First question, I always buy plants from local greenhouse except green beans which I just plant them following the directions on the package. This year I'm going to do it from seed as I don't plant til after 4/15 and night time temps 50 or higher. Worried the very elderly owners of greenhouse may shut doors or other restrictions or run on the greenhouse or who knows by planting time.

Got this jiffy pot set up and seeds for everything I normally grow. Also got some carrot seeds. Any tips for planting from seed or growing carrots?



Question two, how do I hook up a water line to my fridge? Is there a Best material to use?

For the seeds, I'd suggest a heat mat under the trays - you'll get much better germination.

I think that's 1/4 compression to 1/4MPT, but let a plumber chime in.

For the fridge, just go to Lowe’s and use the opaque tubing on the roll, cut about ten feet or so, that you can pull out the fridge and sweep w/o having to worry about pulling the hose loose.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
For the fridge, just go to Lowe’s and use the opaque tubing on the roll, cut about ten feet or so, that you can pull out the fridge and sweep w/o having to worry about pulling the hose loose.

I have 1/4 copper line, is plastic better? Wall side looks like a compression fitting fridge is some kind of 1/4 Male fitting.

copper is fine , just fine.
if you are using more that 30 inches or so , you may want to use 40 inches and then coil it behind the frige,

so that when you pull the frige forward for cleaning , it will un coil

every time the water turns on an off the copper behind the frige may jump /rattle , and make a noise, plastic won't be noisy.

try the copper , if it works , great,
if not get some plastic

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
For the fridge, just go to Lowe’s and use the opaque tubing on the roll, cut about ten feet or so, that you can pull out the fridge and sweep w/o having to worry about pulling the hose loose.

I have 1/4 copper line, is plastic better? Wall side looks like a compression fitting fridge is some kind of 1/4 Male fitting.

Copper is not good to use because of the possible ground currents, so use the plastic.

I replace plastic fridge lines for customers way to often. Especially when on municipal systems that have chlorine in them. I always use copper!

whats a ground currant?

I am going to try a couple of methods with seeds this year. One will be using mason jars. Look up videos on youtube about “hydroponic gardening with mason jars”. It’s supposed to work faster than using soil and it can be started indoors.

The second one: as a woodturner I can make my own “paper pot maker”. (You’ll have to google this one, too.) Basically you are using a round tool to roll a 3” x18” long newspaper strip into a small pot, fill with potting mix and seeds. Let germinate & then plant the entire pot in your garden. The newspaper will dissolve.

They are new methods for me so I can’t really attest to success just yet. Just food for thought.

quote:

Originally posted by wreckdiver:
I replace plastic fridge lines for customers way to often. Especially when on municipal systems that have chlorine in them. I always use copper!

What fittings do I need for either Cu or plastic?

It is best to put a box behind the frig with a cutoff value and then run plex to the frig or use this kit:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Jo...ALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Sometimes the water filter is located behind the frig. Also too many times the frig is jammed up against the wall and it gets no air circulation which is bad for the longevity of the frig.

1/4" nuts and ferrules

The fridge stainless fitting may be flare x male. The other is compression. If they are both ¼", you should be able to get a ¼" male flare by ¼" compression to replace the fridge fitting, and use a ¼" x ¼" compression braided stainless steel flex supply. If they exist.

That stainless fitting on the fridge side, if it unscrews easily, could be brought to HD with the brass compression nut and ring on the other side. They should be able to figure it out.

Copper and grounding issues, well, it looks like a new house. The water service is probably not used as a ground and the fridge is probably plugged into a properly grounded receptacle, to whatever material you use, you should be GTG.

quote:

Originally posted by wreckdiver:
1/4" nuts and ferrules

So if I just but the nut and ferrule (things i have in my hand in first picture?) I can just thread that directly on to fridge male connection?

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:
The fridge stainless fitting may be flare x male. The other is compression. If they are both ¼", you should be able to get a ¼" male flare by ¼" compression to replace the fridge fitting, and use a ¼" x ¼" compression braided stainless steel flex supply. If they exist.

That stainless fitting on the fridge side, if it unscrews easily, could be brought to HD with the brass compression nut and ring on the other side. They should be able to figure it out.

Copper and grounding issues, well, it looks like a new house. The water service is probably not used as a ground and the fridge is probably plugged into a properly grounded receptacle, to whatever material you use, you should be GTG.

The house is 55 years old, I added the box for the fridge. Plumbed in PEX. The fridge line is plastic, so they are isolated from the house grounding. I have updated the panel and grounding and bonded hot, cold, and gas piping. There is zero concerns from that aspect.

Jesse,

If you don't know about deBaggio's nursery, you owe it to yourself to find out. Best selection of herbs and vegetable plants I've ever seen, and the best quality too. Just off Rt. 50 between Chantilly and Stone Ridge.

I am surprised you consider planting as early as mid-April, my not before date is 5/10, but I grow mostly warm weather stuff. For carrots, it helps to have light and/or sandy soil, the typical clay soils in the DC are are not conducive to full growth. Also, be careful not to plant them too close together and be religious about thinning, or you will get all top and no root. I used to plant carrots every year, directly in the ground in early March since they don't care too much about the cold, but decided they are too much work for the typical yield. Nowadays, I mostly stick to tomatoes and peppers, generally around six varieties and 20 plants of each. Peat/Jiffy pots are OK for starting these, but plastic pots don't dry out nearly as quickly. It sure is lot easier to just buy them from deBaggio.

Skins, Lowes and Home Depot have pre-made lines for the Ice Maker. https://www.lowes.com/pd/EASTM...er-Connector/3196993 is one example.

As far as planting from seed, depends on what you are growing, some things like beans, Carrots, Cucumbers, melons, etc.... we plant the seeds directly in the ground. Tomato and peppers we start indoors usually.

quote:

Originally posted by wreckdiver:
I replace plastic fridge lines for customers way to often. Especially when on municipal systems that have chlorine in them. I always use copper!

This ^^^^^
Disclaimer... I have been out of the business for years but...

I have seen a lot of damage done by translucent plastic ice maker line splitting. In fact, I think code has outlawed it. Pex MIGHT be OK but never used it for that. Also they make a 1/4 inch flexible PVC line that might be OK as well that is covered with stainless steel braid and has the fitting already made on the ends. Looks like the braided supply lines and is probably the same thing so it works nicely.

However... I still use copper. Big coil behind the fridge for pulling it out. Most fridges are on wheels now and you want to be able to get yourself behind the fridge without disconnecting it. Strap the copper to the fridge and the wall near the ends to reduce pulling/ strain on the fittings when pulling out the fridge.

Test fit the nut from your water valve to the fridge connection... it should fit. 1/4 compression fittings.

quote:

Originally posted by cparktd:
Test fit the nut from your water valve to the fridge connection... it should fit. 1/4 compression fittings.

Hey, why didn't I think of that

If the brass compression nut threads easily on the stainless fridge connection, then a ¼" compression x ¼" compression braided stainless flex line may be the ticket. I looked them up, and they definitely exist.

I use to plant carrots from seed every year. I would plant them on raised beds. I live in the Panhandle of Texas and I'd plant in early to mid-March. I'd plant them very, very shallow in loose soil (really just dust 'em in) and keep the soil wet until the carrots were up and growing. Don't plant 'em too close together. Don't be afraid to thin 'em. Carrots need quite a bit of water for the 1st while. You can tell when to water. Good Luck!!