Shelves and lights for seedlings - how would you do it?

[SueCT]

Depends if you want fixed lights on the shelves or would like to be able to raise and lower them over the plants. This is what I use, But I suspend the lights from the ceiling and raise that back up to use as ceiling lights when I am not using the lights for plants. You might be able to get them cheaper some place. Got my at Garden.com I think.

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-...+pulley+system

[imp]

Under lights or not, until the transplants go into the solo cups, I keep them in a solid tray so they get bottom watered and without leaks.

[Father'sDaughter]

Originally Posted by imp

Under lights or not, until the transplants go into the solo cups, I keep them in a solid tray so they get bottom watered and without leaks.

Same here -- solid 1020 trays and bottom watering only.

[imp]

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

Same here -- solid 1020 trays and bottom watering only.

Yep, exactly. Even in the Tomato Van, same way.

[taboule]

Originally Posted by bower

I have a bunch of old metal shelving but it's all 3 ft, while the shop lights are all 4 ft.
.

You can still use the 3 ft shelves with 4 ft lights, BTDT.

For each shelf, you'll need a 4ft long board, 3/4" thick and as wide as the shelf, Easy to cut from a piece of plywood. lay it on the metal shelf. Small hooks can be screwed from below, into the shelf above to hang the lights. If you use small chain for the lights (that usually comes with them) adjusting for height is a piece of cake.

[Hatgirl]

I use LED lights, and rest them on a plastic box. The box increases the humidity a bit, which is useful. When the plants get taller, I move them into a taller box.
I use glue dots, used for sticker posters on walls, to stop the LEDs from sliding off the boxes but I can still move them easily

[Durgan]

http://durgan.org/2017/April%202017/...%20light/HTML/ 5 April 2017 LED light

Four growing containers were made to facilitate small plant growth. There is room for six pots in each bucket for a total of 24 which is a reasonable amount for a home grower. Various seeds are started and grown to a reasonable size prior to placing in outdoor garden about May 25. Experimentation indicates the light is adequate for the purpose indicated, precluding much more expensive lights. Main advantage being very little heat is produced by LED lights.

Details of construction. The parts used were obtained locally 22 liter bucket beverage trade, 110 volt fan ordered off the internet, LED lamp from the local hardware store. lamp fitting a trouble lamp cord and socket. Vent holes and fan hole were made using a soldering iron and melting the plastic as required. Approximate cost: bucket $3.00, fan $25.00,LED Lamp $40.00,lamp electrical fitting $12.00. Total cost ~$80.00.They should last several years. Power consumption LED and fan is about 35 watts.

[dmforcier]

I rarely bottom water in starter flats. I top water with a nice fat syringe. Acquaints me with each plant daily.

[imp]

Originally Posted by dmforcier

I rarely bottom water in starter flats. I top water with a nice fat syringe. Acquaints me with each plant daily.

When in flats, mine are just started and to the first true leaves, then into solo cups as shown in Craig's dense planting method on here. Using bottom watering on both the flats and on most of cups let me grow out 1400 seedlings that year w/o any damping off. That year, they were started in the van, then moved to the porch rail and porch. Hardened off from the start.

I like looking my plants over often, and have the habit of brushing my hands across their tops - the smell is great and reminds me of the end results.

[dmforcier]

With 1400 plants I'd bottom water too!

[imp]

Here is a link to the T'ville thread for the dense planting thing:

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=437

It was pretty eassy, DM, not as much work as it may seem.

[throwaway]

That PVC contraption is a thing of beauty.

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

A few years ago I made an initial investment in one of the 72" x 48" chrome shelving units (currently listed for $110 at Home Depot) and six 4' two bulb T8 shop lights ($17 plus bulbs at Home Depot). And since this is set up in the basement where it's a bit chilly, I draped the back and sides with Mylar emergency blankets to reflect back light and what little heat the shop lights produce.

I use two lights per shelf on the bottom three shelves which are set to different heights, and the lights are suspended from the shelf above on adjustable chains. Gives me a lot of flexibility as seedlings grow. Then I have the top three shelves left over for storage. Or if you need more seedling space, just add shop lights to additional shelves.

When you say 2 lights per shelves, do you mean 2 fixtures or 2 bulbs?

[oakley]

A thousand ways to do it all successfully. $$$ or $ or free cycle.

My first set-up years ago was two metal shelving units from a
building recycle place. Now in the garage for storage of various
things one puts on shelves and rarely use...the gack and product.

Home Depot has them new for about 25bucks.

I now have fixed wooden shelves, adjustable if needed easy enough.
Downstairs work/project room. I'm growing year round micro greens
and micro toms so I still am constantly making adjustments.

Done with chains and pulleys. Fixed lights. I block up trays from below
with stacks of wood blocks as needed. One shelf/light for starts, another
for micro greens. Another for taller potted up toms.
I still have the pulleys NIB and even a couple timers but never used them
last year.

You will want to start your peppers a few weeks ahead of toms. Slooow
to get going. Just need a shelf system first using the lights you have.
So spread out the sticker shock, then add another light or two later when
potting up. I just run my lights 24/7 for the last couple weeks and shift
the trays around so they all get what they need.

The other delicate starts like cukes really just need a week or two, maybe
three waiting for good weather to plant out. They don't transplant that well
anyway but a head start helps. Peppers and toms are usually already out
and hardening off when I start those. Fast growers.

Some of the more expensive table-top systems are one trick, not valuable
storage the rest of the year. My shelves hold all the trays, soil, food, usual
gack the rest of the year. Lights on eye/waist level shelves so easy to
quick check on them.

Once potted up in 4" cups, I can fit 36 tom/pepper starts per shelf/light.
72 with two shelves. Double that if I run lights 24/7.

[Father'sDaughter]

Originally Posted by throwaway

When you say 2 lights per shelves, do you mean 2 fixtures or 2 bulbs?

Two fixtures per shelf. It gives me full coverage without having to do any rotating. I use 1020 trays turned sideways (short end against the back of the shelf rail) and can fit four side-by-side. I just leave the end that hangs off the shelf full of empty pots to keep the ones with plants from tipping over.

[throwaway]

Ah, so the lights are oriented in the same direction as the trays?