keeping seedlings feet warm

[bookwormom]

not all too much longer and it will be time to start seedlings. I do have some wide windowsill space, but it will be very crowded and then what. since last year husband built a small green house I am debating about doing it the old fashioned way, making a hot pack with fresh horse or goat manure, since I have the goat manure. Both generate a lot of heat. You remove the dirt about 16 inches deep, then pack the hole full with manure, make it pretty tight, cover it with some soil and put your potting trays on top of that. I have been saving some bubble wrap to drape over the plants if nights get too chilly. I have never done it by myself, but where I went to boarding school long time ago the sisters made hot beds that way, (as opposed to a cold frame, which has no hot pack.)

[Smoky]

I once bought a heating pad at a yard sale for $1 that worked pretty good for bottom heat for plants (on low). Used an electric blanket on a table, covered with plastic sheet when I had to start a bunch of flats. As soon and the make that "knuckle" you have to get them in the bright light to keep them from getting too tall, looking for light.
A manure bed has to be pretty big to heat enough to keep out frost, and then it burns out in a couple weeks or so. Don't start them too early with the hot bed. Good luck.

[leera]

I have one of those seed starting heat mats.Bought it on clearance at a greenhouse place.But as soon as the seeds sprout,I put them under the lights,and start another tray,repeat until I have as many started as I need.

I have a wooden platform that I set the trays on under the lights,it it keeps the trays at a pretty uniform temp.