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Growing from Seed

How moist is just right?

17 years ago

I bought some seedling trays that can each accommodate 50 plants in a 5 X 10 array. They're sitting in ridged watering trays, and they have clear domes over them. I used a good quality seed starting mix that wets very well. I filled all of my trays to the top and wetted them down; then I added some water to each bottom tray until the planting medium didn't suck up any more water. Then I planted my veggie seeds. If the mix in any of the holes seemed too "fluffy" when I planted, I added a little water to that so it would adhere to itself without it being totally waterlogged. I've got the trays on heat mats with a thermostat set to about 80F. I don't have excess water in the bottom trays, so I assume that my planting medium is not too wet, but I'm not sure. How can I judge how much water is too much and how little is too little?

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Comments (8)

cynthia_gw
17 years ago
You should let excess water drain through before putting the flats back in the trays. As long as the flats aren't sitting in water, they should be fine.

Do the seeds you started need 80F to germinate? (Some seeds won't germinate at that temp.)
kudzu9
Original Author
17 years ago
cynthis-
Are you thinking 80F is too hot or too cold? I have a wide variety of seeds and sort of thought that would be a good average temp. I don't have enough money to use individual thermostats for each variety.
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busylizzy
17 years ago
I use 72 to 75 for a variety of seeds in one seed starting box.
80 degrees is more for tropical varieties.
I know some veggies say 80 but I have no problems getting them going at 72-75. I have 6 different vegggies I started tonight under that temp.
A trick I do it to get loaf type aluminum baking pans with the clear lids. Commonly used for fruit cakes. Slit one baking pan on the bottom and place a no slit one over that, so you can bottom water the seedlings. That way if you have different germination times you can keep the lid on for those that haven't germinated yet, and take the lids off the ones that have. Kind of like they are in their own personal greenhouse.
Hope that helps
kudzu9
Original Author
17 years ago
busylizzy-
Thanks. I appreciate the helpful info...
belleville_rose_gr
17 years ago
I put my planting mix in a bucket and then add enough water for it it to clump up loosley. I then fill my flats. If your putting a plastic cover over your tray the heat from your mat will create humidity so your seeds will not dry out.
kudzu9
Original Author
17 years ago
belleville_rose-
Yes, I have covers on all of them. and it looks like eveything is staying moist. I'm only worrying about mold and damping off now...
cynthia_gw
17 years ago
Try room temperature unless you know that certain seeds need more warmth than that. Many things germinate cool or at modest temps. You don't want to cook your seeds. Honestly, most homes are warm enough (not mine) to germinate seeds with out supplementary heat. You didn't tell us what you're growing. You can look everything up on Tom Clothier's site - linked below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tom Clothier's Database
kudzu9
Original Author
17 years ago
I'm growing a variety of veggies from seed: tomatoes, eggplant, carrots, beets, squash, melons, basil, fennel, beans, cucumbers, chard, cilantro, mace.

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