New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.
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May 2, 2012 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 643
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Am I wrong or is this a good price (seed starter kit)
I was browsing this company's site and came upon this seed starting kit: http://www.sunlightsupply.com/p-1444...n-station.aspx. I mean - hello - $39.95? I don't even want to tally up how much I paid this year for all the Burpee and Jiffy seed starting trays and the heat mat I pot (being a newbie I had nothing to even start from). Anyone think I'm wrong about this benig a good price? I may want to buy this for future usage.
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May 2, 2012 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Latrobe Pa.
Posts: 142
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I think most of the kits are way over priced. I buy seed flats with 48 or 60 cubes for less than a $1 at agway and simply put them in a plastic container or even plastic lid that holds water! You can water from the bottom! My problem is I have 50 flats and run out of indoor room where they will get enough light even in my 2 small solar greenhouses!
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Frank the Bobberman & Carpet Installer Inventor of the Bobber With A Brain,. Gadening, Greenhouse, Fishing, Softball, Scrabble. Single looking for a woman with a 100 acre farm! |
May 2, 2012 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 444
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The kits are indeed way overpriced. I buy the trays at a catalog type garden /greenhouse supply for $.89 each. I think you need to buy a minimum of 15. As for the clear plastic dome, I cover the trays with plastic from home depot until the first seedlings pop up and then I don't use a covering any more.
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May 2, 2012 | #4 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 643
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May 2, 2012 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Latrobe Pa.
Posts: 142
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I have a sweat chamber in my greenhouse just by using a clear shower curtain! They are $6 at the dollar store and is very thick clear plastic that can be cut up for any type cover! I have a 12 foot insulater wall with the sliding cutains in the front of the plant boxes. You can put a small heater behind the curtain along with some 5 gallon water buckets whic get warm during the day and maintain a nice temp most of the night!
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Frank the Bobberman & Carpet Installer Inventor of the Bobber With A Brain,. Gadening, Greenhouse, Fishing, Softball, Scrabble. Single looking for a woman with a 100 acre farm! |
May 2, 2012 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 643
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Wow - you peeps are awesome! I need to try to show some discipline and check with you in the future before any purchases! These are great ideas and I very much appreciate you sharing them (and stopping me).
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May 2, 2012 | #7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Latrobe Pa.
Posts: 142
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Even a gallon of hot water from the tap will give off heat in a insulated area in a greenhouse for hours without getting cold too fast! a simple candle n a nsulated area will heat i a good bit for 15 hours! Just be careful of the flame! a small pump and copper tubing conneced to any hot water line and back into the hotwater tank can cirulate water to any area to heat it with little expense! I bought two small personal ceramic 200 watt heater at wal mart for $11 each last year and simply had it come on every two hours for 30minutes inside my solar greenhouse sweat chamber on very cold nights!
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Frank the Bobberman & Carpet Installer Inventor of the Bobber With A Brain,. Gadening, Greenhouse, Fishing, Softball, Scrabble. Single looking for a woman with a 100 acre farm! |
May 2, 2012 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: asdf
Posts: 1,202
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Go to the local hydro shop.
Tray 1-2 Dome 1-2 50 cell insert tray 1-2 They will carry all your actinovate, neem, bt, nutes, pots, bags, heating mats etc |
May 2, 2012 | #9 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: asdf
Posts: 1,202
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ImageUploadedByTapatalk1336014076.023893.jpg
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To each their own. |
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May 2, 2012 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 643
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Oi vay (babice shakes her head) - I bought my actinovate and bunches of other stuff from Amazon and my fave nursery, etc. WELL - it's gonna take some learnin' but I'll try to change my habits. I don't even KNOW if there's a hydro shop 'round here. (But I WILL look for one!).
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May 2, 2012 | #11 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 643
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May 2, 2012 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 643
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bobberman - how'd you do this? timer? I tried to set up a timer for my T5 light but could find the right plug (T5 light is a 3-prong and timer is a 2-prong). I do have 1 heating pad and, since I'm in Iowa, I've had to use it. And I did buy a thermometer to use with that which is supp'd to help control the temp. I was thinking that I would need more than one, though, since I'm apparently becoming obsessed with growing seeds now!
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May 2, 2012 | #13 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: asdf
Posts: 1,202
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May 2, 2012 | #14 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,250
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So how do you drive Babice crazy? Put her in a round room and tell her there is a pack of tomato seed in the corner.
But seriously, a good heat mat is worth the price. They are not cheap. DarJones |
May 2, 2012 | #15 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Alabama
Posts: 643
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