{"id":533,"date":"2017-05-31T11:01:15","date_gmt":"2017-05-31T15:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/?p=533"},"modified":"2017-05-31T11:01:15","modified_gmt":"2017-05-31T15:01:15","slug":"seed-starting-in-a-mini-greenhouse-with-heat-pads","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/gardening\/seed-starting-in-a-mini-greenhouse-with-heat-pads\/","title":{"rendered":"Seed Starting in a Mini Greenhouse with Heat Pads"},"content":{"rendered":"

I started seedlings this year in a mini-greenhouse. You know, the $20-ish vinyl covered shelf unit, similar to this one (maybe exactly – looks just like it). Affiliate Link \"\"<\/a>alert!<\/p>\n

I didn’t use it outside though like I’ve seen some people do. Maybe that would work in late spring or down south. I set it up in the enclosed porch (we call it the breezeway) in a window facing somewhat south.<\/p>\n

The breezeway is partially heated but it gets very cool. However under the flats of seed starts, I put heating pads. I didn’t buy those expensive heat <\/a>pads they sell in the plant section. Just a couple old ones we had around for sore muscles and backs.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>It worked great. Between the little bit of sun and the warmth from the heating pads, the temp, at least at the soil surface was perfect.<\/p>\n

The aluminum loaf tins you see in the photos didn’t seem to work that well for me. I don’t know why, or if it was just a coincidence. I also think the seed starting mix I bought cheap may not be the best. I have since started using a Miracle Gro mix but not in the aluminum so I can’t say if that made a difference. I also had trouble in the small compartmental peat pots so maybe it was the mix or maybe just my brown thumb :(. I am thinking of trying a soil blocker next year. I also have had success with toilet paper tubes (more in a later post). All in all, I may have to buy some starts this year, particularly hot, and maybe sweet, peppers. I am going to transplant some of them today and see if they improve. But they probably should be going out into the garden. *sigh* Late as usual. Once it gets going though, it should do very well.<\/p>\n

Happy Gardening!<\/p>\n

PS I should point out that I have Kale started in an aluminum tray with that starting mix and it’s doing well. It’s not huge but it is alive and healthy looking. Kale is a tough plant though I think (my first time growing it), but it was worth noting. I think I’ll transplant that today too.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I started seedlings this year in a mini-greenhouse. You know, the $20-ish vinyl covered shelf<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":592,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[7,42,67,80,88,90,107,130,136,140,151],"class_list":["post-533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-gallery","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gardening","tag-ig2017","tag-containers","tag-heat-pads","tag-kale","tag-mini-greenhouse","tag-miracle-gro","tag-peppers","tag-seedlings","tag-soil-mixture","tag-starts","tag-toilet-paper-tubes","post_format-post-format-gallery"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/IMG_0075.jpg?fit=1920%2C1080","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p9LDI2-8B","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":26,"url":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/gardening\/starting-stuff-in-the-greenhouse\/","url_meta":{"origin":533,"position":0},"title":"Starting Stuff In The Greenhouse","author":"Wayne","date":"July 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I didn't buy any transplants this year as I successfully grew everything in the greenhouse.","rel":"","context":"In "Gardening"","block_context":{"text":"Gardening","link":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/category\/gardening\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Getting things started","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0087.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0087.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0087.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0087.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0087.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29,"url":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/gardening\/its-almost-here\/","url_meta":{"origin":533,"position":1},"title":"It’s almost here.","author":"Wayne","date":"March 10, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Spring is almost here, although it has almost felt that way throughout most of the winter.","rel":"","context":"In "Gardening"","block_context":{"text":"Gardening","link":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/category\/gardening\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0039-e1473716103757.jpg?fit=1200%2C510&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0039-e1473716103757.jpg?fit=1200%2C510&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0039-e1473716103757.jpg?fit=1200%2C510&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0039-e1473716103757.jpg?fit=1200%2C510&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0039-e1473716103757.jpg?fit=1200%2C510&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":707,"url":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/gardening\/june-july-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":533,"position":2},"title":"June-July Update","author":"Wayne","date":"July 4, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Well, it's near the end of June and I'm still struggling to get the rest of the garden planted. While there are a number of reasons, they all sound like excuses so I won't go there. I am making progress though and for most plants, if not all, it's probably\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gardening"","block_context":{"text":"Gardening","link":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/category\/gardening\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/2017-07-03-17.08.06-1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/2017-07-03-17.08.06-1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/2017-07-03-17.08.06-1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/2017-07-03-17.08.06-1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/2017-07-03-17.08.06-1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28,"url":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/gardening\/happy-spring\/","url_meta":{"origin":533,"position":3},"title":"Happy Spring!","author":"Wayne","date":"April 22, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Well it's almost that time again. My plants are nowhere near ready to put in the ground but there's still time for them to get there. The plastic on the greenhouse has done fairly well. I put\u00a0in\u00a0a heater and it's been keeping the temps above freezing at least. I have\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gardening"","block_context":{"text":"Gardening","link":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/category\/gardening\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0124.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0124.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0124.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0124.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/IMAG0124.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36,"url":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/gardening\/whew\/","url_meta":{"origin":533,"position":4},"title":"Whew!","author":"Wayne","date":"March 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Soon we'll go from snow boots to water\/mud boots...","rel":"","context":"In "Gardening"","block_context":{"text":"Gardening","link":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/category\/gardening\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"2015-02-09-17-02-21","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/2015-02-09-17.02.21-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1314,"url":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/gardening\/2019-gallery\/","url_meta":{"origin":533,"position":5},"title":"2019 Gallery","author":"Wayne","date":"October 3, 2019","format":"gallery","excerpt":"Hope you enjoy these kind of random cell phone photos taken throughout the season. There are more from the \"real\" camera, but I need to find time to edit them. Then I'll add them, probably in another post. Happy Gardening (and \"chickening\")! \"Mouse Cage\" prevented critters from eating the seeds\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Gardening"","block_context":{"text":"Gardening","link":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/category\/gardening\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2019-08-11-13.45.06-e1570155658355.jpg?fit=1200%2C902&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2019-08-11-13.45.06-e1570155658355.jpg?fit=1200%2C902&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2019-08-11-13.45.06-e1570155658355.jpg?fit=1200%2C902&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2019-08-11-13.45.06-e1570155658355.jpg?fit=1200%2C902&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2019-08-11-13.45.06-e1570155658355.jpg?fit=1200%2C902&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=533"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/533\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.darkskywv.net\/waynes_impossible\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}