You DO NOT NEED GROW LIGHTS to Start Seeds

[@FarmerTySyn]

I'm in MN 3b. First time starting seed indoors, and then they're going in our high tunnel greenhouse. I seeded peppers mid-February, and now I have 140 cayenne ready to transplant just in time for a foot of snow, 0 degrees overnight, and 40mph winds! What a year. I tried onions, too, but they never sprouted. Maybe I planted too deep? I got some cheap full-spectrum LEDs (flat panel, not tubular) which seem to do a good job, except they're half the size of my trays. I rigged them up on wire shelving like you did, but I like the length of yours much better. Thanks for your videos--you're fun to watch!

[@mattsara2802]

Thanks for watching 😃

[@elizabethammermann8182]

Love the video! I changed to led shop lights last year. They work so much better. I also drape the shelving with Mylar blankets to reflect the light back to the plants. I am starting peppers this week. They take so long to germinate…

[@mattsara2802]

Thanks 😊 and thanks for the tip. They do take forever and we love peppers 🫑

[@DanaN43]

Also in MN 4b, have onions started but I overwinter/grow a lot of plants inside.

[@SouthernBlessedHomestead]

The out takes at the end hilarious 😂

[@mattsara2802]

😆😂😃

[@LittleHomesteadOnHinerPond]

It’s good to hear you’re trying to wait on planting. I’m in the Twin Cities area and feel like I’m behind, but I have started onions, celery and luffa seeds.

[@mattsara2802]

Yup. Mother Nature is sneaky

[@maryranch5329]

Good morning and great information 💞👍

[@mattsara2802]

Good morning Mary😃 thanks

[@Samcraftcom]

New boot goofin'!!! 🤣👢🤠

[@mattsara2802]

😂

[@danschneider9219]

Stop In and chat with us while at the Beek Meet. I'll be there making sure everyone can find the speakers they want to watch

[@mattsara2802]

I will 😃

[@lisaseverance6785]

Also Minnesota 4b. Got my first heat mat to test out and see what I think of it before I buy more. I also tent the area where I do my seedlings to make sure it stays warm enough. At least until they sprout. I have also been thinking of doing a hot bed. I had one years ago and I had amazing luck with Tomatoes in there. So I may make a new one and try again. Never thought of a fan to toughen them. Will have to try that this year!

[@mattsara2802]

Awesome 👏. Yes the fan helps Big time

[@56243G]

I have a pretty expensive grow light that's for the dope growers. I have my setup in a West window, and my plants still grow very noticeably toward the sun.

[@mattsara2802]

Nice. Yeah the sun is better but we definitely don’t have enough window space.

[@56243G]

@@mattsara2802 Yeah, you start a lot more seeds than I do. I get it. Those new wire shelves you got are nice. They're the same as ones I got from a greenhouse store. Where'd you get yours?

[@mattsara2802]

I got them from Amazon when they had the prime day sales

[@dcsblessedbees]

😁God put that great big Grow Light in the Sky.👋Hi Matt and Sara. Matt 🤭your hair fell onto your chin.😂Does she make you brush the left over food out.🤣Good to see you two, hows the kids doing? Was this just a test, are you going to secure them or just leave them loose? I should build a few of these I have 3/4 of this stuff sitting in my garage.🤔 If the zip-ties get warm just replace them with a bit of electric fence wire twisted, np.👍

[@mattsara2802]

We are going to leave them loose for now but if we move the around more than we will tighten them up

[@MandiSmash]

dang, thanks so much for this video. i was about to give up on the idea of starting seeds indoors after looking at some of those freaking prices for grow lights. gonna have to check out the rest of your channel now! I'm not in MN but I grew up in IA, thanks for sharing your experience with the lights!

[@mattsara2802]

👍😃

[@trishapomeroy9251]

When is your last frost date? I'm zone 4b/5a and my last frost date is around June 19. It's often really nice weather for weeks before that, then WHAM! 20 degrees for two nights to remind you that nature is in control. I'm trying something new this year and started cold crop seeds, like broccoli and cauliflower, in my unheated upstairs window. I'm doing the best I can to wait on the peppers and tomatoes though...I need to wait a couple more weeks.

[@mattsara2802]

Our last frost day is May 10th but we plant the week before memorial weekend. It is really hard to especially with this warm weather.

[@56243G]

Do you live on a mountain? I'm way north of you, and we always say Memorial Day weekend. One out of ten years we might get a light frost after June 1st.

[@56243G]

@@mattsara2802 I was asking about the OP because Zone 5 is Iowa, and I doubt it gets down to 20 in Iowa after June 19th. You guys are down by HWY 212, right? Week before Memorial Day seems right. I'm gonna push planting dates hard this year because if we have another drought my garden is gonna be crappy anyway.

[@mattsara2802]

Man we better get rain this year

[@trishapomeroy9251]

@@56243G I'm in the mountains of WA.

[@jenny_rice]

Great information. Also, curious, what did you do with the room in the basement where you used to have all your laser equipment? (I thought of that when Sara mentioned wanting to over-winter plants - you could use that space.) 😄

[@mattsara2802]

Well the kids kinda took it over as a play room

[@jenny_rice]

@@mattsara2802 I kinda figured that would happen! 😂

[@EugeneYus]

Well I start my Minnesota Marijuana indoors in February so why not do my garden too lol

[@whitestone4401]

My husband used to “borrow” my tools and I would rarely see them again unless I searched through his.

[@mattsara2802]

🤣😂🤣😂

[@dcsblessedbees]

Matt, hows the bees looking?

[@mattsara2802]

Good 😃

[@GopiRai-r8g]

Start growing weed