Starting tomatoes. Update!

[patandchickens]

You just run a small lightbulb or xmas tree light string (of trustworthy electrical safety) underneath a jellyroll pan or whatever like that. It requires fiddling to determine the right distance and amount of air circulation to get the soil temperatures you want (work it out with an unplanted flat, obviously, not real seedlings!). You just need to make sure that it is electrically safe if water spills.

Haven't done it myself; seen pix and knew someone who did it, though. Me, I own a 1 flat size heating mat, and just don't grow more than one flat's worth of bottom-heat-needing seeds at a time <g>

Pat

 

[Southern Gardener]

Hmmm, would that put out enough heat to heat through the pan to the soil? I wonder if a brooder lamp would work? :/

 

[vfem]

I didn't do heat pads, but I've been under watering peat pots by putting them in a plastic tray I pour hot water in daily.

My snap dragons are thriving off of this method. My foxglove and night lilies seems to love it too. I just wasn't set up to do that with more then 20+ plants. I'm sure some of my others would be doing so much better had I done it with everyone.

I'm scared on the electricity thing with the mats, so I shied away!

 

[patandchickens]

Hmmm, would that put out enough heat to heat through the pan to the soil? I wonder if a brooder lamp would work? :/

Well, I knew someone who used it pretty much the way I described (xmas lights and a jellyroll pan) and it worked fine for her.

A brooder lamp would be MASSIVE overkill. You are only trying to raise soil temperature slightly, like for instance if your basement is 50 degrees your tomatoes will do better with 65+degree soil, only a 10 degree difference.

The heat mat I have, you can barely tell whether it's on by putting your hand on it. But it makes a noticeable difference in how heat-loving seeds do.

Pat

 

[Southern Gardener]

Well, I planted my seeds. I bought an undercounter flouresent light from Wal-Mart for $9 and a small bulb for heat.

 

[dbjay417]

I started tomatoes from seed this year. I live in the tropics so frost is NEVER an issue for me. My greatest worries are harsh winds and heavy rain, and my pets and layers. last year my tomatoes failed miserably because my chickens ate every last flower and then some kinda white fungus did the plants in. I harvested two tiny tomatoes. This year my chickens are caged and fungicide is on hand.

I've never spent money on rare varieties or anything, I usually just get beefsteak tomato seeds from the supermarket seed rack, so I probably don't take as much care as most. I just grab some decent soil from the yard and dump it in a container with drainage, I plant the seeds and put them were they dont get any direct sun light. once i see sprouts I kick them out into full sun, and only wane them if I see they are suffering in the sun. I have yet to have this issue. Usually I wait for a second set of leaves before transplanting to the garden. After I transplant the sun tends to become an issue. I usually just prop up a piece of plywood or some other debris to provide partial shade. That tends to do the trick. After a week the sun poses no threat to the transplants.

 

[Southern Gardener]

We've had several hard freezes here - I think the lowest temp was 25. I wish I did live in the tropics - I'm a VERY grumpy girl in winter. I don't know how the northern folks do it.

Last year was my first vegetable garden. I didn't get any squash and very few snap beans. I bought started tomatoes - they didn't do that great except for the sweet 100's (the chickens were very happy about that) and I got tons of Jalapenos

I'm hoping for better results this year. I've added more grass clippings, leaves, manure and compost to my clay soil.

 

[me&thegals]

SG--Sorry, but I had to laugh at your first sentence! 25 is not a hard freeze--25 is a breath of sweet, fresh spring air!

 

[Southern Gardener]

LOL! Not for me it isn't! If the temp is below 80 it's chilly for me. It's 73 degrees right now and I'm in blue jeans, tee, long sleeves over that and heavy socks!

 

[dbjay417]

I'm originally from Massachusetts, so I'm familiar with the -10s and winters where you cant even see the ground. I miss it to an extent, but I busy myself being able to plant year round.

Completely off topic:
I found some coffee "seed" i purchased last year. I failed miserably, never garnering a single sprout from coffee last year. Now that my green thumb is more practiced, i'm gonna see if i can't coax some sprouts out this time around. I hope the seed is still good. they were double bagged, but only in ziplock type resealable little baggies.