Quick question for AT gardeners

[StageLeft]

I am starting a bunch of tomato seeds in pots. They are spending all day next to a south facing window and getting a decent bit of light. Obvious problem is they are growing toward the window and I have to rotate them each day, which is really annoying. Is there any value in getting a mirror to sit on the other side of them? Will it meaningfully reflect light back at them? It could even assist, right, offering more light and better growth?

 

[DrPizza]

Interesting idea. Most people I know just rotate the plants. It might be a neat experiment, but I still think they'll end up leaning toward the window; perhaps just to a lesser degree.

 

[spidey07]

Even white cardboard would do as well. Just make sure they aren't "reaching" for sunlight eitherway. You want your seedlings to be short and fat with leaves, not tall and skinny growing for light.

Depending on your temperature you could even start taking them outside for a good portion of the day to eventually always outside. It will help with transplanting as they'll be accustomed to being outdoors.

 

[OCGuy]

So how much pot are you growing again?

 

[StageLeft]

So how much pot are you growing again?

Enough for personal use.

 

[BoomerD]

Tomatoes? uh-huh...sure.

The leaves MIGHT slightly resemble tomatos...to a blind person.

 

[SunSamurai]

Are you sure those aren't Monsanto seeds?

YOURE IN BIG TROUBLE NOW!

 

[StageLeft]

Are you are those aren't Monsanto seeds?

YOURE IN BIG TROUBLE NOW!

Hey, they flew onto my property!

OK the mirror is installed. It will be nice to see tomorrow where the plants move to but it seems they're going to be getting a lot more light. I think this is just a fine idea if I ever had one. A simple an obvious one, though, so maybe not so fine, but we'll see.

 

[grohl]

pics?

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

This is kind of funny. I planted a bunch under grow lights, and have 60+ germinate.

With extra light comes extra evaporation. Be really careful, because if they dry out they are dead.

What kind of seeds did you plant?

Me->
Berkeley Tie Dye
Black Cherry
Saber
Polish Linguisa


I've a bunch of hot peppers ranging from large cherry peppers to bhut jolokia

I figure they can go out the second week of May. I might have to dig up some peppers and put under lights at the end of the season. Might get a frost before they are ready.

 

[spidey07]

Agree on the heat thing which is why the inside of my germination/starter box is white with a glass cover. Keeps them nice and moist with enough heat, sun and humidity to make them happy.

And Busa, are you really growing the ghost chili? Where'd you get them?

 

[StageLeft]

If this keeps more light I'll keep them hydrated. I may go with a grow setup at some point.

So far just cherry tomatos. This is my first year actually seeding things, last year my first doing anything. I'll put cucumbers in two weeks aiming to plant in ground a month later. i was too late on green peppers so I'll buy those from the store.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

And Busa, are you really growing the ghost chili? Where'd you get them?

I bought them here

http://www.peppergal.com/product/HP198%20pepper%20seed

I ordered several varieties from there, and after just 5 days I have germination. Not the Jolokias, because they take longer, but that's pretty darn good.

The envelope said "15 seeds" for the Bhuts, but there were 24. Yes I counted them.

I soaked all the pepper seeds in a potassium nitrate solution for 6 hours before planting. People swear by it, and while I don't have a control group to test scientifically, so far things are ahead of where I expected.

I'm trying an experiment. I have a line on some small oak barrels, and I'm going to make Tabasco sauce. Yep, the full three year fermentation.

Depending on the quantity of peppers I may do the same with half Tabasco and Jolokias, and the hot hot ones themselves.

I'm patient.

 

[spidey07]

I bought them here

http://www.peppergal.com/product/HP198%20pepper%20seed

I ordered several varieties from there, and after just 5 days I have germination. Not the Jolokias, because they take longer, but that's pretty darn good.

The envelope said "15 seeds" for the Bhuts, but there were 24. Yes I counted them.

I soaked all the pepper seeds in a potassium nitrate solution for 6 hours before planting. People swear by it, and while I don't have a control group to test scientifically, so far things are ahead of where I expected.

I'm trying an experiment. I have a line on some small oak barrels, and I'm going to make Tabasco sauce. Yep, the full three year fermentation.

Depending on the quantity of peppers I may do the same with half Tabasco and Jolokias, and the hot hot ones themselves.

I'm patient.

Good luck then. The peppers I grow are hotter than anything I've ever found in a store. Even jalapenos and serranos are almost inedible hot, let alone what you're doing. Just cutting them will clear the room.

Skoorb - I'm kinda a tomato master. PM me or just post a "what tomato you planting" thread.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Skoorb - I'm kinda a tomato master. PM me or just post a "what tomato you planting" thread.

I think I'll do that!

 

[djheater]

You should think about moving them outside for part of the day. It will provide sun and wind which will quickly kill them otherwise.
Read up on hardening off seedlings.