Tomato Seedlings
I keep the sprouted seedlings 2" from the full spectrum florescent lights and the lights are on at least 16 hours a day. This helps to keep them from getting long and leggy and weak, like they do when they are grown in a window. A window is usually a bad place to try to grow seedlings.
The back of the shop lights provides the right amount of heat and replaces heat mats. I leave some of them on for 24 hours a day for heating purposes.
I have just begun to fill up the 5 shelves on this unit. I have 4 of these units, this gives me 20 shelves for seedlings. As the days progress the seedlings will be potted up into 6-paks and those placed in trays so the watering is easier - and not so messy.
When the shelves are filled I will move the plants into nursery flats into the greenhouse, at the last possible moment, (because of the cost of heating it). Then I will start more seeds.
Gardening tips are here in my videos on You Tube: www.youtube.com/user/LeslierDoyle and you can also subscribe to my monthly email desert gardening newsletter - request it by sending me an email: gardeningnewsletter@sweettomatotestgarden.com. No Spam, I promise.
Tomato Seedlings
I keep the sprouted seedlings 2" from the full spectrum florescent lights and the lights are on at least 16 hours a day. This helps to keep them from getting long and leggy and weak, like they do when they are grown in a window. A window is usually a bad place to try to grow seedlings.
The back of the shop lights provides the right amount of heat and replaces heat mats. I leave some of them on for 24 hours a day for heating purposes.
I have just begun to fill up the 5 shelves on this unit. I have 4 of these units, this gives me 20 shelves for seedlings. As the days progress the seedlings will be potted up into 6-paks and those placed in trays so the watering is easier - and not so messy.
When the shelves are filled I will move the plants into nursery flats into the greenhouse, at the last possible moment, (because of the cost of heating it). Then I will start more seeds.
Gardening tips are here in my videos on You Tube: www.youtube.com/user/LeslierDoyle and you can also subscribe to my monthly email desert gardening newsletter - request it by sending me an email: gardeningnewsletter@sweettomatotestgarden.com. No Spam, I promise.