Light for my seedlings

[Northernfox]

I have started my seedlings under a neat little set up I picked up from my local greenhouse. I had the light right down on them until the pumpkins got large quick and then today a trip to the store saw me come home with some herbs. Supper was great! I also brought some Aloe home as summer is impending and I will get sunburnt when working in my garden. I also started my tomatoes. I now have a question. does it matter if the light is a little further from the seedlings?




I figure it would be nice to have it all under the light.

Thank you!

[Crystal's Gardening]

I would experiment a bit. Try moving the light farther away and keep a close eye on your plants if they start to become droopy or begin to turn yellow I would move it closer again. I have never been able to find any definite measurement for grow lights, space and plant types. So, give it a shot and hopefully everything works out and you'll have lots of growth.

[GardenGnome]

2 to 3 inches is what you want 16 hours a day. If some plants aernt the same size I put wood block under them to level them out.

[GardenGnome]

The little ones in the back will reach for the light get to long and fall over then damp and. End up dying you want the light close I see there in jiffy pellets I would put them in pans or trays to each size. Then rasie them to even level I don't know when you can plant outside but I would check some could be hardened off. Also watch for roots that out grow the jiffy nets they will grow into the ones next to them.

[applestar]

GG has got that right. (a gold star for you, my friend )

This is the time of year when I'm playing "who's the tallest" and scrambling around for anything to raise my shorter seedlings with. I prefer smaller groups than entire trays and I shuffle the ones in smaller trays (usually takeout tray) so they are grouped by same height. Goal is same height green canopy (top of the plant) at same distance from the light for everyone.

It does help to have a second light set up.

I often end up raising and raising the shorter ones until there is one group that just can't stay under one set up any more. Then, once that's "graduated" to the other light set up, realize now I need to re-arrange everyone because I have all of them on "double risers" and I could take away the extra and lower the lights.

It's kind of like a puzzle. That and seeing just how many plants I could fit under one set of lights.

[Northernfox]

So if the roots are coming out of the pod should I play jenga or re-pot them?

I know what you mean. I planted often three of each type of herb. I might let some go the way of the dinosaurs.

A second light as in the hanging set up or a stand alone lamp (I already have one for supplemental light source for my citrus trees)

Unfortunately I live in Alberta. I am still 6 weeks from outside time!

Do you think my pumpkin plants need to be under the light as much?

Thank you so much for the help! I am learning so much and have the joy of helping my sister-in-law if she wants

[GardenGnome]

With grow light 16 hours = 8 hours of sunlight
I like bar lights vs the single bulb you cover more area.
I'm guessing you used the peatmoss pellets to start them.
They will need food to live the peatmoss doesn't give them any.
Its just to easy start them nice loose area when mine are growing nice.
I buy plastic cups for a cheap way or 3 inch pots to up grade my plants.
I add some real garden soil around the peatmoss. I buy med. Size cups there tall and not as wide so you can fit more in a area Just an idea.

[Northernfox]

GardenGnome Do you have pictures of what you purchase so i can go find some tomorrow. I am thinking it is time to re-pot them.

once re-potted I am going to make some Jenga pucks to play whose the tallest.

[GardenGnome]

The soil or cups?

[GardenGnome]

For soil I just grabbed KELLOGG ALL NATURAL GARDEN SOIL® ALL NATURAL FOR FLOWERS & VEGETABLES
http://www.kellogggarden.com/products?b ... logg-soils
And the cups I got are
Guestware Clear Plastic 9-oz. Cups, 32-ct. Sleeves
http://mobile.usablenet.com/mt/www.doll ... /index.pro

[applestar]

The pumpkin plants look very healthy right now. Don't move them away from the light. I'm concerned that you may have started these too early though -- they should only be started about 3-4 wks before ready to plant.

You may be able to plant them out earlier if you prepare where you will be planting them.

[GardenGnome]

I started pumpkins early also and found out that you end up harvesting them in mid summer. I will plant more on time so they will be ready on holloween/thanks giving

[Northernfox]

GardenGnome:
So this is the soil I have. From what I can tell the product looks similar.

If just regular plastic cups work do you think the plastic Red Beer cups would work as well if I put a few holes in the bottom?

Applestar:
Shoot. I have a growing season here that often ends between the end of September and the middle of October. We also typically don’t plant outside until the third weekend of May. The pumpkins I started say they take 120 days to do their thing. that being said I am a little further north then where they would be typically grown. so I chose to start them early. Did I just shoot myself in the foot for these?

http://www.stokeseeds.com/product.aspx? ... goryID=121

or is there things I can do to help them out or get them in the ground earlier? Below is my garden area. The plan (although a bit ambitious for a new gardener) is to run the vines towards the fences and run them vertically after that. (I am planning on the top left of the garden area)



the plan with the pumpkins was to plant one in my garden and give the other two to my work colleges (who’s kids will love the white pumpkins). If I have started them too early should I re-start them? I think I have some seeds left. While I have you on the subject I have some Gladiator Pumpkins that take 100 days. should they be started in the house or just drop them in the ground? Again I only plan on putting one of these guys in the garden and running him up the fence/trellis. (top right near where the compost is and will shortly moved away from)

on a side note I got the book square foot gardening and will be making a few small stand alone cells for some other experiments. they are going to go where the grass is now two along the garden fence on the bottom left and then two on the top against the grey fence with some Trellis.

[Northernfox]

What a great idea to use the cups. I happen to have some for BBQ season and the beer I make.


the whole set up right here. I unfortunately ran out of space so my herbs are off to the side right now while I brain storm.

the peppers I am hoping will make it to the garden in these containers.

the herbs in their holding spot. I have a a long box for when they go outside however I need to figure out a solution with my set up. Do you think I can put my herbs in the 2 inch jiffy pots and then transplant them into their final home once I have made room (I have homes for 6 of them) however I am out of space earlier than anticipated.

[GardenGnome]

I have some red ones also the others were just smaller.
with the planting time coming soon for me I won't have to repot these.