Seed starting indoors

[thistlebloom]

if they are anything like the red kind we have they will sprout after they fall on a suitable location and start growing, then overwinter somewhat and then flower the next summer. i don't actually know if the seeds that we see sprouting this year are from last year or not, but i suspect not or a mix of both... they can drop so many seeds...

Yes, they can. And tiny tiny seeds!

 

[ducks4you]

Here is the new Jiffy Grolight setup on top of my fridge. I started a flat of 36 cells, 1/2 broccoli, 1/2 cauliflower on top of a heat mat top shelf in the basement, but they were sprouting despite in the dark with no grow light. The setup has a cord with an on/off switch.

 

[ducks4you]

So...going through OLD seed packages, and this package was cheap, so it contains older than the package says (2017), and I see this when I opened it up and poured into the carrot seed jar. Looks a LOT like dill.

 

[ducks4you]

Boy I am NOT a fan anymore of Jiffy Pellets!!! They swell up cockeyed, and my seedlings are either doing great or Dying great in them. Only the sweet peppers in their 72 cell greenhouse (on a heat mat and under a grow light on a 16 hr timer) have done pretty well, as a group. I Think I will go back to a soiless mix, OR, start inside with well composted stall leavings. I have a pile outside from 2017, and I "harvested" a big pot a few weeks ago and have it available. I restarted my tomato seeds in it and They are doing great.
It is important to me that I do this well bc I am determined to have a good Fall crop of Brussels Sprouts. I have bought and put away about 10 packages of Brussels Sprouts to save until July.
Any thoughts?

 

[Rammy]

I gave up.

 

[ducks4you]

That doesn't help!!

 

[margali]

Do you think these are big enough to go outside or should I pot into some cups and grow more? The overnight temps are staying in the 40F+ range.

 

[so lucky]

Do you think these are big enough to go outside or should I pot into some cups and grow more? The overnight temps are staying in the 40F+ range.View attachment 31005

If it were me, @margali, I would transplant in to a little larger pot, planting deep, and take some time to harden them off outside gradually giving more sun.

 

[thejenx]

This is how I start my seeds indoors, in the windowsill.

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I start mine inside in a plastic greenhouse bought from Walmart and I bought plant lights and tied to the shelves. Then, I start taking them outside and I used plastic covered structures like the sawhorses DH made for me and now I have a portable plastic greenhouse. I take outside when warm, bring in if cold and then when it is warmer some things like onions and kale stay out all night. Then, then will go outside on the patio in the shade and give a little morning sun and moved to the shade until I think they are ready to take sun all day and then they are hardened off and ready to plant. My tomatoes are always kind of weak looking compared to what I see in the stores, but I have lately been having better luck since taking them outside earlier. I will take a tray, fill with potting soil, make 10 rows, plant different rows of tomatoes, have a tray of peppers like that, kale and when larger I will transplant them to larger cups. The last picture was yesterday, but today I am not going to take them out because it is a lot cooler and cloudy.