rintintin
Pro Member
Posts: 150
Joined: December 2010
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Post by rintintin on Jan 19, 2011 0:18:36 GMT -5
Years ago, my only growing space was a 100 sq ft community garden. Here in the PNW, tomatoes & peppers will only fruit if started EARLY.
While at the local garden shop, I saw heat mats, but balked at the $30 price tag for growing 6 tomato, and 3 pepper plants (everything else was going to be direct sown). On the way home, I passed a garage sale, and they had a slow-cooker (crock pot) sitting there for $1. I took it home and filled it with potting soil, and tested it. High-Low-Warm settings: "Warm" held my soil around 80°. so, in went my seeds. There was plenty of space for them until pricking up time.
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Post by daylilydude on Jan 19, 2011 9:54:05 GMT -5
Great idea, now I know what I'm gonna use that old one of mine for! Can you show pics of it, if you have any PLEASE!!
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Pharmer Phil
Pro Member
Posts: 140
Zone:: 4
Favorite Vegetable:: Okra/Tomatoes
Joined: January 2011
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Jan 19, 2011 16:34:57 GMT -5
we have two that are 22" wide and 4 foot long. so we have a 44" x 48" area for trays. they were 62 bux a piece They are not controlled with a thermostat, but stay approximately 20° above the ambient room temp. we start over 1000 plants on them from seed, later transfer to the greenhouse. I'd have to look at the brand, but they have worked now for 3 years without a problem...and the plants LOVE em'
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2011 17:21:48 GMT -5
quote pharmerphil so we have a 44" x 48" area for trays. they were 62 bux a piece They are not controlled with a thermostat, but stay approximately 20° above the ambient room temp. I have the same...one mat holds 2 standard 2010 trays other mat (borrowed for the season) holds 4 trays I agree, the heat from the mats make a huge difference with germination time....never had any problems with mine either.... it can get pricey when you have to buy gardening supplies for the initial start up, but should last for many years use.....and pay you back many times over with the harvest...having the right supplies surely makes gardening a lot more pleasurable IMHO
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rintintin
Pro Member
Posts: 150
Joined: December 2010
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Post by rintintin on Jan 19, 2011 22:36:24 GMT -5
I didn't take any pics of it. I see them at almost every yard sale and Thrift stores. Always cheap.
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Pharmer Phil
Pro Member
Posts: 140
Zone:: 4
Favorite Vegetable:: Okra/Tomatoes
Joined: January 2011
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Jan 21, 2011 7:07:15 GMT -5
rintintin..find any extra's lemme know will Ya...
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Post by daylilydude on Jan 23, 2011 8:45:40 GMT -5
All I use is an everyday heating pad from the drug store. I'm not cheap, just frugal!!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2011 9:21:32 GMT -5
That's what I use. I just have to turn it back on every 2 hours. It is only on when I am home.
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Pharmer Phil
Pro Member
Posts: 140
Zone:: 4
Favorite Vegetable:: Okra/Tomatoes
Joined: January 2011
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Post by Pharmer Phil on Jan 23, 2011 9:35:47 GMT -5
I have used one like that for many years DLD, still do if I have something smaller to heat. If larger.. I take a sheet of aluminum foil, lay over the pad, and it enlarges the heating area a lot. here's one of ours...they will be put to work very soon!!
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Post by stratcat on Jan 23, 2011 14:48:32 GMT -5
I'm still using an old heating pad in a plastic bag. Sometimes I borrow a newer pad but that one doesn't work as well at all.
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Post by paulf on Jan 23, 2011 23:19:00 GMT -5
Good to see there are others who use the frugal heating pads. Inside a plastic bag is the way to go to keep from shorting out.
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Post by txdirtdog on Jan 24, 2011 0:07:38 GMT -5
Well, I'm using a heating pad for the first time this season. Couple of weeks now. Um, guess I'll go hunt up a plastic bag. Thanks for the tip guys.
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Post by w8in4dave on Feb 4, 2011 23:34:58 GMT -5
yup I am going to start some peppers thanks
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2012 17:19:06 GMT -5
Rope Lighting - 18 ft length, looped around under 2 - 10x20 inch trays, works great, already moisture-proof. Does get a little too warm if trays rest directly on it, so position so there is a bit of elevation and air flow between lights and bottom of plastic trays.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2012 10:13:43 GMT -5
I don't have one ,did used my heated wine pad to try and germinate some datura seeds ,I thought it cooked them at first,but they popped up .
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2012 11:29:21 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the great Idea about the crock pot. In the winter I grow an inside garden in my front window and use an old heating pad but I will be getting a bigger indoor greenhouse next winter and will need extra heat. I will be keeping my eyes open for crock pots.
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Post by daylilydude on Mar 12, 2012 4:57:37 GMT -5
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desertrat
Pro Member
Posts: 143
Joined: October 2011
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Post by desertrat on Feb 5, 2014 16:33:01 GMT -5
Yep, I moved the tomato transplants off the drug store heating pad and now have eggplants on it. 1 stays on all the time the other goes off and has to be turned on several times a day. Only left on when I'm home and never at night. I'd like to get the larger seed starting mats but not in my budget right now. The crockpot idea is interesting too.
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billh
Pro Member
Posts: 231
Zone:: 6a
Joined: December 2011
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Post by billh on Mar 20, 2014 5:42:19 GMT -5
I like that rope light thing DLD.
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