March, but @catjac1975 has talked about getting hers going early so they are nice and big when it's time to plant them out.

I will also be starting my toms before I usually do and plan on having to up-pot them a time or two
before the weather is fine enough to plant out.

I began sorting through my seeds yesterday but kept nodding off so finally gave in for a laydown. I need some more stimulating seeds apparently.
I found a bunch of flower seeds I had intended to start last year, and if I have the room I'll do those also. Wish I had thought ahead to winter sow those.

I bought a 5 shelf chrome stand to use as a starting area, and it's set up in my office. That's all new this year. Usually they get set up on a folding table in front of the dining room window, which is less than ideal. My office is a small room, and if I keep the door shut I can keep the temperature regulated with the wall heater so it doesn't have the big temp swings like the rest of the house.

 

[majorcatfish]

I'm starting peppers this weekend. First time ever starting them before March, but @catjac1975 has talked about getting hers going early so they are nice and big when it's time to plant them out.

I will also be starting my toms before I usually do and plan on having to up-pot them a time or two
before the weather is fine enough to plant out.

I began sorting through my seeds yesterday but kept nodding off so finally gave in for a laydown. I need some more stimulating seeds apparently.
I found a bunch of flower seeds I had intended to start last year, and if I have the room I'll do those also. Wish I had thought ahead to winter sow those.

I bought a 5 shelf chrome stand to use as a starting area, and it's set up in my office. That's all new this year. Usually they get set up on a folding table in front of the dining room window, which is less than ideal. My office is a small room, and if I keep the door shut I can keep the temperature regulated with the wall heater so it doesn't have the big temp swings like the rest of the house.

you dangs yankees are so funny..starting seeds now, when the mailman has to deliver your mail in a snow cat

y'all are making the rest look bad....

 

[catjac1975]

I'm starting peppers this weekend. First time ever starting them before March, but @catjac1975 has talked about getting hers going early so they are nice and big when it's time to plant them out.

I will also be starting my toms before I usually do and plan on having to up-pot them a time or two
before the weather is fine enough to plant out.

I began sorting through my seeds yesterday but kept nodding off so finally gave in for a laydown. I need some more stimulating seeds apparently.
I found a bunch of flower seeds I had intended to start last year, and if I have the room I'll do those also. Wish I had thought ahead to winter sow those.

I bought a 5 shelf chrome stand to use as a starting area, and it's set up in my office. That's all new this year. Usually they get set up on a folding table in front of the dining room window, which is less than ideal. My office is a small room, and if I keep the door shut I can keep the temperature regulated with the wall heater so it doesn't have the big temp swings like the rest of the house.

I never use take out plastic to start plants or any other junk.I have had whole trays of it not germinate anything. I use the same 4x6 containers in 12x18 flats again and again. I have bought them but use them again and again, and they are very cheap. We also have cheap store that often have them for a pittance. If the 12x18 gets a leak I double it with a new one and they last for years and years. I use peat pots for squash and the like. I find the coir pots do not do as well.I started onions in Sept. or Oct. I just started peppers and eggplant. I need mature to get a good crop. I have to hold myself back for tomatoes too early but I am getting antsy. II will start broccoli and relatives in a month or so. I use a 3 tiered light stand with bottom heat. Once the plants are established they go to the shelves by the windows in the green house. It is full of daylily seedlings, onions and the rest I mentioned.

 

[Beekissed]

I'll be starting almost all my seeds in trays this year(except green beans), even the flowers and things I usually only direct seed into the garden. I just want more control over things this year as far as when they are set out and also the spacing of the flowers.

I don't have grow lights or anything, just use windowsills and such, which always yields leggy plants... I don't particularly enjoy having leggy plants but it is what it is. As soon as I can get them outside, I harden them off under a low tunnel.

As I do succession plantings of lettuces and other greens this year, I plan to start them in trays but keep them outdoors on a table, with arches over the table covered with Agribon...this will keep the chickens off them, the bugs off them and also keep them warmer at night, shaded in the day, and preserve moisture.

 

[catjac1975]

I'll be starting almost all my seeds in trays this year(except green beans), even the flowers and things I usually only direct seed into the garden. I just want more control over things this year as far as when they are set out and also the spacing of the flowers.

I don't have grow lights or anything, just use windowsills and such, which always yields leggy plants... I don't particularly enjoy having leggy plants but it is what it is. As soon as I can get them outside, I harden them off under a low tunnel.

As I do succession plantings of lettuces and other greens this year, I plan to start them in trays but keep them outdoors on a table, with arches over the table covered with Agribon...this will keep the chickens off them, the bugs off them and also keep them warmer at night, shaded in the day, and preserve moisture.

If you use bottom heat your plants will not be so leggy. There are some very inexpensive heat matts and they last forever.

 

[Pulsegleaner]

I literally JUST bought my first pile of jiffy pots to start some of the pansy seed I collected last year, so that, if I am lucky they will be movable plants by the time it is time to put them out. if I am REALLY lucky, some may already have flowers by then and I can put them in the right places (I'm trying to select for one of the colors)