Is a heated propagator really worth it?

[Bigmallly]

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....

I can only comment on the ones I have. They cost around 50p per month to run & I know nothing about putting them on sand.

[smallblueplanet]

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....

Don't start onions in them it will be too warm for them I reckon.

[Two_Sheds]

The only qualms I have are the electricity costs, and that it says you need to place the trays on sand....

They cost pennies to run, but you don't even need them on all the time: just a couple of days until the seeds germinate, then (depending on what you're growing) it can go off again.

I have oats/wheat in mine at the mo, so the guinea pigs can have fresh grass

As to sand, mine don't need sand. What have you got?

[Ader1]

OK...I think I will get one ie a heated propagator. My next question is.....Would you advise to get one where you can vary the heat using thermostat which is slightly more expensive than ones which have a constant heat source but I believe you can open and shut vents. Cheers.

[nick the grief]

The "normal" ones sold ususally raise the temperature of the compost by around 6 or 7 degrees which is fine if it's in your greenhouse and the ambient temp is 0c but if the sun comes out and the temp goes up to 10c you're seeds are at 17c!

It's really easy to make one with a soil warming cable and a rod stat mines 8ft x 2 ft and will hold around 20 seed trays I think but you can get smaller cables the one I have is 150w (it was my dads so they last for years).

Make a box up with the sides around 6" and a solid bottom (1/2" ply) then put some polystyrene in the bottom andline the whole thing with plastic. Build it around seed trays so you don't have any gaps to loose heat from.

Then you want about 1" or so of soft sand in it turn you're cable on for about 30 second (it warms it up and make it flexible) lay it out in a snake pattern and then cover with anther 1" or so of sand. If you look in the Garden centres they sell the plastic tops that will cover 2 seed trays, if you get two of these you can use this to cover it over or make a plastic tent to go on top it will help keep things humid.

All you have to do is keep the sand moist as it's the water in the sand that conducts the heat. The at the end of the year just pack it in the shed and let the sand dry out and keep in a bag ready for next year.

I think I posted a "drawing" on here some time ago - i'll see if I can find it.

[nick the grief]

Well still not found it (must bo on the other computer I think) but found this as an alternative

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...html#post31896

[bramble]

If you want to have a real chance of getting a good crop of chillies, then I would definitely say yes.
I have one but its not thermostatically controlled. If you can afford it go for one with a thermostat.
Don't really think you need to start toms so early as they seem to catch up, its the chillis that need a good long growing season.

[Rhona]

I'm a fan of a heated prop. I have 3 - two small, one pretty big. For me, the benefits are:

Seeds germinate in days
Hardly any seeds fail to germinate
It's tidy (if you're doing it in the house, this does matter to an extent)
It's dead easy

Like someone said (Alison I think) - whip out the seedlings quick as they will go leggy. I find it help keep me on my toes, getting things potted on etc.

I've never used sand either, but see how it would conduct the heat. That said, I've never had 'hotspots' or cool patches that were slower. I don't know, might try sand in one prop and see if there's any difference.

I'd recommend anyway.

[Tam]

I have two rather large thermostatically controlled heated propagators and certainly wouldn't be without them. I think they pay for themselves if you ever buy expensive "difficult" seeds as you will find the germination of these is so much better with a little bottom heat. Where they really score is when it comes to rooting cuttings as I have rooted some herbs and shrubs that I have tried without the help of a propagator - and without success.

[Ader1]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I took the plunge today and bought myself one. A Thermostatically controlled propagator for around £53 p&p included. Hasn't arrived yet. Looking forward to trying it out.

[Scottishnewbie]

i popped some onion seeds in three days ago and they are already poking through the compost. i'll whip them out in a couple of days and get some more chillis and peppers sown - i love it but if i was buying another one i'd buy a thermostatically controlled one i think

[Bex]

I've got 3 of the B&Q cheap ones, about 13quid each. I wouldn't be without them, they are always full for 4 months of the year starting now. Never had one with therm control so don't know what I'm missing.

[Madasafish]

I have owned my halls one - large for 20 years. Best £25 I spent.

[Newbie]

i've just received my Super 7 Electric Windowsill propagator today & plan to start off some Paris Silverskin onions & some Chillis over the next few days (and anything else that you could suggest?) in it in the house. But as my greenhouse is unheated & been getting down to about -10 some nights would these be ok to grow on on a windowsill for the next couple of months until the GH is warm enough at nights? What do you guys do?

[Alison]

I germinate inside in a heated propogator, then move onto window ledges and our conservatory before moving out (SEVERAL months later) into the unheated greenhouse / outside as appropriate. You need a lot of space on window ledges etc.