Growing starts from seed in my garage?

[baconfiend]

My wife and I are thinking about starting vegetables from seed in our garage early next year and taking the starts to the farmer's market.

I have the space and I have lighting, but my biggest concern is heat. It will still be somewhat cold that time of year. Anyone have thoughts on a very inexpensive heat source? Maybe heating cables or something similar?

Any other thoughts or concerns would be great!

[Marlingardener]

I don't start a lot of plants, on a large scale--just two four shelf stands. For heat I use the heating pads sold for sore muscle relief. They usually come with a waterproof cover, and have three settings, high, medium and low. A quick check with a thermometer can tell you which setting to use.
The only problem is that manufacturers are saving us from ourselves and have installed a two hour turn-off on the pads. If you do a quick search at Wal-mart or chain pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS, they may stock ones without the turn-off feature.
I've had my heating pads for years, so they are of pre-idiot-protection vintage.

[DoubleDogFarm]

Lots of information in the Seed Starting Forum

This is one option Propagation Chamber

Eric

[gixxerific]

You are in the midwest. I am in Mo and I start all my plants in a cold basement with on heat vent. Trust me that single heat vent doesn't do a whole lot. But I manage I even put a small oil filled heater kind of like the old style radiator heaters in houses if you get my drift. It doens't get real warm but may take it up a few degrees.

Be carefull with any heat sources. I have had a heating pad not like MarlinG's but a seedling heat mat almost burn my house down this summer as well as a 4 bulb shop light I have used for a long time that got hot enough to turn off and not use anymore. Don't mean to scare you but just be careful.

[rainbowgardener]

As long as it doesn't freeze, the air doesn't have to be real warm, just the soil. I use the same heating pads as MarlinG. I've also had mine for years. The newer ones tend to have automatic timed cut off, you don't want that.