Life in Tee Harbor, Alaska

Starting from Seeds

I started some seeds on Saturday... I have a nice sturdy shelf with flourescent lights that I use.  The lights are on a timer and I have them on for 15 hours.  I just read in The Seed Starters Handbook by Nancy Bubel that 16 hours is optimum - 12 hours is not adequate (which is how long I had them set for last year).  So it will be interesting to see if these plants are more stocky... 

I started some leaf lettuce, crisphead lettuce, celery, dill, basil, parsley, tomatoes and calendulas.  I am planning to move the lettuce to the greenhouse as soon as I can...  and hopefully the tomatoes will go to the greenhouse in late April to early May.  Usually our last frost is mid-May, but this year seems to be warmer, so maybe it won't be so late.

The lettuce and a couple of calendulas had sprouted as of yesterday morning.  This morning, the basil is up.  So the garden is started!  I also started some Cilantro about a month ago in a windowsill.  We don't have nearly enough sun or light to keep them growing, so I hung a single flourescent above them and have it on from when I get up to when I go to bed.  I have transplanted them once so far, but need to get them in soil instead of seedling mix so they get the nutrients they need.  They are doing really well and I picked a couple leaves off last night to have with our dinner.  Yummy!

Good for you!

10:43 AM, Wednesday, February 20, 2008 .. Posted by mamaof2andtwins

I just ordered my seeds today. I won't start my peppers until mid March and my tomatoes by mid April. I think I need longer under the lights than I did it last year as well. Also I did not fertilize mine, and they were pretty sad looking by the time I planted them outside. I have been reading a book called Seed-Starting Primer and Almanac. They had some good suggestions for seed starting.
Blessings,
Jennie