Planting Calander

Monday, March 4, 2013

Seed starts

I built a small germination box. It is 20 inches deep by 30 inches wide and 18 inches tall.
It fits a single 10x 20 seed tray with a 4 bulb 24" long T5 grow light. Using 6500 temperature buLbs.

The box is made of 3/4" insulating hard foam panels with reflective coating on inside side.
In the garage, where temperatures hit a low of 45 degrees, the box held between 78 and 82 degrees with the seed heat mat.
When I turned on the grow lights, temp hit 113 degrees.
So I made an alternate front that I drilled 12 1/2" holes into. This dropped the temperature to 92 degrees with the mat turned off.

I will need to buy a temperature thermostat controller for the heating pad to turn it off when the lights are on.

Seeds were planted 2 days ago in it.

I also have started sugar anne peas in the greenhouse. They are coming up nice, need to be planted soon.
I plan on putting the around the tomatoe cages.

Tomatoe cages

I have perfected the tomato cage by using Neil's design and painting it. I am makings about 20 of these. Everyone wants at least 3.

Soil test

I received the official results of the soil test. Recommended I add gypsum, 3lbs per 100 SF.
The ph was 7.0. Every other category was optimum to near optimum levels.

Recommendation was to add 6" of compost every year and supplement with added nitrogen.