I have a greenhouse, but in dec -jan when I want to start seeds it's hard to keep the temp up to 65 - 75 deg for germination, so I bought a 20 x20' gro mat and two 48' shop lights to hang over it. Seeds sprout in record time and then I move them off the heat mat, but still under the lights till they are ready to pot up. I use full spectrum bulbs and the lights are only 3-4" above the trays. The heat from the lights is enough during the day, so when I turn off the lights at night I turn on the heat mat. In the summer of course I don't need the the heat mat. I do this in an unheated storage room. It cost about $100. for the lights and heat mat, but I grew 10 trays of veggies and flowers just last spring.
john

Mine go outside as soon as they emerge - I have a table that gets filtered light in the afternoon.

I use recycled nursery celpaks & Jiffy seed-starting mix - & I leave some room (approx. 1") to add compost, etc. once the seedlings develop true leaves. The celpaks sit in recycled plastic sod trays - about the size & shape of a cake pan & perforated on the bottom for drainage - makes it easier to carry around & I like to think it insulates them a bit too. & no fertiliser or amendments until true leaves develop - other than watering occasionally w/ seaweed extract.

I think you can buy Jiffy seed starting kits w/ the celpaks already filled w/ mix. That was how I started out years ago.

Ana,

The easiest way and 100% fool proof is just buy a regular old shop light (4 foot) $9 from any of the big box stores. Buy one warm bulb and one cool bulb, basically a normal florescent bulb and a day light bulb, no need for the expensive grow light bulbs (maybe $2 a bulb). Buy a cheap timer ($9) and set it so the lights are on for 16 hours a day.

I use Miracle grow natures choice soil mix but do add quite a bit of perlite to it. I start my seeds in recycled containers from the grocery. Once the seeds peek put them under the lights and set the lights within 2 inches of the tops of the seedlings. When the seedlings have their first set of true leaves I pot them up in small pots and push a piece of acrylic yarn up through the drain hole and set the plants on a rack over a container that has very weak fertilized water in it. All you have to do is move the plant lights higher every few days keeping the bulbs a couple inches from the leaves. If the plant leaves hit the bulb it won't hurt anything. Repot again as the plants get larger.

I guarantee you will have the nicest most robust seedlings you have ever seen. It is 100% fool proof and requires very little attention. The worst thing that can happen to young seedlings is a wilt when they dry out. This system 100% prevents that from ever happening. No bugs iside and less chance of disease. In the winter no worry about temperature.

I have never had luck with growing tomatoes in the summer, except for plain old grape tomatoes and cherries. I was very disappointed in Juliet. Mine is on the east side of my house, and looks like crap. In fact, I'm going to be pulling it up and tossing it. Hasn't had fruit since May, and even then, it was tough-skinned.

I've never had seeds do anything for me in the summer. I'm struggling right now to keep some yellow tomato seedlings alive until fall, but seriously, I doubt they will make it. I lost all my black pear and cherokee purple seedlings, and they were under an oak tree.

ana,

When I lived up north in New Hampshire I used a glass fish aquarium for my tomato starts. The aquarium hood on it had a fluorescent light and I would start my tomatoes in the basement with the light on a timer. Maybe that idea could be used for you to start your tomatoes in winter.

Lou

If you do buy a light BR is right about the fact that you have to keep the light right down on top of the plants or they'll get leggy.... And, it is very cheap to buy a 4' setup, I just didn't have the room so I had to look for several weeks to find a 2' table top $70 setup on sale for $25. You're success rate will be exponential starting your plants under lights....

Tom

Full sun in the Florida summer is going to be too much for any seedling. I put mine on the screened back porch and they seem to like it. If you don't have a sunny porch it is probably better to start them inside to protect them from disease and insects until they get bigger. Everyone else had good suggestions for starting inside.

Thanks everybody!
Yes, I will need planning to create something with lights.
Lou: nice idea with aquarium!!

dirtygardener73: peppers are not even germinating! I donÂt have tomatoes since end of June. But Juliet did very well and gave tons of tomatoes for 2 months.

Bamboo: I use Miracle grow potting mix now, after I used Hyponex and learned a lesson that not all soils are good and, moreover, some are bad and it happened to be the one I used!
Thanks,
ana

amberroses: I can't keep them inside because it's dark, and our porch doesn't get sun until 5pm. and I can't used windows because my cats and a dog always get them off there!
I put them under a citrus tree and hoping for the best!

thanks,
ana

I recently started some tomato and pepper seeds - they sprouted maybe two weeks at the most. Saw this post and moved my light down on top of these seedlings - think its too late for them to not get too leggy - they are about 2-3 inches now with the first set of leaves. Just lowered my light to 1/2 above them. Think they'll bounce back or would it be better to start over?

Jason

Oh hey - I'm sorry I did not realise you were talking about growing your seedlings now - mine were started according to the UF planting dates for central & South FL, which would be between Jan & Mar., then again in Aug./Sept.

If you've trying to grow 'em now, no wonder you're having trouble!

Just wanted to show you guys my lights!
Will have a fresh start in January!

Nice setup!

"I recently started some tomato and pepper seeds - they sprouted maybe two weeks at the most. Saw this post and moved my light down on top of these seedlings - think its too late for them to not get too leggy - they are about 2-3 inches now with the first set of leaves. Just lowered my light to 1/2 above them. Think they'll bounce back or would it be better to start over?
Jason"

Jason they should be fine. Just keep the light close to them and a couple times a day run your hand across the seedlings bending them far to each side, it really helps to strengthen the stems.

...couple times a day run your hand across the seedlings bending them far to each side, it really helps to strengthen the stems.

And don't drop the lights on them like I occasionally do when I raise the lights to water. Bending is good, breaking is bad :-) :-(

Tom

Tom,

Use a turkey baster to water them without messing with the lights, it works great.

Lou