Who is starting seeds indoors this season?

[dickiebird]

Here's the best way to determine if your soil is warm enough for planting.
Go out to the garden and in the middle of it, drop your bibs and your skivvies, sit down in the fresh tilled soil. If you feel comfortable, not too chilled, pull your britches up and start planting....

THANX RICH

 

[ducks4you]

@MagicMama, any of those things that you have listed is good for seed starting. The trick is to get more than one season out of them, and that means take good care of them AND plan where you intend to store them for next year. I am a big recycler. I ended up with an old and tall plastic storage bin, about 4 ft tall, 18 inches wide, that was formerly used for storing salt for a water conditioner. I keep packages of seed starting soil in it. It isn't really soil and it doesn't really go bad. I store breakable pots on the metal rack where I am now starting seeds. My DD's replaced the wooden box behind the tool shed with a Rubbermaid gardening shed and I keep lots of tools there, like my spades and my weed killers and sprayers. I have a place for seeds and for extra gloves, although some of my storage is for clothing, etc. that serves double duty, farm animal chores and gardening.

 

[catjac1975]

This is what I have. https://www.zenhydro.com/super-sprouter-seedling-heat-mat-10-in-x-21-in-10-cs-12577.html
If you are buying more make sure the dimensions match the space and trays you are using I have noticed the dimensions vary. I have a large on with a metal tray over it that fits 3 large tray that I consider better. It was pricey but the first one I had lasted for 15 years at least. One like this.http://www.greenhousemegastore.com/product/gro-mat/s
All work well.

 

[majorcatfish]

was looking over the super sprouter heat mat.....
it says in the description Warms root area approximately 10°F - 20°F over ambient temperature to improve germination process

guess you need a thermometer to keep an eye on the soil temp....

 

[baymule]

I got a regulator to go with my two heat mats so I can control the temperature.

 

[catjac1975]

Thinkin' I need me a heat mat now...

You will see a huge improvement in your plant quality.

 

[buckabucka]

Yikes, I feel so far behind. I will start the onions in February, but I haven't even ordered my seeds yet this year. Maybe I will get to it this weekend.
I start onion seeds in a kitchen top sprouter and then transplant to soil.

I used to use an old waterbed heater under other seeds. Now we have a masonry heater to heat the house and it has a warming bench. Pepper and tomato seeds go in small squares of moist paper towel (labeled by variety), and then into a zip lock bag and put on the warming bench. The seeds that sprout get planted. I like this method because it eliminates an old bad habit: staring at the seed pot and wondering where the sprouts are, I cannot resist the urge to start digging with a toothpick to see what is going on under the dirt, sometimes doing more harm than good!

 

[digitS']

Waiting is still an occupation. It is only having nothing to wait for that is terrible. ~ C Pavese

 

[ducks4you]

I put the heat mat under the lettuces. First, I have discovered that there is no germination, probably due to old seeds, so I reseeded.
Secondly, I noticed condensation. This is "fog" which, according to the Weather Channel, occurs when the air temperature and dew point are the same. So...looks like my basement shelf has reached ambient air temperature with the heat mat.

 

[dickiebird]

I started some seeds this past weekend.
Just a matter of time now...

THANX RICH