tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546718730043897500.post4981249509326817018..comments2024-02-27T15:19:59.496-08:00Comments on Backyard Farming: Easy Seed Starting RackMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04169799115572882024noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546718730043897500.post-68158653758986908542010-03-14T17:00:48.109-07:002010-03-14T17:00:48.109-07:00From my reading on gardening forums and other sour...From my reading on gardening forums and other sources, the "full spectrum" grow lights have both the hot and cool color temperatures. Low color temperatures (or lights that appear more blue) are better for vegetative growth, while hot color temperatures are better for flowering. For starting seedlings, standard cool fluorescents are totally fine and grow lights don't provide any added value. If you are trying to produce crops indoors, however, you'd need full spectrum lights.<br /><br />http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/botany/environmental.html<br /><br />I installed a concentrated bank of under-counter lights in my kitchen to use as my seed starting area. It's not as large scale as your racks but perfect for my tomatoes and peppers and will probably be a home for herbs in the winter.-Sydney-https://www.blogger.com/profile/02642504731977225198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546718730043897500.post-47352671441841960032010-03-10T05:16:10.033-08:002010-03-10T05:16:10.033-08:00Great idea! I've got mine in front of a windo...Great idea! I've got mine in front of a window now, but it's just not enough light!katiegirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03232045088235784636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546718730043897500.post-83995691514786197982010-03-09T07:47:53.054-08:002010-03-09T07:47:53.054-08:00Amy @ Homestead Revival,
The "awnings" ...Amy @ Homestead Revival,<br /><br />The "awnings" sound like a great idea. This year, keeping standard flats as my trays, I may double up the fixtures -- two side by side, to really equalize the light. <br /><br />I was very pleased with my seed rack last year, and hope you will be too.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17525034596178639693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546718730043897500.post-31690557643753109192010-03-08T21:16:24.877-08:002010-03-08T21:16:24.877-08:00If this posts twice - forgive me. It says an error...If this posts twice - forgive me. It says an error came up...<br /><br />Jennifer, thanks for all the extra tips and for answering my question. I appreciate all the help! And the idea for using the light boxes is great. I hadn't found any trays yet, so I'm going to give this a try.<br /><br />I did purchase some light fixtures with an "awning" over them that focused the light somewhat. I noticed that the commercial grow lights had these, so I spent some extra $ to get these. I should still come in under $100 - $125 because I have all the wood. We'll see if the awnings help any. I can't wait to get started!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00564840073358020600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546718730043897500.post-56052486949219702012010-03-08T20:49:57.184-08:002010-03-08T20:49:57.184-08:00Amy @ Homestead Revival, thanks for your interest!...Amy @ Homestead Revival, thanks for your interest! My lights were indeed full-spectrum. The "natural" is a subset category, kind of like the way basic 60 watt light bulbs can also come in "soft light." Frankly, we just used the kind of bulbs that we found for the best price. <br /><br />One change I would do from our previous rack is to have the shelves closer together. We spaced them at 27 inches apart, which proved wildly optimistic for the height of our seedlings last year. But who knows! Maybe I'll grow behemoth tomato starts this time around.<br /><br />Another observation: My flats were wider than the light fixtures. This meant that when the fixtures were only four inches above the seedlings, the light wasn't distributed evenly (more concentrated in the middle). I had my seedlings in individual pots inside the flats, which allowed me to easily rotate them each day to equalize light exposure. Since I love checking my seeds every day, this chore was actually enjoyable. Once the plants grow and you lift the lights, light distribution becomes more even.<br /><br />I saw Marisa's plant rack last year and she did something brilliant! She used the boxes from her light fixtures to hold her seed pots. Same width, same concentration of light.<br /><br />By the way, since making our rack last year, we have found fluorescent tubes in 3-foot lengths. That opens up all sorts of possibilities to retrofit shelving systems from discount stores, as 3 feet seems to be a standard width.<br /><br />Good luck with your project! I just reassembled my rack and am excited to start seeds again this year.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17525034596178639693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546718730043897500.post-206520044689605462010-03-08T20:10:16.740-08:002010-03-08T20:10:16.740-08:00Amy at yardtofork:
Will you let us know if you co...Amy at yardtofork:<br /><br />Will you let us know if you could get the garbage can potatoes to work? I tried it 2 years ago and it was a flop!<br /><br />Amy at homestead revival, I'm not sure why Jennifer chose the "natural" lights, if grow lights use full-spectrum, I'm sure they will work. Good luck!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10923385601755527594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546718730043897500.post-63248654622915941192010-03-08T19:58:39.940-08:002010-03-08T19:58:39.940-08:00I happened to pick up almost everything to do this...I happened to pick up almost everything to do this project at Home Depot this weekend. We had the wood, but I needed lights and chain. I was going to get the "full-spectrum" plant lights, but I notice that you used the "natural" lights. Do you think these are better for plants? I had looked at some grow lights on-line and they were using full-spectrum lights, so that is why I was thinking these would be best. What do you think?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00564840073358020600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546718730043897500.post-36489126264283228692010-03-08T18:38:24.618-08:002010-03-08T18:38:24.618-08:00Love it! Can't wait to hear how it works and h...Love it! Can't wait to hear how it works and how your seeds do. We just planted some potatoes in garbage cans... so we'll see how those work. :)Amy @ yardtofork.wordpress.comhttp://www.yardtofork.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com