Today, I set up the seedling light kit, in anticipation of germinating the cole crop seedlings next weekend. Instead of two sets of shelves in two rooms (and 16 fluorescent lights), I have decided to go with 3 shelves (12 lights) in only one room. Pretty sure I'll be moving seedlings into the 2nd room, anyway, after they germinate. Always end up with far more seedlings than I plan for.
The shelf system is built using 8 concrete blocks (gotta paint those blocks!), and 3 five-foot shelves. Each shelf has two 48" fluorescent shop lights hanging side x side, for a total of 4 lights per shelf. I got a case of cool white tubes on sale last year, and mixed them with tubes I purchased from the Habitat Resale Stores for $1 each. Here's the seedling light kit with the decorative bottom shelf (lined with shelf paper)...
I calculate the system should hold approximately 108 six-ounce yogurt cups of seedlings. Storage and tools can go under the bottom shelf, and inside the cinder block cubbyholes. Not sure yet if I'll be potting up seedlings to 16-ounce cups before planting out, or if I'll just go from the 6 oz cups to the eBuckets. Depends on the size of the seedlings by plantout target date of October 8th...
I never appreciated the real color of my painted walls until I turned on all those beams! Praying the DEA doesn't pick me up on the satellite. It sure wouldn't sit well with them to test-smoke dried cabbage seedlings, hoping to score primo MJ...
Godspeed, and Good Harvest! Linda
