I tried a new seed starting system this year, with a sort of DIY greenhouse and now that I'm getting ready to plant - I'm calling it a success for me.
I have not wanted to get grow lights as it seems too high maintenance and takes a lot of space but of course, seedlings get leggy indoors. I've tried winter sowing in old milk jugs and that was just too fussy for me.
This year I did soil blocking on baking trays indoors until things sprouted. With the small size soil blocker I was able to start 480 seeds on just two baking trays.
Then, as they sprouted, I transplanted into plastic pots and at this point I put them outdoors on a stainless steel wheelie rack with a tight fitting clear vinyl cover to make a sort of greenhouse. I put it in a sunny spot and put it tight up against the house with a concrete block so it couldn't blow over. I kept it zipped up mostly to keep the critters out. On a few hots days I extra watered but overall, it managed itself. It only got just below freezing one or two nights but it was definitely in the 30s at night when I put things out and they did fine.
My seedlings are looking stronger than ever, it was the most minimum amount of work and space I could do in my situation. Definitely the soil blocking didn't work for some things, they do tend to fall apart when it gets too watery but overall, I'm looking at about 100+ plant starts* in great shape with only 4 shelves and baking trays and no lights.
*My failure rate was a little high as I was using up some very old seeds and didn't anticipate everything germinating.
Seed starting technique - Cheap-o Greenhouse
I have not wanted to get grow lights as it seems too high maintenance and takes a lot of space but of course, seedlings get leggy indoors. I've tried winter sowing in old milk jugs and that was just too fussy for me.
This year I did soil blocking on baking trays indoors until things sprouted. With the small size soil blocker I was able to start 480 seeds on just two baking trays.
Then, as they sprouted, I transplanted into plastic pots and at this point I put them outdoors on a stainless steel wheelie rack with a tight fitting clear vinyl cover to make a sort of greenhouse. I put it in a sunny spot and put it tight up against the house with a concrete block so it couldn't blow over. I kept it zipped up mostly to keep the critters out. On a few hots days I extra watered but overall, it managed itself. It only got just below freezing one or two nights but it was definitely in the 30s at night when I put things out and they did fine.
My seedlings are looking stronger than ever, it was the most minimum amount of work and space I could do in my situation. Definitely the soil blocking didn't work for some things, they do tend to fall apart when it gets too watery but overall, I'm looking at about 100+ plant starts* in great shape with only 4 shelves and baking trays and no lights.
*My failure rate was a little high as I was using up some very old seeds and didn't anticipate everything germinating.
Happy Gardening