Seed starting equipment advice

[obsessed]

I am planning my xmas present. I want a bio dome, cold frame, or growing rack.... What do you guys think is better?

Now keep in mind that I can't build anything myself. I refuse. I just can't do it. The measuring and the working...no not for me (I am boycotting any type of home improvement related work).

I like the Parks bio dome. It would allow me to start a tone of seeds in a nice controlled enviroment. I don't how ever have any south facing windows but I am sure that it could work. I have a few viola seeds I finally got to germinate on my north facing kitchen window. but they are in the toilet paper rolls in mushroom containers. I did the wintersown thing this spring with 2 ltr bottles but the sharpie faded and I could not tell what was what and three neigbors stopped to ask what was going on.

The cold frame, I saw one at lowes seemed cool. I could start my seeds outdoors without worry that the toddlers or the mastiff will get to them. But would it but usefull all year round?

Or a growing rack like this one.... http://www.stacksandstacks.com/growing-rack I think this gives me alot of options for transplanting and for propagating.......

So if you had to pick one which would it be and why?

 

[injunjoe]

Alright without building anything you can do the same thing as that Bio Dome with a ten gallon fish tank turned upside down for far less money and it will be glass not Spastic plastic! Just lift one end with a shim to vent it and it will last as long as no one breaks the glass!

As far as the seed pots just use Dixie cups with a hole in the bottom.

I don't want to insult you , but I think you are over thinking the whole garden idea. I garden to have fun! Step back rethink it and go from a point of view that you are just having fun. If it fails replant it, if it grows, plant more!

Best of luck my friend;
Joe

 

[digitS']

I have a little trouble coming up with a summer use for my greenhouse and summer isn't all that long up here. A small, protected growing environment could just be completely opened for the summer months.

I had problems with a cold frame when I tried that years ago. The limited amount of air space means the temperature can really climb quickly. Other gardeners seem very happy with them but I'm more accustomed to working within a greenhouse.

For getting things started, do you think you could swing a greenhouse of about 6' by 10'? I can't really remember the exact dimensions of my first, at-home greenhouse but I know that I only had a space 5' wide for it. And, it wasn't too small. I was coming from a commercial greenhouse were I'd worked for 7 years. That protected growing environment was almost exactly 1 acre - so, I was definitely doing some down-sizing. I made great use of it .

Moving up from about 60 square feet to 3 times that size now (9' x 20'), took years. And, there's never ENOUGH room, anyway!! I spill out of that into tunnels and tunnels . . . and tunnels.

Steve

edited to say: My 1st greenhouse was a lean-to. It sat against my garage wall. I made it so that it could be dismantled and moved - which I did . . . but I didn't have a garage wall in the right place at my new home. So, I built a wall and leaned my lean-to against it . Then I built a bigger one and then bigger, again. I was still using that free-standing wall. It kind of amounts to "half a greenhouse" and that cut down on the initial cost AND heating costs.

:tools

 

[dickiebird]

Of the 3 choices you list, I would go with the growing rack.

THANX RICH

 

[obsessed]

Thanks for the advice all.

 

[injunjoe]

Obsessed Being at work I guess you won't be able to see this picture till you get home but here are a few fish tanks that I have had for years. New tanks are not bad on price if you just get the tank.
Used tanks that don't even hold water are cheap!

I use a piece of glass under mine but leave a vent on the end.
Used on a nice rolling rack you can start seeds and use it for cutting also. Just roll outside on nice days and so forth.

Joe

 

[dickiebird]

The rack that Joe uses is a very good one to make a mini greenhouse out of. If you go to You Tube and search for The Bayou Gardener, then look at his video Mini Green House Construction and Mini Green House- Vegetable, he has a good how to on using this style rack to start seeds.

THANX RICH

 

[obsessed]

Thats really cool joe and something definately do able. What kind of lighting does it get? Like shade mostly? or part sun?
Since your weather is so hot why do you grow in a greenhouse? For the humidity?
After our discussion on the pansies, I went back and put some plastic over the seeds and they finally germinated. But now they are starting to get leggy as they strain toward the window. :/
I think humidity has definately played a factor in my inablity to maintain/grow/start seeds. But now that I know about the plastic....I can be unstoppable. or my version at least.

I am sorry for the continous barrage of questions. I don't mean to be irriating. I am just a researcher by nature and therefore must research every possible thing before I act. I am impulive but at the same time oh so not!!! I also don't like to waste time. I feel that if I research thourghly then I should have less faliures.
Thanks
Natalie

 

[injunjoe]

Thats really cool joe and something definately do able. What kind of lighting does it get? Like shade mostly? or part sun?
Since your weather is so hot why do you grow in a greenhouse? For the humidity?
After our discussion on the pansies, I went back and put some plastic over the seeds and they finally germinated. But now they are starting to get leggy as they strain toward the window. :/
I think humidity has definately played a factor in my inablity to maintain/grow/start seeds. But now that I know about the plastic....I can be unstoppable. or my version at least.

I am sorry for the continous barrage of questions. I don't mean to be irriating. I am just a researcher by nature and therefore must research every possible thing before I act. I am impulive but at the same time oh so not!!! I also don't like to waste time. I feel that if I research thourghly then I should have less faliures.
Thanks
Natalie

I let the rack receive indirect sun light.

I don't use a greenhouse except just to over winter my tropicals.
last year I lost a bunch of plants so I am just getting ready!

The rack and the tanks are just for propagating.

Can you move them seedlings outside in indirect sun light?

I have a High pressure sodium 150 watt lamp above the rack. It is just to extend the day for a few hours. I don't want the plant to know it is Fall.

Any questions feel free to ask, that is what this is all about!

Luck my friend; Joe