Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Here's my indoor setup for propagation this year (quite scaled down from previous years!) This is in the sun room of my house, facing ENE.

In the photo can be found:

• A cheapo 2' x 4' folding table with a piece of particle board on top for uniformity and insulation
• On the particle board there are two 4' x 1' heating mats
• On the heating mats are 4 rectangular 72-hole plug trays with hoods and drip trays
• Overhead is a "Sun Blaster 48" - a commodity 4' by 8-bulb T5HO 6500K fixture
• The lamp fixture is suspended by a commodity "Sun Stand 2" stand.

The heating pads are controlled by a timer set to come on from 5pm to 9am.
The light fixture is also on a timer from 7am to 4pm.
Next week I'll be filling up the plug trays and the whole growing process begins!

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

How do you like the Sun Stand 2? I had Hydrofarm's version, and one of the plastic connectors broke the first time I tried to use it.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

It's 100% metal. Assembly is tedious by yourself. Having a small woodworking clamp is useful. It is a little light weight but otherwise perfect for the task. If they included a pair of 1.5" S hooks with the product I would give it 5 stars.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Richard, I have one light identical to yours and 3 more nearly identical. Gone sort of crazy. I moved to a 2-story affair, 2 carts I made on wheels so I can get around them and push them out of the way when not in use.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

I've been testing my set-up before actually sowing seeds. So far the lights, heat pads, and timers are working great. The soil temperature is staying in the high 70's 24/7. I think I'm about ready to plant!

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Today I planted my first round of seeds: 22 varieties of chili peppers, sweet peppers, determinate tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and some Rubus probus seeds I obtained from Australia.
:woohoonaner:

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

As of this morning all the tomatoes have sprouted, plus one bell pepper and one chili pepper.
:woohoonaner:

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Richard, are you growing any inderminate tomatoes as well?

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

I will start some in the next round of seeds. Presently I'm focused on varieties I could grow in pots. When I start work on my raised beds I'll feel more confident about starting seeds to plant in the ground.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Sprouting today:
Sweet peppers - Corno Verde & Yellow, Better Bell II, Socrates.
Chili peppers - Purple Serrano, Guajillo, Hungarian Wax, Sahuaro.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Groovy...I like dat me:}

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

All the vegies have sprouted, now begins the long wait for the Rubus probus seeds to sprout.
:lurk:

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

My seedlings are coming right along! I expect to pot them in 4-inch pots in a week or two. I'll save one of each variety for planting in the garden and give the rest away.
:08:

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Oh to live close enough for a "give out" and to have the space to grow them all--every last donation. Giveaways? I believe in the British "gardening" theory--an heir and a spare which means I'd hold onto at least 2--just in case.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Leeds UK is at latitude 53.8, I'm at latitude 33.2.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Here's a picture of my tomato and pepper plants one month after sowing seeds. Looks like I'd better get busy building the planter beds outside.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Cool setup....

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

For the last week and half, I've had half of my indoor-propagated plants outdoors braving the variable winds in daytime temperatures in the 70's and night time temperatures in the mid 50's. I also brought them in a few times to avoid getting pounded by rainstorms.

Well, the tomato plants were getting to big for their 4" pots so I transplanted them today into 12" plastic pots. The pepper plants are still doing ok, only about 6" high.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

I transplanted the rest of my peppers today. That's the end of seed propagation for this year!

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

I finally begged a 72 cell starter tray and planted my old tomato seeds--some of each type. Today I transplanted tomatoes that sprouted on 3/25 to larger homes. I'm still terribly frustrated with germination in FL both here and Jacksonville. I have never had 25 to 50% ever before. Perhaps that's why a single tomato plant in a Styrofoam coffee cup sells for $2 to $3; yours are bigger than what's available. Unless you want to spring for a gallon or 2 gallon pot. I'm sorry but I just can't bring myself to pay $15 for a weed.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

Check the pH of your water.

Re: Richard's Indoor Propagation
 

I've tried city, well and rain; could they all have the same issue? (I know they could but that would be odd IMO.) Also, sometimes things sprout but never do more than that. I do recall having issues with one type of bean--Jade. Wonderful flavor and very productive bush but getting it to grow was an exercise in frustration; I replanted 4x! (I found out later it's notorious for that issue.)