Comments on: Seedlings continue to grow… http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/ Daily photo-journal of organic market gardening: growing local food with two acres and some tools...! Sun, 06 Jul 2008 05:51:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mike (tfb) http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20404 Mike (tfb) Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:59:27 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20404 <b>FarmCat:</b> That's a pretty cool book. It has lots of the regular growing info, but also interesting, practical sections on stuff like flower arranging. Re the toms and ADVICE: Yeah, you can get some really different advice on exactly the same things from different books and other sources. My biggest advice is to EXPERIMENT. Don't trust me, 'cause things are always different depending where you're located and exactly how you do things. I'd say you can save some extra care and rack time by seeding toms at 7 weeks, germination will be within a week, so you'll have 6 weeks of above ground growth. But try some at 8 weeks, and maybe even at least a couple of plants seeded at six weeks. And if the weather's good, try transplanting some out early. And grow a few backups, you can sell or give them away. It's incredibly satisfying to look back on each year's experience as you plan for the next, and the more little experiments you do (even though you're totally swamped and just want to make a decision and on to the next thing), the more you'll pick up, because in the garden, for me at least, seeing is believing! ;) FarmCat: That’s a pretty cool book. It has lots of the regular growing info, but also interesting, practical sections on stuff like flower arranging.

Re the toms and ADVICE: Yeah, you can get some really different advice on exactly the same things from different books and other sources. My biggest advice is to EXPERIMENT. Don’t trust me, ’cause things are always different depending where you’re located and exactly how you do things. I’d say you can save some extra care and rack time by seeding toms at 7 weeks, germination will be within a week, so you’ll have 6 weeks of above ground growth. But try some at 8 weeks, and maybe even at least a couple of plants seeded at six weeks. And if the weather’s good, try transplanting some out early. And grow a few backups, you can sell or give them away. It’s incredibly satisfying to look back on each year’s experience as you plan for the next, and the more little experiments you do (even though you’re totally swamped and just want to make a decision and on to the next thing), the more you’ll pick up, because in the garden, for me at least, seeing is believing! ;)

]]> By: FarmCat http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20402 FarmCat Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:16:57 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20402 Mike, I really appreciate the info. I was able to get the book you mentioned from my library ( I work at it, hehe), and I found the plans for the seed rack. I'm new to seed-starting, and it seems like everything I read has different advice for when to start, but I'd trust your advice most. Six weeks for toms, not eight. But I'm itching to plant something! *sigh* Patience, patience . . . Mike,

I really appreciate the info. I was able to get the book you mentioned from my library ( I work at it, hehe), and I found the plans for the seed rack.

I’m new to seed-starting, and it seems like everything I read has different advice for when to start, but I’d trust your advice most. Six weeks for toms, not eight. But I’m itching to plant something! *sigh* Patience, patience . . .

]]> By: Mike (tfb) http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20332 Mike (tfb) Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:48:34 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20332 <b>FarmCat:</b> The racks are a minorly modified version of plans in a book called <i>Gardening and Landscaping Techniques</i> (Rodale). It's made of 2x4's with 2x3 going across, and plywood shelves. The lights are hung on dowels with finishing nails in the ends that go into sash chain so you can adjust height. Shelves are about 4'x1.5'. Distance between shelves is about 22" bottom, 20", and 15" (top), there's quite a bit more vertical space on the bottom and middle, and the top is good for germination. I have them on 3" wheels. Click the <a href="http://tinyfarmblog.com/tag/grow-rack/" rel="nofollow">grow rack</a> tag, there are some clearer photos from last spring. At 8 weeks, your toms are going to be pretty big, and you may have trouble preventing stretching on these racks with twin fluorescent shop lights. Just a suggestion, but you may want to try a few transplants at only 5-6 weeks, and see how they do against your 8-week ones. Unless you're using extra deep pots, I don't think you gain anything much in the field from an extra two weeks in pots... Of course, experiment for yourself! Hope that helps... <b>chuck:</b> Great greenhouse pics! Maybe this fall well get a 100' production...I keep saying that... What's your radiant heat set-up like? Buried pipes? Water heated how? What air temp can you maintain? That's something I definitely want to look into!! FarmCat: The racks are a minorly modified version of plans in a book called Gardening and Landscaping Techniques (Rodale). It’s made of 2×4’s with 2×3 going across, and plywood shelves. The lights are hung on dowels with finishing nails in the ends that go into sash chain so you can adjust height. Shelves are about 4′x1.5′. Distance between shelves is about 22″ bottom, 20″, and 15″ (top), there’s quite a bit more vertical space on the bottom and middle, and the top is good for germination. I have them on 3″ wheels. Click the grow rack tag, there are some clearer photos from last spring. At 8 weeks, your toms are going to be pretty big, and you may have trouble preventing stretching on these racks with twin fluorescent shop lights. Just a suggestion, but you may want to try a few transplants at only 5-6 weeks, and see how they do against your 8-week ones. Unless you’re using extra deep pots, I don’t think you gain anything much in the field from an extra two weeks in pots… Of course, experiment for yourself! Hope that helps…

chuck: Great greenhouse pics! Maybe this fall well get a 100′ production…I keep saying that… What’s your radiant heat set-up like? Buried pipes? Water heated how? What air temp can you maintain? That’s something I definitely want to look into!!

]]> By: chuck monk http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20321 chuck monk Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:50:07 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20321 Hi, I find your info most useful. Here the local winter farm market has greens year round. Zone 4-5. Thsis is done by one farm using radiant heat in the soil in the greenhouse much like homeowners use beneath flooring. This should save energy and give even heat close to the plants. Maybe this could work for you? "Our new high tunnel has allowed us to bring greens to the Winter Troy Farmers' market along with storage carrots, potatoes, beets, squash, shallots and onions." http://www.slackhollowfarm.com/ Hi, I find your info most useful. Here the local winter farm market has greens year round. Zone 4-5. Thsis is done by one farm using radiant heat in the soil in the greenhouse much like homeowners use beneath flooring. This should save energy and give even heat close to the plants. Maybe this could work for you?

“Our new high tunnel has allowed us to bring greens to the Winter Troy Farmers’ market along with storage carrots, potatoes, beets, squash, shallots and onions.”
http://www.slackhollowfarm.com/

]]> By: FarmCat http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20277 FarmCat Mon, 10 Mar 2008 22:28:41 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20277 Hey, Mike-- I'm starting a market garden business for the first time this year, and I need to build some seed racks. Could you give me some rough dimensions? Like--what's the length and width of the shelves? And how much vertical space between shelves? I want to have enough height so that my tomato seedlings aren't hitting the lights before they go outside at 8 weeks old. Thanks for the help! Hey, Mike–

I’m starting a market garden business for the first time this year, and I need to build some seed racks. Could you give me some rough dimensions? Like–what’s the length and width of the shelves? And how much vertical space between shelves? I want to have enough height so that my tomato seedlings aren’t hitting the lights before they go outside at 8 weeks old.

Thanks for the help!

]]> By: dig this chick http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20246 dig this chick Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:54:59 +0000 http://tinyfarmblog.com/2008/03/07/seedlings-continue-to-grow/#comment-20246 Wow. Impressive set-up! Wow. Impressive set-up!

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