Anyone use a seed starting system they particularly like?

[wildeyed]

I like the kind that use a reservoir system so I don't have to water as much. I grow them in the garage in early spring, no central heat, so I use heat mats. If you mess up and forget to water with those, it is easy to burn the babies up from the roots.

I used an old Gardeners Supply system. Loved it. The flats were made out of styrofoam, so they were delicate, but other than that, they were fantastic. They stopped making replacement parts for them and my husband stacked a bunch of heavy stuff on my reservoir support pieces (my fault, I didn't pack them up properly at the end of the project), so now I am stuck.

I got a starter pack of the new Gardener Supply system. It is rigid plastic, so sturdier, but difficult to get the seedlings out. Any suggestions? I need to order them now so I have them ready and waiting in early spring, otherwise I will get late again.

[El Mimbreno]

1. Couple of ideas

We've tried the AeroGarden hydroponic system but the starts don't seem to transplant well. And you can only start 6 plants. Good for growing basil and cilantro though.

So here's our "cheap & dirty" system:
For tomatoes and peppers, a heat mat is essential unless you keep your house really hot, like 90. We bought a couple of LED grow light panels on Ebay (about $20 each) and I built a stand out of scrap lumber so we can adjust the lamp height. I actually start the seeds in egg cartons, then transplant when the starts get their first actual leaves. An old spoon fits the egg space perfectly so the is little or no root disturbance. They go into the the thin plastic 3" starter pots from Wal-Mart that come in an 18-pack with a tray for water.

Before we plant, we put them out on our covered deck and gradually move them to more sun. We put metal collars around each plant for protection against rodents, wind, and the intense sun at 5800 ft.

Best of luck with your garden - this year and next.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. I start lots of seedlings and have a system that works great

Videos of my seed starting and transplanting on my page http://www.craiglehoullier.com/resources/

I can get 2000 plus seedlings started in a 1 by 2 foot space - no green house. use the method for pretty much everything.