Al Dykes wrote:

What kind of heaters and lights are people using ? I'd like some
ideas.

I'm going to start some plants this season and need some ideas about
how to keep them warm until it's time to put them outside. The
basement is at about 68 while the heating season is here. I expect
that there will be a point where I turn the oil burner off, but before
it's warm enough to put the plants outside.



I start my garden plants in the basement. I use a bank of 8 four foot
long fluorescent tubes above a single shelf. For a week or two I run out
of space. Then I leave the lights on 24 hours a day and rotate the trays
of plants through so that they take turns being directly under the
lights. Soon the cold tolerant plants are moved outside to harden off
and the space is enough again.
You'll want the plants to be almost touching the lights. As the plants
grow, you'll either need to raise up the lights or lower the plants.
Cool temperatures are good. You wouldn't want to be much warmer than 68
degrees.
I keep the newly planted seeds warm so they get up and growing quick. I
use an old electric blanket folded flat so that it fits neatly into a
garbage bag. (yes, I fully expect that doing this will burn the house
down one of these years.) Any way, keeping the newly planted seeds at 80
to 85 degrees will get most seeds growing in about 3 days. As soon as
several seedlings are up, they get moved over to the lights.

Steve