Fodder in Cold Weather?

[Rabbits by Accident]

I didn't want to dilute the fodder posts with this question, but if you'd rather I add it to the existing info about fodder, I will be glad to do so

I finally got around to buying some wheat to sprout for fodder. Then it turned cold ... It is supposed to stay in the teens for about the next week or so, which is really cold for central Texas. . . . and I've already started sprouting some of the wheat.

We live in a 19' travel trailer (caravan) and obviously have limited living space and no basement.

Here are my options:
Originally I set up a glass shelf unit on the south/east side of a storage building. I thought maybe I could cover it with plastic . . . but it would definitely be below freezing at night.

I also have access to an unheated garage with a concrete floor. I suppose this is where I'll have to do it. Is it worth carrying the trays out into the sunlight daily? I think I have a light somewhere LOL . . .

Is there a way to grow fodder while it's cold without a building?

Thanks for any help and/or suggestions!!!

Liz

 

[MaggieJ]

You could try making a hot bed.

https://modernfarmer.com/2017/04/how-to-build-a-hot-bed/

 

[eco2pia]

Given that it's uncommon for Texas to be this cold, if it is only for a few days you could just run an extension cord and put an incandescent light on them to keep from actually freezing in the garage. If the sprouts don't have leaves they don't need sun yet. If they do, I would put them out on the glass shelves each day behind the plastic so that they get that greenhouse effect. established wheat handles cold pretty well, but germinating not so much

 

[Zee-Man]

Heated grow mats can be had for reasonable money. Fluorescent lighting can be hung over the trays. You might have to buy an appliance cord to hard wire into the light.

 

[Rabbits by Accident]

Thank you for all your suggestions. I did find my fluorescent light fixture and the grow lights that I had years ago. I wasn't sure if I still had them, when I downsized I sold a lot stuff that I wish I hadn't. I set the shelf up in the garage. At this point the seeds are in a jar in the trailer with me and they have roots. Good to know @eco2pia about them being hardy

I also remembered I had bought an elaborate $160 sprouting system at a yard sale for a dollar. (in case you are wondering what a tiny $160 system looks like here it is, it doesn't even have a light, but I think it's worth $1 lol) I don't think it would grow enough for the rabbits but it will be fun to play with LOL

Liz

 

[MnCanary]

I think it would be worth it to move the trays into sunlight when the temperature is above freezing. In fact, there are commercial greenhouses that do just that--the entire bench rolls outside on good days.

Electric lights don't provide nearly the same level of light that outside sunlight does. Sunlight is much more intense. One source says intense light from electric lights is similar to a cloudy mid-winter day. I think that the nutrition in the end product will be lower for plants grown indoors under lights compared to plants grown outdoors. I don't actually know this, but it seems reasonable. I've tried to find this information for quite a while, but I've never come up with it.

To ramble on a bit: this is why I think Vertical Farming, where lettuce or spinach is grown indoors under lights, is such a silly endeavor.