Winter in Idaho can bring about extreme cold temperatures.
This winter I decided to compost the leaves from the tress to boost the soil. After raking the leaves and mowing over them multiple times I filled all raised beds with chopped leaves and occasionally turning the leaves to aid in the composting.
By mid January I began planning out some ideas to start plants as early as possible. With night and day time temperatures still remaining below freezing it was obvious that no gardening can take place.
Unless one converts the old coal storage room in the basement into a germination lab.
The room is approx 4ft wide and 7ft long and stays about 58 degrees throughout the winter. That's not warm enough to germinate seeds but it is a good place to start off.
Following are some photos of the germination table project and ideas to warm up the soil to get successful seed propagation.
The table was already in the basement. I took the lower shelf and attempted to generate some heat under the planting trays to get warm enough temperatures. My first test was to use an LED light rope.
I had portions of some insulation foam from an earlier project in the laundry room last year. I placed this insulation foam on the shelf and divided it with strips of plywood, attempting to distribute the heat evenly.
I then placed some sheet metal on top of the LED lights (cut to fit the shelf) and placed a thermometer on the germination shelf. This generated only a slight increase of surface temperature. Not enough to aid in early germination.
I then added florescent lighting to hang under the table and above the germination shelf.
After a four day temperature test I was only able to get a surface temperature of 66. I was please but not satisfied that would be sufficient to get germination.
I removed the LED lighting and decided to try old Christmas tree lighting.
After repeating a four day temperature test with the Christmas tree lights I was only able to gain 3 degrees of heat. At 69 degrees I was still not satisfied. I wanted at least 72 degrees.
The next test was to increase the number of lights. To be sure the lights would not lay upon wiring I used electrical tape to secure the wiring in a way that all lights would lay uniformly under the sheet metal to evenly distribute the heat. This final temperature test increase the heat significantly. I have been able to reach a high of 78 degrees.
It is entirely too early still to plant tomatoes and peppers. But not too early for the natural bad bug repellent marigolds and other early cold hardy flowers to begin attracting butterflies, ladybugs, and other garden friendly bugs.
Within one week of planting marigolds, the germination table has proven to be a successful project.
With warming temperatures and a few other adjustments to the furnace I have been able to get a high temperature of 81 degrees and a constant 77 degrees.
The room temperature is still in the mid 60s but so far the winter gardening is working out.
