Is a heated propagator really worth it?

[marathon]

No, not necessarily. I only have mine in a heated propogator until they germinate then they're out like a shot to get all the light so they don't go leggy (except when I'm cramming too many seedlings onto the window ledge!). If you grow totally out of season they, yes, you have a problem and need to provide artificial light (which I think is somewhat against my reasons for growing my own) but if you're just buying a few extra weeks then it's no problem.

This year I covered cardboard with foil and placed it around my peppers, tomato's and later other veg that i started perhaps earlier than most. Well they grew into very sturdy healthy plants. I have had 123 red peppers to date and still have loads on the plants and picking red tomato's in early June.

The above were grown on in an unheated polytunnel and the really experienced chaps on the site with greenhouses praised me for such good plants. They were a bit put out that I had the ealiest tomatos n the site.

I just bed the cardboard so that some is under the seed trays/pots and then the rest is upright I'd say about 5 inches high. I will be using foil again this year.

[stevemac]

This year I covered cardboard with foil and placed it around my peppers, tomato's and later other veg that i started perhaps earlier than most. Well they grew into very sturdy healthy plants. I have had 123 red peppers to date and still have loads on the plants and picking red tomato's in early June.

The above were grown on in an unheated polytunnel and the really experienced chaps on the site with greenhouses praised me for such good plants. They were a bit put out that I had the ealiest tomatos n the site.

I just bed the cardboard so that some is under the seed trays/pots and then the rest is upright I'd say about 5 inches high. I will be using foil again this year.

Sounds interesting......do you have any photos of it?

[basketcase]

Wasn't this also one of the tips Alys Fowler came up with at the very beginning of the new series of Gardener's World?

[jimfin]

I've just bought a heated propagator. I have a non heated GH. Is there anything I could stert growing at this time of the year or is it the wrong tome?

[chriscross1966]

As the domestic authority will not allow "pots of grubby compost" in the house I wouldn't be without mine. I've got a double tray and two singles, in constant use from December (onions) through til March (sweetcorn) having gone through a big succession of modules af various veg. I start nearly everything in modules and plant out from them... most of them start in the propagators

chrisc

[marathon]

Sounds interesting......do you have any photos of it?

No I haven't but I could make some up this afternoon to show you.

I'm sure that lots of people do this, my Dad has always used foil as his windowsils don't get much light. He read about it in a book that was written over 30 years ago.

[falkon]

is this any good, have anybody used/try them

Garland Super 7 Electric Windowsill Propagator

[Alison]

I've got the Garland 3 one which is the same base but with 3 somewhat larger tops and I find it very good but I thought that each of the propogator bits on the 7 one were rather small. Even with the 3 one you can't get much in each tray and although it's very good for my little newspaper starter pots (about 1.5" dia) it's a bit rubbish for proper pots.

[bobleponge]

I bought one and used it for the first time last spring. Not overly sure it was a resounding success tbh, but am going to try again this year.
Its a cheap Wilko's one, no temp controls etc, but I didnt really notice stuff coming up much quicker than on the windowsills, in my home made food container propogators.

[Ader1]

I'm thinking of getting a heated propagator with thermostatic controll. Anybody have any advice re-the make? I don't want to spend too much.....or somebody might know of one for sale?

[janeyo]

is one worth it - YES YES YES YES YES! I love mine

[chriscross1966]

I've got several, of both sorts... I wouldn't be without them, things that folks call difficult like Parsley just come up easy as pie and if you use module packs you can go to one seed per module and pretty much guarantee 100% germination for most things... I just stick a couple of spares in and know I'm covered for fails and runts.... quite handy if you like swapping seeds and only have five or ten of a given variety.

By using them in a greenhouse I normally expect to get a decent jump start on the growing season..

chrisc

[Dane End Dolly]

It is a def yes, heated propogators are so worthwhile. you save the money on seeds not wasted.

[Bigmallly]

I have 2 x Garland 7's & yes they are worth it. The only thing I would say is watch the compost doesn't dry out too quick.

[northepaul]

I have one for christmas, which I was planning to start some onions and chillis (free ones from this issue of the mag) after boxing day. The only qualms I have are the electricity costs, and that it says you need to place the trays on sand....