Comments on: Starting Seeds Indoors (Update) http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/ Follow the progress of my square foot garden. I provide helpful tools for companion planting, square foot gardening layouts and plans, square foot gardening spacing, and more! Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:03:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Emily http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/comment-page-1/#comment-743 Emily Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:25:39 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=840#comment-743 I fertilize every 4-6 weeks. If you used potting soil with plant food (ie: fertilizer) in it, you shouldn't need to add anything for at least a month. If not, maybe 2 weeks after they germinate. I fertilize every 4-6 weeks. If you used potting soil with plant food (ie: fertilizer) in it, you shouldn’t need to add anything for at least a month. If not, maybe 2 weeks after they germinate.

]]> By: holman http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/comment-page-1/#comment-740 holman Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:15:41 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=840#comment-740 when should i first start feeding the plants after they germinate when should i first start feeding the plants after they germinate

]]> By: Brook McDonald http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/comment-page-1/#comment-739 Brook McDonald Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:34:52 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=840#comment-739 Hi there. So I became a fan of square foot gardening last year when I tried it and it um actually worked for me!!! Whoo hoo. My brown thumbs could never have been greener. I actually fell I can do this stuff. Anyhoo, I found your site and LOVE it. I refer to it a lot and as a thanks I thought I would share another web site with you that I have found to be very interesting. This guy does a lot of little tests on the best of this and that and gardening is a big area for him. Here is a link where he show which indoor lighting method is the best and why. The results are impressive and have me totally convinced. He goes about things in a VERY scientific un biased way. He even has a link on the best tasting tomato viarieties... my personal fav. Enjoy http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/fluorescent.html -Brook Hope you really like it :) Hi there. So I became a fan of square foot gardening last year when I tried it and it um actually worked for me!!! Whoo hoo. My brown thumbs could never have been greener. I actually fell I can do this stuff. Anyhoo, I found your site and LOVE it.

I refer to it a lot and as a thanks I thought I would share another web site with you that I have found to be very interesting. This guy does a lot of little tests on the best of this and that and gardening is a big area for him. Here is a link where he show which indoor lighting method is the best and why. The results are impressive and have me totally convinced. He goes about things in a VERY scientific un biased way. He even has a link on the best tasting tomato viarieties… my personal fav. Enjoy http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/fluorescent.html -Brook

Hope you really like it :)

]]> By: Emily http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/comment-page-1/#comment-667 Emily Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:19:40 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=840#comment-667 I think with lights and a heating mat in your garage you will be okay. Just be sure you have a thermometer that you can monitor the temperatures. As for the deck option, you'd need a way to keep it about 70 degrees--that's the ideal germination temperature. I think a permanent greenhouse would work, but anything temporary might not have enough protection from the cold. Good luck! Emily I think with lights and a heating mat in your garage you will be okay. Just be sure you have a thermometer that you can monitor the temperatures. As for the deck option, you’d need a way to keep it about 70 degrees–that’s the ideal germination temperature. I think a permanent greenhouse would work, but anything temporary might not have enough protection from the cold.

Good luck! Emily

]]> By: Juliana http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/comment-page-1/#comment-665 Juliana Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:39:47 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=840#comment-665 Emily, I started my seeds indoor last year with great success. But this year I don't have the 'room' available anymore. I am thinking of putting the shelves and lights in our garage. The problem is that is NOT insulated and is cold (I am in UT too.). Do you think I will need a heating mat underneat the trays? Another option is a greenhouse in our deck, but again, I am afraid the night temperatures will kill everything!! Any advice?? Garage with lights + heating pads or greenhouse (do I need the lights above?) Thanks for your GREAT help!!! Emily,

I started my seeds indoor last year with great success. But this year I don’t have the ‘room’ available anymore. I am thinking of putting the shelves and lights in our garage. The problem is that is NOT insulated and is cold (I am in UT too.). Do you think I will need a heating mat underneat the trays? Another option is a greenhouse in our deck, but again, I am afraid the night temperatures will kill everything!! Any advice?? Garage with lights + heating pads or greenhouse (do I need the lights above?) Thanks for your GREAT help!!!

]]> By: Emily http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/comment-page-1/#comment-663 Emily Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:08:13 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=840#comment-663 I've thrown away entire batches and started over almost every year. It's great to read books and websites, but nothing helps like experience! I watch the peat pots--they change color as they dry out. I water when they seem to need it--not totally dry. If you are using regular pots, you'd stick your finger down about an inch and it should still be somewhat moist. Try that with your peat pots, and then notice what they look like when they're ready for some water. I’ve thrown away entire batches and started over almost every year. It’s great to read books and websites, but nothing helps like experience! I watch the peat pots–they change color as they dry out. I water when they seem to need it–not totally dry. If you are using regular pots, you’d stick your finger down about an inch and it should still be somewhat moist. Try that with your peat pots, and then notice what they look like when they’re ready for some water.

]]> By: Alison http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/comment-page-1/#comment-655 Alison Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:32:54 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=840#comment-655 Emily, I definitely think that I drowned my poor little seeds. I replanted yesterday and took out all the water. My containers are pretty big and there aren't even plants in there to soak up all the water, so I put a little lid under the plants and only a small amount of water. Do you wait until the pots are dry to the touch before you water again? Emily,

I definitely think that I drowned my poor little seeds. I replanted yesterday and took out all the water. My containers are pretty big and there aren’t even plants in there to soak up all the water, so I put a little lid under the plants and only a small amount of water. Do you wait until the pots are dry to the touch before you water again?

]]> By: Emily http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/comment-page-1/#comment-649 Emily Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:11:27 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=840#comment-649 Alison--First, let me clarify that I live in Utah where it is DRY DRY DRY. So over-watering was never a problem, I just waited 24 hours for stuff to evaporate. But depending on where you live, you do want to be careful not to water too much. Especially when just planting, when you often cover everything up to keep it humid. If there's too much moisture your seeds will rot. If you are worried, pour out or soak up some water with a towel. In general, that is how I water--just pour it in the bottom of the tote and let it soak up. But I only water when the peat pots are looking dry--that's one thing I liked about them, it's easy to see when to water. Just play it by ear at first, and you'll figure it out! Alison–First, let me clarify that I live in Utah where it is DRY DRY DRY. So over-watering was never a problem, I just waited 24 hours for stuff to evaporate. But depending on where you live, you do want to be careful not to water too much. Especially when just planting, when you often cover everything up to keep it humid. If there’s too much moisture your seeds will rot. If you are worried, pour out or soak up some water with a towel.

In general, that is how I water–just pour it in the bottom of the tote and let it soak up. But I only water when the peat pots are looking dry–that’s one thing I liked about them, it’s easy to see when to water. Just play it by ear at first, and you’ll figure it out!

]]> By: Alison http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/comment-page-1/#comment-647 Alison Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:58:11 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=840#comment-647 Emily, I'm hoping you can clarify the starting procedure a bit. I've started my parsley & cabbage in the garage . . . but I'm afraid I may be drowning them. How do you water when they are in the tote? I have standing water in the bottom & the peat pots are quite wet. Emily,

I’m hoping you can clarify the starting procedure a bit. I’ve started my parsley & cabbage in the garage . . . but I’m afraid I may be drowning them. How do you water when they are in the tote? I have standing water in the bottom & the peat pots are quite wet.

]]> By: Emily http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/starting-seeds-indoors-update/comment-page-1/#comment-644 Emily Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:54:13 +0000 http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/?p=840#comment-644 Michelle, I bought the cheapest ones. Then I bought two different bulbs, a warm and a cool. That should provide full-spectrum light without paying a ton for light bulbs! Michelle,

I bought the cheapest ones. Then I bought two different bulbs, a warm and a cool. That should provide full-spectrum light without paying a ton for light bulbs!

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