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  • From: "Amy K. Johnson" <akjedj AT access4cheap.com>
  • To: <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [Market-farming] RE: seed starting
  • Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 10:31:31 -0800

I start most of my seeds under lights in the house and then move them into an unheated greenhouse as soon as possible. I start nearly all seeds in the plug trays that I will transplant out to the field from. I hate pricking out/ transplanting into flats!!!! That's just me, it works fine, I just hate doing it. I also use bottom watering by setting each plug tray into a "leak-proof" flat (if you get the lighter-weight ones, they won't be leakproof for long) and then I water by pouring water into the leakproof flat. It keeps me from making a mess in the house, plus I feel they get a better drink. Once they're out in the green house, I have sprayed them but I still have problems with watering the soil right out of the plugs, plus I feel that sometimes there's not enough water getting thru the depth of the plugs.
 
I once used the leakproof trays from Johnny's but they were a bit flimsy. Now I get them from a local greenhouse supplier, but they are from Wetzel. On most plug flats smaller than 72's, I have to cut down the sides of the leakproof trays because the plug trays are shorter. I have been advised that I could put some sort of support under the plug flat to support it, but then you have a lot of water sitting in those flats that make it hard to move them without making a mess. I did find a shorter bottom flat but it had drainage holes in it.
 
The smallest size I now use is a 128 plug tray, because I found that a 200 plug tray was too short to transplant into the field with- it just didn't seem to have enough depth of root to get below the drier top surface of the soil.
 
Picking out/transplanting into plugs trays probably works good for those with the time to do it. Plus it does save space if you have a certain area for germination (especcially if using a germ. chamber), but you ultimately have the same space used up once they're transplanted into the plug trays (unless germination is poor, than you can eliminate empty plugs).
 
I think in many situations, it just depends on your individual situation. Remember what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. I get so sick of going to a farming conference and hearing someone say basically "I've tried that and it doesn't work--- He's full of (compost)!" Keep your mind open and find what works for you.
 
Amy
Johnson's Produce Patch
Long Island VA     -where they've cancelled school because of 3/4 in. of snow!


  • [Market-farming] RE: seed starting, Amy K. Johnson, 02/26/2003

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