The type of lights to use for indoor seed starting is a topic of great debate. However, I’ve managed fine with single-side access to my wall-mounted shelves.
Best seed starting grow lights free#
I think it’s easiest if you can access both sides of the shelves, which is why I recommend the free standing units. Why buy two shelving units when you can do it all with one? Just be sure to compare the height of your ceiling to the dimensions of the shelving unit before purchasing. In total, this unit can hold 10 nursery trays, double what other 6-tier shelving units can hold. The reason I like this particular wire shelving model is because each shelf can hold two standard nursery trays (22″), which is uncommon for this style of shelving.
If wall-mounted shelves don’t work for you, try building your own wooden shelves or purchase a free-standing, 6-tier wire shelving unit. After the new year, I condense my storage vegetables and make room for starting seeds on these shelves. Throughout much of the year, these shelves act as a root cellar where I store harvested vegetables such as garlic, onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and winter squash. I use wall-mounted wire shelves in my mudroom. The shelving unit you choose determines a lot of things, such as the size of your lights as well as how much of the other equipment listed below you will need. Grow a garden that’s both productive and manageable with my Complete Garden Planning System, which includes practical tools for planning your season from seed to harvest. You may also want to check my Year-Round Gardening Guide which details to-do lists for each month. If you’re starting seeds for fall, check out When to Start Seeds: Your Guide to Fall Planting. Once you know your frost dates, you can set a schedule for starting seeds indoors using my article When to Start Seeds: Your Guide to Spring Planting. When to Start Seeds Indoorsįor most people, your frost dates determine when to start seeds. Ultimately, you won’t find two gardeners who start seeds indoors exactly the same way, but the following is the system that has worked for me for many years. If your budget doesn’t allow for starting seeds under lights just yet and you intend to use a windowsill, heat mats can be extremely helpful.
Best seed starting grow lights windows#
Modern windows may only transmit 25% of ultraviolet light, while older, plain-glass windows may only transmit 80% of light.Ĭheck out this comparison of seedlings grown on a windowsill vs. Some gardeners start seeds in south-facing, sunny windows rather than under lights, but success with this method can be inconsistent for a variety of reasons such as lack of daylight hours, extreme temperature fluctuations, and a reduction in UV light by the windows themselves. Instead, you can start seeds out in the garden when the weather warms up (for some crops) and buy seedlings from a local farmers’ market or nursery for those crops that need more time to develop. However, there is an initial investment to acquire the equipment and materials, so if you’re new to gardening or are super-busy, then it might be better, initially, to skip this step.
It’s simple when you follow these instructions, and it gets easier with practice! Starting seeds indoors under lights is quite the process, but don’t worry. However, this step-by-step guide demystifies the seed starting process and helps you get started with confidence. Starting seeds indoors under lights can seem intimidating.
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