New Seed Starting Area with a View
I finally have a dedicated seed starting area. For my entire gardening career I’ve been starting seeds on the dining room table, which isn’t a big deal, until you want to eat dinner and there’s potting soil, seed flats and seeds all over the place. There was a built in desk area upstairs that was not being used for anything but a plant stand and I decided it would be perfect.
There’s plenty of space, cupboards for storing seeds and supplies along with a long counter that can hold all manner of supplies. The best part is that it is bathed in nature light, it’s right in front of a nice window that looks out over the hill beyond. I can watch the chickens as they scratch around on the lawn below.
The flats are also in plain sight every time I go up and down the stairs making it very easy to monitor their progress. It’s the perfect spot!
Do you have a dedicated seed starting area?
Hubs has built himself a workshop and is moving his stuff out of our attached garage, so this garage will be my work area in the future. I have been using my office for my plant lights and such, but it keeps it in such a mess. Plus when I have my plants in the garage, all I have to do to get them in the sun is to wheel them out onto the driveway under the carport. I’d love to have a greenhouse and attached potting shed, but it doesn’t look like that’s ever going to happen. Getting to move into the garage will be an improvement over what I have.
to Ilene's comment
Susy, I do have a seed starting area but mine is in the deep dark dungeon. It’s the furnace room and is nothing more than a couple shelves on the wall with grow lights hanging over the shelves. The lights are adjustable so as the plants grow the lights can be raised. After this year I think I’m going to expand and maybe add another shelf. So much to do and so little time.
Have a great seedling day.
to Nebraska Dave's comment
Alas, my seedling starting area is part of my kitchen counter, with clamp lights rigged above. Next year (after seeing what an inconvenience and mess the kitchen setup made) the husband is going to build an adjustable-height grow light on shelving for me in my laundry room. No garage here, more’s the pity. Also no natural light – my house was built by an idiot – it’s window-poor, and the sun never shines into any of the windows. They’re either shaded by neighbor houses or trees, or the sun angle. AND I don’t even have a kitchen window, because the idiot put the kitchen in the center of the house. Just another reason for us to NOT want to retire here.
Your setup is lovely, and what a charming view!
to DebbieB's comment
I used to use the bay window of my breakfast area and my deck doors. Every afternoon I had to move the trays to the west facing windows of the family room. On gray days, of which we have an abundance, my poor seedlings got leggy.This year I’m going to buy all my seedlings. I’m having trees removed to allow more sunlight and then I’ll try again. Perhaps I may even have a hoop house.
to Jennifer Fisk's comment
Congratulations on having a dedicated area for all those trays! One year we went overboard and started all sorts of things on the dining room table, then ended up with company staying for a few days and there was nowhere for anyone to eat, and there were kids involved. I’ve been wary of it ever since! Now with a four year old and a two year old we have a $30 greenhouse stand in the dining room window. The plastic cover zips up and at least gives me a warning that the 2 year old is breaking and entering!
to Jill's comment
You have a lovely area for your seeds. I’m trying not to be envious. ;-)
to bonnie k.'s comment
Yep.. quite a few years ago, M’honey put up lights for me to start my seeds on some stock shelving in the basement that I bought from a company going out of business. They’re quite wide and deep so they make for a perfect seed starting shelf. I have 3 shelves with lights on them though I rarely use more than 1 or 2.
I still pot everything up on my kitchen table which is a pita.. but such is life.. It works for me!
to KimH's comment
A few months back I built my own grow light. I have it hanging from the closet in my daughter’s room. It’s a little cramped, but gets the job done. The grow light doubles as a nightlight for the girls, since I turn it on at night.
Eventually I’ll move it into the closet in my office. But I need to clear out the space first!
to Caroline's comment