What to do with a heated propagator?

[JimmerG]

Got one of these for Christmas, fairly basic - no heat adjustment.... just wondered if anyone had any advice on what veg seeds can be started off in these, when they should be planted, how long should they stay in there, does one turn it on at night and off during the day if its in the house?.. etc etc.

thanks

J

[Two_Sheds]

I've got two of those.
I turn them off if the day is warm.
I'll be starting my chillies off in Feb in them, then nearly everything else (except brassicas which don't need heat to germinate)

[JimmerG]

Not just two sheds, but two propogators!

Given that I have just the one, would it be sound practise to stick seeds in to germinate, and then whip them out once shoots have appeared, to get the next load of seeds in?

[T-lady]

Hi JimmerG

I use my heated propagator for just about everything except brassicas and onions (incl leeks) until about April. As with TwoSheds I'll be cracking on with chillies and tomatoes early next month.

It does become a balancing act because you'll want to take germinated seeds out once they've come through so that you can bring on the next lot. The balance is ... where can you grow on the germinted lots? My windowsills become one great big greenhouse (much to the disgust of OH) from now until May - and I've got a greenhouse too!

So perhaps think if you've got warm enough / bright enough places to grow plants on - otherwise wait a little while until the days get longer and warmer before you start too many plants going

[JimmerG]

It's a good point T-lady - my window sills get very conjested indeed - until the weather warms up a bit - I've got one of those rather cheap rickety polyethane growhouses (doesn't do a bad job) But I have found seedlings getting a bit leggy if grown too early and left inside - clearly not enough light. But I was making the mistake of leaving the radiator on under the window sill.

I reckon I'll try and grow a few early leeks on a window sill and see how it goes.

In fact I was thinking about leaving the the heated propagator base in the bottom of the growhouse, to try and offer a little heat..... clearly not in the current arctic temps though, we had -7 degC last night!

[Two_Sheds]

Not just two sheds, but two propogators!

Two Propagators doesn't trip off the tongue though

Whip your seedlings out of the prop because they don't need the heat when they're through
If you don't have room to put your seedlings, delay sowing until it's warmer.

That's why I don't sow anything this early ... February and March is when it all gets going. Everything catches up anyway.

[sarraceniac]

That's why I don't sow anything this early ... February and March is when it all gets going. Everything catches up anyway.

Too true Two Sheds. I used to really rush to get my tomatoes going but a couple of years ago had to leave it until late March because of health.

They actually did better and ripened at the usual time of year. They need the light as well as the heat.

[bluemoon]

I'd agree, make sure you take the seedlings out immediately. If you notice they're through before you go to work there's every chance that it will be too late by the time you get home. Also make sure the propagator is not in direct sunlight at all during the day.

[Jenny22Cumbria]

I've got one like yours and I found it really useful for things like courgettes and cucumbers last year - they were really easy to grow once they'd germinated so being able to get them started in the propagator was great.