heated propagator questions

[benb89]

Hi,

Please bare with me as I am a complete newbie.

I have recently brought a heated propagator, just a basic Stewart Essential one. I will be looking to grow chilli and peppers mainly in the new year. I just want to make sure I have everything I need for it. I already have compost, and im guessing I will need just some small plastic pots. When looking in the garden center theres matts for water retention, are these needed? or are these not required? for a newbie whos trying to learn from books and on line its all a bit of a mine field.

Thanks
Ben

[Guest]

Hi and welcome to the vine.

compost - pots - seeds - water is all that is needed.
Water retention mats are more if you want to save time or keep watering consistant. Not really an issue when starting seeds early in the year when you don't have too many tasks to deal with. As for pots you can make paper pots, reuse yogurt pots or similar (don't forget drainage holes) or buy plastic pots or cell trays - your seeds aren't vain they don't care what the pots look like

One tip: warm the compost before sowing your seeds

[burnie]

Welcome Ben, I agree with what NG said. I shall be starting onion seeds off first, my chillies won't go in until around February or March, but then I am in NE Scotland, so it's still dark and colder up here.

[benb89]

Hi,

Thank you, and I will remember that tip.

Thanks again

[bario1]

The water mats are really for later, once the seeds have germinated - i don't think they'd be suitable for inside the propagator. Wet your compost until it just about holds together in your hand when you squeeze it, then put it in your pots inside the propagator for 24 hours to warm up, then sow the seeds, and that should do them until they germinate, at which point they come out of the propagator and onto a sunny windowsill.

[nickdub]

You need to give a bit of thought to light as well as warmth. Warmth is good for getting seeds to germinate in the first place, light in addition to warmth is needed for seedlings to grow on in to strong healthy plants.

If in doubt don't sow too many seeds at the same time - sow a few then a month or so later sow some more - the reason being that as it gets later in the year and the days gets longer, its easier to provide both warmth and light that your little plants need.

[benb89]

Hi,

Thank you for your responses, they are all very helpful. With regards to light, I have a very good spot on the kitchen window ledge that gets a lot of light, when the weather allows.

[Scarlet]

What chillies are you sowing Ben? We have a great Chilli thread thats worth a read

[Bren In Pots]

Thank you for your responses, they are all very helpful. With regards to light, I have a very good spot on the kitchen window ledge that gets a lot of light, when the weather allows.

Ben if you put foil/white card behind your seedlings when they're on the window sill it will reflect the light and help prevent them going to leggy.

[SarrissUK]

Hi Ben and welcome! Post pics of your chillis once you get them going! We lurve pics around here

[4Shoes]

My Propagator was delivered yesterday. Doing a wee search on setting it up...

There is a handy wee guide in it about successful propagation, but looking at the trays (supplied), they do not touch the bottom - leaving an air gap.

Do I need sand to transfer the heat or is it done via convection?



Just done a search and product videos show just plastic case - no medium . They end by sticking thermostat probe into a pot... less convinced

[Scarlet]

What make of propagator is it?

[4Shoes]

What make of propagator is it?

It is a 52cm Stewart Premium Variable Thermostat 50Watt. 12C to 28C.
It can take 2 x Standard Seed Trays. I put in a stewart standard seed tray and it sits about 5mm above the base

[veggiechicken]

Electric Propagator - Variable Control - Stewart Garden

shows pots sitting on gravel or summat.

[4Shoes]

Electric Propagator - Variable Control - Stewart Garden

shows pots sitting on gravel or summat.

Thanks VC.... picture is not on the box or in the "handy wee guide" .


what do grapes recommend?


I've go builders sand as a back stop.