Growing from seeds in November??

[MaxMustermann]

Hi all,

Is it possible to grow herbs (indoors and in containers) starting from now and over winter?

I'm interested in valerian, ramson and other such herbs.

Thanks, Max

[Chuckie]

Sure, just make certain that you have decent bottom heat and your room where you are growing your herbs stays at least 70 degrees F and a max of 80 F For bottom heat I suggest you get heating pads ( You can find them at most gardening web stores) They are a little exspensive but worthwile for almost perfect germination. chuckie

[Chuckie]

Also make sure you have a grow ligth on for about eight hours a day chuckie

[Doug Kanter]

Some plants behave certain ways depending on day length, and there's not a damned thing you can do to change their minds, even with artificial lighting. You may want to do some research on the plants you're trying to grow.

[Chuckie]

Well I'm not sure if you are growing them in a greenhouse or a table in your basement. If you have greenhouse lighting is not an issue. Though if you are using a table in your basement you will need a certain amount of light. Eight hours is the average light used. You can also set your plants next to a window and use natural sunlight. Chuckie

[Doug Kanter]

Average for what? Tomatoes? Green Ice lettuce? Mums? Those nasty red plants people force on each other at Christmas? All behave differently as day length changes. It's not so much the length of the daylight, but whether that length is getting longer or shorter.

[MaxMustermann]

First, I paid a visit to the local garden store to check what seeds they have. So then I decided to go for 2 types of herbs: ramson & basil (magical michael).

Ramson needs a wet soil, not a lot of sun and temperature of about 5 deg. Celsius. It will take till spring till something comes out though! Basil requires 18-25 deg. C and takes 10 to 15 days.

So I placed the ramson on a box in the balcony and will leave it in peace till spring. I placed the basil in a box on a windowsill where it will catch the morning sun.

Max

[Chuckie]

As you know all plants need light to grow. Not nessesarly sulight but daylight. I run my plant in my greenhouse with 12 to 14 hours of light. Most of that time is daylight. after the sun sets the lights in the greenhouse take over. I find my plants grow faster with longer light time. But I also would never allow the lghts to run all night, it would stress the plants too much and would kill them. Max have fun growing Chuckie Happy northener zone five

[Doug Kanter]

Right, but keep in mind that some plants simply won't function the way you want unless the length of light changes appropriately. For instance, shortening days is what makes mums flower, at least the ones that are sold in the fall all over N. America. And, the nasty red Christmas plants - they are very specific about their light needs, although I don't recall the details because I don't like those plants.

[Chuckie]

I am very fond of poinsettas which you continue to refer to as a "nasty red Christmas plant". I have never grown them though. I speak from my exprerience with vegetables and herbs. Max's method is the best for what he has. The only thing I would add is make sure your window doesn't have a draft or you will have poor germination. Chuckie Head of keeping peaple from calling poinsettas "nasty red Christmas plants" movement. POINSETTAS ROCK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He He!

[MaxMustermann]

Thanks for the complements!!

I don't have any draft and the pots are well situated. How often would one suggest to water the pots that are:

1. Inside, behind a windowsill,
2. Outside were the soil is more wet

Thanks, Max

[Chuckie]

I check my plants every day if the soil i s moist on top I may let them if they are dry water them. just do what you feel is right but just don't flood them. Chuckie