Posted by Michael Bell on April 10, 2011, 5:49 am
Since January I have been growing alder seedlings under light - and
all the time awaiting the gentle touch of a policeman on my shoulder
concerned about my electricity bills! The plan is to grow them up to a
size where they could be grafted onto the cone-bearing spurs of adult
trees.
I have started to reduce the lighting from 24 hrs to something nearer
12 hrs. The temperature inside the light box is about 22 °C. The
seedlings are now about 20 cms high and about 3 leaf pairs down from
the top the stems are about 2 mm across. The seedlings are growing
individually in a seed-tray with cells 4 x 4 cm x 8 cm deep.
Obviously I now have to think about hardening them off to survive
outdoors. Any suggestions? I remember my mother used to use cloches in
such circumstances, but she's long dead now. Would they be of use?
Michael Bell
--
Posted by Chris Hogg on April 10, 2011, 2:20 pm
On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:49:39 +0100, Michael Bell
>Since January I have been growing alder seedlings under light - and
>all the time awaiting the gentle touch of a policeman on my shoulder
>concerned about my electricity bills! The plan is to grow them up to a
>size where they could be grafted onto the cone-bearing spurs of adult
>trees.
>I have started to reduce the lighting from 24 hrs to something nearer
>12 hrs. The temperature inside the light box is about 22 °C. The
>seedlings are now about 20 cms high and about 3 leaf pairs down from
>the top the stems are about 2 mm across. The seedlings are growing
>individually in a seed-tray with cells 4 x 4 cm x 8 cm deep.
>Obviously I now have to think about hardening them off to survive
>outdoors. Any suggestions? I remember my mother used to use cloches in
>such circumstances, but she's long dead now. Would they be of use?
>Michael Bell
One of the first things they'll need to get used to is proper
daylight, otherwise they'll burn up. Even daylight filtered through
glass isn't the same as natural daylight. I would start by putting
them outside for say an hour at a time, not in direct sun, to get them
used to the UV etc. Gradually increase the time outside until they're
out all day. You can then try leaving them out on mild nights as well,
until you eventually leave them out all the time.
--
Chris
Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales
Posted by Michael Bell on April 10, 2011, 4:45 pm
> On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:49:39 +0100, Michael Bell
>>Since January I have been growing alder seedlings under light - and
>>all the time awaiting the gentle touch of a policeman on my shoulder
>>concerned about my electricity bills! The plan is to grow them up to a
>>size where they could be grafted onto the cone-bearing spurs of adult
>>trees.
>>
>>I have started to reduce the lighting from 24 hrs to something nearer
>>12 hrs. The temperature inside the light box is about 22 °C. The
>>seedlings are now about 20 cms high and about 3 leaf pairs down from
>>the top the stems are about 2 mm across. The seedlings are growing
>>individually in a seed-tray with cells 4 x 4 cm x 8 cm deep.
>>
>>Obviously I now have to think about hardening them off to survive
>>outdoors. Any suggestions? I remember my mother used to use cloches in
>>such circumstances, but she's long dead now. Would they be of use?
>>
>>Michael Bell
> One of the first things they'll need to get used to is proper
> daylight, otherwise they'll burn up. Even daylight filtered through
> glass isn't the same as natural daylight. I would start by putting
> them outside for say an hour at a time, not in direct sun, to get them
> used to the UV etc. Gradually increase the time outside until they're
> out all day. You can then try leaving them out on mild nights as well,
> until you eventually leave them out all the time.
I left them out all this afternoon (VERY bright sunlight) under a
plastic cloche and looked for signs of leaf droop, but there were
none. I took them in tonight.
I'll try them for an hour or so in the open without the cloche, is it
OK to look out for the leaves starting to droop and covering them
again if they droop.
I doubt if we'll have frost again (I live in Newcastle on Tyne, 10
miles from the sea) at what temperature are they at risk overnight?
Regards
Michael Bell
--
Posted by Chris Hogg on April 11, 2011, 2:21 am
On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 21:45:02 +0100, Michael Bell
>> On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:49:39 +0100, Michael Bell
>> One of the first things they'll need to get used to is proper
>> daylight, otherwise they'll burn up. Even daylight filtered through
>> glass isn't the same as natural daylight. I would start by putting
>> them outside for say an hour at a time, not in direct sun, to get them
>> used to the UV etc. Gradually increase the time outside until they're
>> out all day. You can then try leaving them out on mild nights as well,
>> until you eventually leave them out all the time.
>I left them out all this afternoon (VERY bright sunlight) under a
>plastic cloche and looked for signs of leaf droop, but there were
>none. I took them in tonight.
>I'll try them for an hour or so in the open without the cloche, is it
>OK to look out for the leaves starting to droop and covering them
>again if they droop.
>I doubt if we'll have frost again (I live in Newcastle on Tyne, 10
>miles from the sea) at what temperature are they at risk overnight?
>Regards
>Michael Bell
It's not leaf droop that you'll see, in fact you probably wouldn't see
anything immediately. It's like sunburn, it doesn't show up straight
away, but over a period of few days the leaves may go brown and
shrivel. I'm no expert at alder seedlings, and they should be fairly
tough, but as you've invested a lot of time and effort in them, I'd
treat them gently and with caution. Keep them out of direct sun, and
bring them in at night for a few days and if frost is forecast.
--
Chris
Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales
Posted by Michael Bell on April 11, 2011, 8:56 am
> On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 21:45:02 +0100, Michael Bell
>>
>>> On Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:49:39 +0100, Michael Bell
>>
>>
>>> One of the first things they'll need to get used to is proper
>>> daylight, otherwise they'll burn up. Even daylight filtered through
>>> glass isn't the same as natural daylight. I would start by putting
>>> them outside for say an hour at a time, not in direct sun, to get them
>>> used to the UV etc. Gradually increase the time outside until they're
>>> out all day. You can then try leaving them out on mild nights as well,
>>> until you eventually leave them out all the time.
>>
>>I left them out all this afternoon (VERY bright sunlight) under a
>>plastic cloche and looked for signs of leaf droop, but there were
>>none. I took them in tonight.
>>
>>I'll try them for an hour or so in the open without the cloche, is it
>>OK to look out for the leaves starting to droop and covering them
>>again if they droop.
>>
>>I doubt if we'll have frost again (I live in Newcastle on Tyne, 10
>>miles from the sea) at what temperature are they at risk overnight?
>>
>>Regards
>>
>>Michael Bell
> It's not leaf droop that you'll see, in fact you probably wouldn't see
> anything immediately. It's like sunburn, it doesn't show up straight
> away, but over a period of few days the leaves may go brown and
> shrivel. I'm no expert at alder seedlings, and they should be fairly
> tough, but as you've invested a lot of time and effort in them, I'd
> treat them gently and with caution. Keep them out of direct sun, and
> bring them in at night for a few days and if frost is forecast.
I gave my seedlings 4 hours of full sunshine yesterday (and it was a
blazing hot day) and today is overcast with a little drizzle, so I
don't think I am risking them too much. Thanks for your input.
Michael Bell
--
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>all the time awaiting the gentle touch of a policeman on my shoulder
>concerned about my electricity bills! The plan is to grow them up to a
>size where they could be grafted onto the cone-bearing spurs of adult
>trees.
>I have started to reduce the lighting from 24 hrs to something nearer
>12 hrs. The temperature inside the light box is about 22 °C. The
>seedlings are now about 20 cms high and about 3 leaf pairs down from
>the top the stems are about 2 mm across. The seedlings are growing
>individually in a seed-tray with cells 4 x 4 cm x 8 cm deep.
>Obviously I now have to think about hardening them off to survive
>outdoors. Any suggestions? I remember my mother used to use cloches in
>such circumstances, but she's long dead now. Would they be of use?
>Michael Bell