Cheap Light Bar for Seedlings
15.1 years ago cheap, indoor seed starting
A couple months ago we replaced a couple of bathroom light fixtures and it didn’t take too long for me to find the old ones a new home. An old extension code couple electrical connectors and I have a completely non-code light bar. I used the smaller fixture and replaced my light bulbs hanging from sockets using zip ties.
When I have some more time I will plan on making a reflector to redirect more light on the plants but for now the little peppers/tomatoes look very happy.
Tags: cheap, garden seeds, outdoor plants, pepper plants, tomato plants, vegetables
Hometown seed giveaway #2 (Survival Seeds)
15.2 years ago free, giveaway, seed storing, seeds
Hometown Seeds has again graciously offered up a selection of their non-GMO non hybrid survival seeds. These are advertised to keep in storage for 5-10 years but also are open pollinated so you can grow them this year, collect the seeds and create your own stockpile in preparation of any future catastrophic food shortage.
They include a selection of the following varieties:
- Lincoln Peas
- Detroit Dark Red Beets
- Kentucky Wonder Brown Pole Bean
- Yolo Wonder Pepper
- Champion Radish
- Lucullus Swiss Chard
- Black Beauty Zucchini
- Waltham Butternut Winter Squash
- Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach
- Scarlet Nantes Carrots
- Long Green Improved Cucumber
- Rutgers Tomato
- Golden Acre Cabbage
- Romaine Paris Island Cos Lettuce
- Golden Bantem Sweet Corn
- Yellow Sweet Spanish Onion
They will be sending me the seeds to no restrictions on where these can be mailed to, so simply add a comment by 2/16/2010 2/19/2010 and I will randomly select a winner in one week.
Update — 2/16/2010
I got the seeds in the mail from Hometown Seeds and I was very surprised in the weight of these seeds. Well over a lb of seeds in this package. They come in a sealed lightproof wrapper as you can see below:
Though the seeds would last longer if I kept them in this packaging, though I just had to rip it open to see what was inside (winner’s package will not be opened):
As you can see there are quite a few seeds in this package so you may want to think about who you may want to share these with if you win.
Tags: cheap, garden seeds, led, pepper plants, tomato plants, vegetables
LED grow box gets an upgrade
15.2 years ago cheap, indoor growbox, indoor seed starting, LEDs, seeds
In our family we are not just cheap in the garden we also keep our house pretty cool to save on heating costs. Unfortunately since the LEDs in my grow box do not put out very much heat the inside is only about 68 F degrees even placing it on top of my refrigerator. For most seeds 77 F degrees is a great ball bark number to shoot for to get the best germination percentage as well as quicker germination times. This was the number I was shooting for, so I decided to add a string of mini incandescent bulbs to help bring up the temperature.
To do this I did exactly what I did for the LEDs just drill a hundred or so holes into the side of the box just slightly smaller than the bulb. Then had the fun job of pushing them all through.
I first tried having all the lights on but that brought the temperature up to 85 degrees, next I tried only half the lights on…70 F degrees. Then I got the idea of adding the blinker bulbs and tada 77 F degrees on the nose (ok technically 77.1 F).
So far everything is looking good have some onions, peppers, basil, and Swiss chard already sprouted and expecting more shortly.
Tags: cheap, garden seeds, grow lights, growbox, led, pepper plants, vegetables
pH needs of plants in soil or hydroponics
15.2 years ago hydroponics, pH, water
With the exception of some of my acid loving plants and flowers I normally do not have to worry much about the pH of my soil. This is because I have amended my gardens with nutrient rich soils in raised beds over my alkaline clay I get naturally in my area. This and the fact that due to natural and manmade causes the rainfall is slightly acidic and given the average range for the sweet spot of most edible vegetables (see table below) is 5.8 to 6.0 having your soil slightly acidic this is perfect.
Now when it comes to hydroponics this is entirely different. My tap water has a pH of around 7.5 and the fluctuation of plant using nutrients and transpiration can cause great havoc on the pH on your hydroponic system. Now this creates a challenge but also an opportunity to have control with great precision your pH and keep your plants growing in the sweet spot for the healthiest plants and the greatest yields.
So whether you are growing hydroponically, or simply trying to figure out why your Fennel didn’t do so well last year take a look at the table below, hopefully for some hints of what happened.
Recommended pH Ranges of Vegetables/Herbs
| Plant | Low | High | Plant | Low | High | |
| Artichoke | 6.5 | 7.5 | Millet | 6.0 | 6.5 | |
| Asparagus | 6.0 | 8.0 | Mint | 7.0 | 8.0 | |
| Average | 6.3 | 7.8 | Mushroom | 6.5 | 7.5 | |
| Basil | 5.5 | 6.5 | Mustard | 6.0 | 7.5 | |
| Bean | 6.0 | 7.5 | Okra | 5.5 | 6.0 | |
| Beanroot | 6.0 | 7.5 | Olive | 5.5 | 6.5 | |
| Beet | 6.0 | 6.8 | Onion | 5.5 | 6.5 | |
| Broccoli | 6.0 | 6.8 | Paprika | 7.0 | 8.5 | |
| Brussel Sprouts | 6.0 | 6.8 | Parsley | 5.0 | 7.0 | |
| Cabbage | 6.0 | 6.8 | Parsnip | 6.0 | 6.8 | |
| Calabrese | 6.5 | 7.5 | Pea | 5.8 | 7.0 | |
| Carrot | 6.0 | 6.8 | Peanut | 5.0 | 6.5 | |
| Cauliflower | 6.0 | 6.8 | Pepper | 5.5 | 6.0 | |
| Celery | 6.0 | 6.5 | Peppermint | 6.0 | 7.5 | |
| Chicory | 5.0 | 6.5 | Pistacio | 5.0 | 6.0 | |
| Chinese Cabbage | 6.0 | 7.5 | Potato | 4.5 | 6.5 | |
| Chives | 6.0 | 7.0 | Potato, Sweet | 4.5 | 6.0 | |
| Corn Salad | 6.0 | 6.5 | Pumpkin | 6.0 | 6.8 | |
| Corn, Sweet | 5.8 | 6.8 | Radish | 6.0 | 6.8 | |
| Courgettes | 5.5 | 7.0 | Rice | 5.0 | 6.5 | |
| Cress | 6.0 | 7.0 | Rosemary | 5.0 | 6.0 | |
| Cucumber | 6.0 | 6.8 | Rutabaga | 6.0 | 6.8 | |
| Eggplant | 5.5 | 6.0 | Sage | 5.5 | 6.5 | |
| Fennel | 5.0 | 6.0 | Shallot | 5.5 | 7.0 | |
| Garlic | 5.5 | 7.5 | Sorghum | 5.5 | 7.5 | |
| Ginger | 6.0 | 8.0 | Soybean | 5.5 | 6.5 | |
| Horseradish | 6.0 | 7.0 | Spearmint | 5.5 | 7.5 | |
| Kale | 6.0 | 7.5 | Spinach | 6.0 | 6.5 | |
| Kohlrabi | 6.0 | 6.8 | Squash | 6.0 | 6.8 | |
| Leek | 6.0 | 8.0 | Swede | 5.5 | 7.0 | |
| Lentil | 5.5 | 7.0 | Swiss Chard | 6.0 | 6.5 | |
| Lettuce | 6.0 | 6.5 | Thyme | 5.5 | 7.0 | |
| Marjoram | 6.0 | 7.5 | Tomato | 6.0 | 6.5 | |
| Marrow | 6.0 | 7.5 | Turnip | 6.0 | 6.8 | |
| Melon | 6.0 | 6.8 | Upland Cress | 6.0 | 6.5 |
Tags: garlic bulbs, herb garden, outdoor plants, pepper plants, peppermint plant, tomato plants, vegetables
Giveaway: $1354.83 worth of fresh produce
15.3 years ago giveaway, harvest, seed saving, seeds
Ok there is a little catch, you have to plant the seeds and grow the produce yourself and have perfect weather and unlimited space to do it. Over the past season I have intentionally harvested more seeds than I needed just for the purpose of sharing them so here is your first chance to get some of CVG’s seed stash. This should be a good addition to your current selection of seeds or great for a person just starting out next year.
The harvest values were calculated using my most profitable vegetables in your garden post, so numbers are estimated but I tried to be as accurate as possible. Below are also links to my harvesting techniques of most of the “Self” seeds below (just realized I never wrote up cilantro and radish seed harvesting so expect to see these soon).
CVG’s Seed Stash (Variety Pack)
| Seed | Seed Type |
Seeds (Est.) | Harvest Value (Est.) |
| Jalapeno Pepper | Self Collected | 10 | $ 45.00 |
| Radish | Self Collected | 30 | $ 11.66 |
| Lavender | ? | 50 | $ 10.00 |
| Cilantro/Coriander | Self Collected | 100 | $ 525.00 |
| Bhut Jolokia pepper | Self Collected | 10 | $ 150.00 |
| Sunflower (Big) | Self Collected | 20 | $ 10.00 |
| Spinach | Self Collected | 25 | $ 11.25 |
| Carnation | ? | 30 | $ 5.00 |
| Onions (White) | Self Collected | 50 | $ 12.94 |
| Tomato (Early Girl) | Hybrid | 15 | $ 233.55 |
| Corn (Sweet Yellow) | Self Collected | 25 | $ 31.25 |
| Pumpkin | Self Collected | 15 | $ 150.00 |
| Carrots (Finger) | Hybrid | 70 | $ 15.58 |
| Sunflower (Evening Sun) | Hybrid | 10 | $ 10.00 |
| Cucumber | Heirloom | 30 | $ 116.10 |
| Peas | Self Collected | 30 | $ 12.50 |
| Mint (Spearmint) | Hybrid | 50 | $ 5.00 |
| Total | $ 1,354.83 |
As always just enter a comment and a winner will be randomly selected using my patented “CVG’s Contest Winner Pickorama” on Jan 1st, 2010. This contest is open to everyone inside/outside the United States pending any export/import of regulations of sending seeds, which I am still doing some research on.
Tags: cheap, cilantro, garden seeds, outdoor plants, pepper plants, tomato plants, vegetables
EcoSmart Garden Insect Control Review and Giveaway
15.3 years ago aphids, giveaway, peppermint
One of the major disadvantages to growing plants indoors is the lack of beneficial insects. In a larger environment like a greenhouse you could release some ladybugs to initiate an aphid slaughter though the thought of 1500+ ladybugs investing my garage where my grow box resides does not seem like a good idea. I am always open to trying out new products so when EcoSmart contacted me if I was interested in trying out their garden insect control products I jumped at the opportunity.
I explained the problems I have with pests in my indoor growing and they suggested “Garden Insect Killer” Their documentation states, “Kills and repels garden insects and mites. Kills exposed eggs, larvae and adult stages.” This seemed to be exactly what I was looking for so once the first onset of pests arrived I applied liberally to tops and bottoms of leaves and so far the results are great. Not only were this effective on the little buggers, given the selection of Rosemary, Peppermint, Thyme, Clove oils it actually makes the garage smell pretty nice as an added bonus.
Want to try this out for yourself the great people at EcoSmart have offered to give away a bottle of any of their products. So under normal rules, enter a comment and a winner will randomly be selected and sent a bottle of their choice. Comment must be submitted by Friday, December 18th 2009 at midnight (Pacific) to be considered for the drawing. Good luck.
Tags: growbox, outdoor plants, pepper plants, peppermint plant
