Q. I have a small
greenhouse I would like to heat at night to prevent the freezing of some
seedlings. I am guessing I will only need heat for the month of February. I was
thinking of a small space heater.
greenhouse I would like to heat at night to prevent the freezing of some
seedlings. I am guessing I will only need heat for the month of February. I was
thinking of a small space heater.
A. It is much easier and
more effective to provide bottom heat to warm seedlings than a space heater
that only warms the air. Provide bottom heat by using waterproof heating mats
beneath the seedling containers or trays. They are available locally from nurseries
and garden centers.
more effective to provide bottom heat to warm seedlings than a space heater
that only warms the air. Provide bottom heat by using waterproof heating mats
beneath the seedling containers or trays. They are available locally from nurseries
and garden centers.
Many vegetables that grow during the summer months
require warm soils for good germination. Seeds like tomatoes and peppers will
fail or germinate very slowly if the soil is not warm.
require warm soils for good germination. Seeds like tomatoes and peppers will
fail or germinate very slowly if the soil is not warm.
Years
ago we would place seedling trays on top of the television or refrigerator
where it is warm enough to complete or speed germination. As soon as they
germinated, they would be placed in some light or directly under very bright
lights.
ago we would place seedling trays on top of the television or refrigerator
where it is warm enough to complete or speed germination. As soon as they
germinated, they would be placed in some light or directly under very bright
lights.
Drape
plastic or a light blanket over the seedlings and heating mat at night and
remove it during the day. Seedlings require 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight, or
the same intensity from electrical lights, as soon as they germinate. Sunlight
intensities or durations shorter than this will produce spindly transplants that
will grow and transplant poorly.
plastic or a light blanket over the seedlings and heating mat at night and
remove it during the day. Seedlings require 6 to 8 hours of full sunlight, or
the same intensity from electrical lights, as soon as they germinate. Sunlight
intensities or durations shorter than this will produce spindly transplants that
will grow and transplant poorly.
You
don’t need expensive grow lights for growing transplants. Fluorescent lights or
LEDs are fine but they must be placed within an inch of the leaves to produce
enough intensity to support good plant growth.
don’t need expensive grow lights for growing transplants. Fluorescent lights or
LEDs are fine but they must be placed within an inch of the leaves to produce
enough intensity to support good plant growth.
Be very careful when using incandescent bulbs, or lightbulbs, for
growing seedlings. They produce a lot of heat and damage plants at distances
close enough to produce enough light intensity. I leave electrical lights on
about 16 hours each day when growing transplants.