Seedlings

[Beverly]

No i don't think you are missing anything. It would be better to grow outside with shade screen and bring them in during a thunderstorm, but that is too risky unless you stay home all day every day and never sleep which is not realistic. So, i understand the need for grow lights. Still you might want to think about rigging something up for the future. Come to think of it, i have the same problem with rain storms. I raise seedlings on the patio that has a shade screen structure over head, but i bring them inside when i leave the house and also overnight. I have good light in the house though so they hardly know the difference and i also don't grow large amounts of seedlings at one time and that makes a difference too. I saw a nifty little structure once that had 3 walls of 3 bricks high and and one wall of 2 bricks high, then a glass window top that went up and down with hinges. I liked that, but never made one. It would take care of the rain though, and when it wasn't raining the top could be left open

 

[vette-kid]

How much have you been watering them?

well, as noted earlier, the peat tends to dry out rather quickly. They seem to need water every few days. I wait until the surrounding soil is dry to the touch. But every 2 to 3 days is pretty close.

 

[vette-kid]

No i don't think you are missing anything. It would be better to grow outside with shade screen and bring them in during a thunderstorm, but that is too risky unless you stay home all day every day and never sleep which is not realistic. So, i understand the need for grow lights. Still you might want to think about rigging something up for the future.

Ya, agreed. Just not realistic. wife and I both work full time and have an infant and a toddler (well I guess the little one is technically a toddler now, too fast and I guess the toddler really isn't a toddler anymore ) With our storms here in the spring, your right its just too risky. Id like to get them outside as soon as possible though. When is a good size to do that? A few will be potted for indoors too.

 

[Beverly]

Id like to get them outside as soon as possible though. When is a size to do that?

Are you referring to your toddlers or the seedlings

 

[vette-kid]

Are you referring to your toddlers or the seedlings

ha, that kid wants to go outside and play even when its pitch black out!

 

[Blair H]

As someone else above said, the seedlings need to be hardened off over time to the outdoors. It would also help to use peat moss when you plant them.

 

[headfullofbees]

well, as noted earlier, the peat tends to dry out rather quickly. They seem to need water every few days. I wait until the surrounding soil is dry to the touch. But every 2 to 3 days is pretty close.

They shouldn't need watering that often.
Do you have any conventional plant pots, into which you could your peat pots?
I'm afraid I really don't rate them, at least not on their own.

 

[vette-kid]

They shouldn't need watering that often.
Do you have any conventional plant pots, into which you could your peat pots?
I'm afraid I really don't rate them, at least not on their own.

I think part of the problem there is I used the really small pots for most of them. They don't hold much soil beyond the peat pod, so not much water either.