Led grow lights recommendations.

Top tip!

 

Finally got started, done the the lid, I'll have to plonk it on some plantpots for now until I can sort the sides, I've got some sprouted seeds to shove under.

 

@mazambo that looks fantastic. You won't regret going to the trouble.

 

Thanks @CanadianLori I think i need to get it finished asap

 

A little update, still only sitting the lights above the seedlings at the moment, they are only on for 3 hours so the seedlings are having roughly 15 hours of light. I can't judge how the sweet peas are fairing because this is my first time growing them but they look strong and straight, two types of scabiosa, snowmaiden and sternkugel seem to be growing thicker rather than taller.

 

Thank you @JWK. This is my first time trying to grow sweet peas and I did not know to nip them.

 

And I was waiting for a fourth set of leaves

 

Depending on the growing conditions you may well need to nip them more than once if they grow too fast /leggy.
Have already move ours into the cold frame, just giving them frost protection if its forcast.

When they are fully grown and in flower, deadheading every day or two really does prolong their flowering season, but miss some, and the flowers turn to seed pods and thats their instruction to die back, job done, so if you see any pods, whip them off quickly !

Some suggest taking off all the flowers at one go, which we have tried, but it does look a bit bare.

Daily watering and very regular feeding are what they seem to like, bit like us really

 

A cold frame is something I've been meaning to build so I've bit the bullet and ordered one today.

 

Spoilt for choice on cold frames these days.

On prevoius years we used one of the £10 Wilko tents, but last year bought a bigger version which we used to overwinter some young delphs etc and now they have just been planted out plenty of space to harden off the more hardy plants like the sweetpeas and leeks etc.

Years ago you would not expect them to last more than a season, or the zips flaps give up, but the smaller ones now in its third year, and all ok, though we do dismantle and store it when not in use.

 

I have a few cold frames. Three are home made and the other was bought. I really appreciate them for being able to put out hardier annuals to make room inside, or in the greenhouse, for other seedlings.

@mazambo what kind did you order. Sounds fun!

 

I spotted this one, extra 10 percent off.

 

Hey, that's a dandy one! Very sturdy and should last for years! If you have to assemble it, do yourself a hug favour and put clear tape along both the top and bottom edges of twinwall. When I had one like that (now my son has it) I just used ordinary cello tape because it had the right amount to place on the top edge and then press down the sides and not show once assembled. This will stop dirt or wee insects or moisture from getting in there and ruining the look.

 

Thanks @CanadianLori I think i have some tape left from the Greenhouse had to do the same on that.