Comments on: Convert an IKEA Shelf into a DIY Seed Starting Station

By: TWO:Seeding Strategies

TWO:Seeding Strategies — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 23:40:19 +0000

[...] http://www.adaptiveseeds.com/ http://www.abundantlifeseeds.com/ http://www.wildgardenseed.com/ http://www.digginfood.com/2010/03/ikea-bookcase-seed-starting-station/ http://www.digginfood.com/2010/04/sowing-small-seeds/ [...]

By: How To: Easy Seed Starting Indoors « Inside, Out: Home + Garden

How To: Easy Seed Starting Indoors « Inside, Out: Home + Garden — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 12:33:17 +0000

[...] just read the intro and look at the pictures, you’ll miss this great link for fashioning a seed starting unit out of an IKEA shelf, which looks like it works perfectly as is, or could be adapted to make [...]

By: Willi

Willi — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:21:32 +0000

Jamie–What an awesome set up! Thanks so much for sharing. It is really a perfect small space solution! I think wire shelves are an awesome way to go.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:00:32 +0000

Thank you for the inspiration, I just wanted to share my new seedling setup! It’s not the prettiest thing but it works great and takes up very little space. It’s lack of attractiveness is actually a plus in my book because it won’t end up housing other things when growing season is over. Also, it breaks down completely so it’s super easy to store in the winter if you don’t have much space. Here’s the picture link:

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs363.snc3/23463_1372182792950_1483180315_30968877_7356037_n.jpg

I used a portable greenhouse that I bought at Molbak’s last year for about $40 and then added the lights this year. Right now I’ve got two 24″ grow lights that we already had at the house, then I went out and bought two more 18″ fluorescents ($10 each at Fred Meyer). I’ve got two lights and two seed flats on each shelf. There are two more shelves I’m not using that could be employed too, plenty of space with a tiny footprint (about 20″ x 24″). If I end up planting more flats I’ll be picking up some more of those $10 light fixtures for sure. The nice thing about this portable greenhouse is that it has wire shelves, which makes it super easy to attach the adjustable lights. I just used some rope, knotted and pushed into the hanger on each end of the lights, then I tied them to the shelf above. When I need to raise them I just have to shorten the rope. Putting the whole thing together probably took 20 or 30 minutes.

By: Angie

Angie — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:56:58 +0000

Happy Saturday,

Could you go into a little more detail about how long to leave the grow lights on each day, do you keep them on until the plants move outside and also if and when to use a heating mat? I had all my little seedlings die and I need some good quick advice to get another batch started.

Thank you!!!

By: Julie

Julie — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:56:44 +0000

I’m wondering what your take is on standard florescent bulbs vs. “aquarium/plant” bulbs vs. full spectrum plant bulbs? I’ve only used the plant/aquarium bulbs in the past, and my seedlings still seem to get leggy, but they are WAAAAY cheaper than the ones marketed as “grow lights”. I haven’t even tried starting seeds under regular florescent bulbs, but there would probably be a lot more light fixture options if those are good enough for the short time the plants will be under artificial lights. Thanks!!

By: Grace

Grace — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:48:43 +0000

Bwa-ha-ha, I have the same shelf system that lived in my kitchen for a few years, then was a seed starting system in Colorado, and now lives in my greenhouse, suitably covered with dirt and pots. You will love how battered it looks in the picture I send you soon.

By: meg

meg — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:54:06 +0000

Great tutorial! I was at Molbaks on saturday but the babylady was not interested in me getting to listen. So, I'm really glad you posted this! Thanks! .-= meg´s last blog ..Old Crow Watching Hungrily =-.

By: Chani

Chani — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:34:12 +0000

Beware the “in the off season I’ll use it for storage” thought. I set up some lovely gardening shelves two years ago, grew all my seedlings and was very happy, and then loaded up the shelf with storage and never even considered unloading it once seed starting season rolled ’round again. I’m buying new shelves this weekend. This time I’ll only put easy-to-move things on the shelf. (Right.):)

Lovely post!

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:32:23 +0000

This is a very cool idea… We live in a house that is about the same size as yours so I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out where I’m going to set up 128 starter pots. This would be a perfect setup for my second bedroom. I’m moving the baby chicks out to the garage this weekend before they start smelling up the house so it looks like I’ll be making an Ikea trip to replace the brooder with a seed starting station this weekend!