Lights of Springtime

OUR LIGHTS OF SEEDLING SPRING!

This is one of those frames that comes with a large plastic cover - for outdoor greenhousing.

We find that it grows mold when used that way - we never use the plastic.

The metal tray under the whole thing is a blessing - keeping our wood flooring safe and dry.

That's one of those oil spill catching things they sell at car supply stores.

Our seeds LOVE living in a south facing window with no shade trees around the house.

These lights are special - ask at the store which will work for plants - and we've got them mounted on 

long pieces of wood which then have screws for the chains to go around.

This system allows extremely quick and easy lowering or raising of the lights - CRUCIAL!

To really get good effect, you need the lights no more than 2 inches from the top leaves

of the plant.  It takes a bit of organizing, but it's worth it.

Some things to keep in mind:

(1)

You want to plant seeds in waterproof trays that will all grow to about the same height.

If I put tomatoes (tall) and basil (short) in the same tray - then you see the trouble with the lights, right?

(2)

The heat of your home is getting a "second use" by keeping the seeds warm!

(3)

Seedlings take some time (not much) but they save tons of money!

Just our tomato plants alone, when ready to go into the garden, would have cost us $200 

if we bought them from someone else!  AND we got to choose our own varieties.

We'll talk more about this in the early Winter!

Happy Summer for now...