Just about this time every year, I walk into a store and pick up packs of veggie seeds. I have Grand Plans to start them in my basement under a grow light (which I don't have) and then later take them outside to plant in a raised garden (which I don't have). What actually happens is that I'll plant the snow peas seeds in containers on my front steps in spring and I get to enjoy them, but the rest of the veggies just sit in their pouches getting old. By the time the weather is warm enough to put plants outside, since I have none I go to a home improvement store or warehouse store and pay $$ for a bunch of already started plants. Yield is never so good since they're now on my deck in pots which don't get full day sun. And by poor yield, I mean 2 or 3 tomatoes are salvageable. Those bugs!
I'm trying to scale down the thoughts of Grand Plans and might forego the idea of a raised garden. Years back I did have a huge 15x15 regular (not raised) garden, fenced in, but it was just too big to maintain (weeds) and the hose didn't reach that far. Whatever I have needs to be deer proof and in the sun. Problem is that the sunny area is also the wide open areas, the areas which I don't actually want to see a raised garden in. All areas around the house and the backyard are shady. So, there's the location issue. If anyone has ideas or sources for locating or building a "pretty" raised garden bed, I'd love to hear them. If it could be attractive and cheap, I'd be willing to try to build one.
But back to the growing of seeds. Is this a project that can be started in the basement under grow lights pretty successfully? I've read that once the plants sprout, you then need to keep them under lights and in a 65-70 climate. I keep my heat at 60 during the day when I'm at work and at night, and 65 otherwise.
I'm trying to be frugal here with my veggies, but it has never been successful for me ..... yet!
February 03, 2019 at 10:29AM
