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Now that's the way to do it! Lovely Those veg plants will be so much further forward when they are eventually let out of their box and into the bright spring sunshine meaning much earlier crops and consequently a longer cropping season.Well done you!
Is it the same as this one?http://www.greenfingers.com/product.asp?dept_id=200798&pf_id=LS0284Dif so, as Ed says, you could save a bit by going elsewhere.I bought mine from Aldi (many years ago). it was 19 pounds or thereabouts and takes 2 full sized seed trays. Still going well. Saw similar sized models at the garden centre for over 60 pounds, which was way over budget. Hope you find one you really like at an affordable price.
I use one of these for my seedlings and young plants...and when they get bigger, I use two bulbs. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/45w-Blue-Spectrum-6400k-CFL-grow-light-lamp-bulb-ES-E27-/200497172938?pt=UK_Baby_Baby_Feeding_Bottle_Warmers_Coolers_LE&hash=item2eae9011caPaired up with this light holder.. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-METER-CLIP-ON-SPOT-LIGHT-HOLDER-FLEXIBLE-MAINS-PORTABLE-FOR-BULBS-/301364728219?pt=UK_Light_Fittings&hash=item462abcd19b ...which you can buy little bit cheaper from Wilkos or supermarket...I paid about £2 for mine.
My winter might not be as long and dark or cold as yours but I make use of our water heater to gather heat for my seedling raising trays.I sit the trays on top of it during the night and they stay there during germination and cloudy/rainy days. During the day they are moved outside into fresh sunlit air. I have a plastic cloche over them to make a micro environment, trapping in warmth, keeping out cold and lifting the humidity.This system isn't totally controllable, but is cheap and works well for me.
Goodlife, do you need an adapter to fit the bulb into those clip on light holders as they look as though they have bayonet fittings? Alternatively, can you buy light holders with the right fittings for the bulbs. John says he wouldn't be happy using an adapter.
Galina, the one I quoted in my original post has 14 seed trays plus lids. The heater only takes 7 but once the seeds have germinated, the trays can be moved without disturbing the seedlings. I haven't looked to see where it is cheapest yet but I didn't realise how small the trays were until alkanet pointed it out.
So a bulb, clip on holder, bit of tape and silver foil, carboard/storage box and you can have yourself 'grow box'
Quote from: goodlife on December 27, 2014, 06:37:54So a bulb, clip on holder, bit of tape and silver foil, carboard/storage box and you can have yourself 'grow box' Kitchen foil is, apparently, not a good reflector. Sounds counter intuitive to me ... but when I researched it flat-white card, or paint (not gloss) is close to as good as it gets (Mylar being best, but very expensive).
It certainly has worked for me...and it is to do more with preventing light escaping into surrounding room, 'keeping the light in' than thinking of reflection only. I don't know how much difference there is different surfaces...haven't done any research...but if it was good enough for old Geoff as windowsill reflector material, it certainly is good enough for me too.
Have you seen those grow tents that are commercially available for growing 'certain' crops?.. they have silver reflective material surface inside... but once you close the 'zip'...the light is and stay in for optimum effect and growth...for 'certain' kind of crops...