Is a heated propagator really worth it?

[jayjay giant]

Worth it if you want to crack the continuity side of things. You can get an early start and also extend the growing season too !
If you read some of the guys posts on this forum they can put food on the table 52 weeks of the year and believe me that takes some doing.
They make full use of all the help available to them and if that means gaining a week here and there on germination times then it must be worth it.

[chriscross1966]

Umm... bit early for silverskins.... you'd be better off with maincrops now .... I've tried silverskins early to get bigger pickles and they get sort of leathery..... if you want a bigger pickle then SY300, Barletta or Borettana, or a shallot...

chrisc

[Ringo Grumio Nibbler]

Umm... bit early for silverskins.... you'd be better off with maincrops now .... I've tried silverskins early to get bigger pickles and they get sort of leathery..... if you want a bigger pickle then SY300, Barletta or Borettana, or a shallot...

chrisc

So would you hoy onion seeds in a HP at this time of year?

[smallblueplanet]

I think you risk your onions bolting if you start them in a heated prop - no need, ours are germinating quite happily in the dining room.

[Ringo Grumio Nibbler]

I think you risk your onions bolting if you start them in a heated prop - no need, ours are germinating quite happily in the dining room.

Aye, as I mentioned in another thread, following some advice, I've now got them in a cool room.

[plymouthred]

Strawberries and Propagators

A total novice at gardening, why didn't I listen to my father when he dragged me to the allotment back in the 70's and I am finding this forum to be excellent albeit a little confusing!

I was bought 2 x Strawberry Planters and it appears that Alpine seeds seem to be the best for these..........?

http://www.primrose-london.co.uk/pro...pg&w=277&h=400

Would I need a propagator to start the seeds off? Thankfully SWOMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) doesn't mind me having them in the house (Back of the kitchen - north facing - minimal sun) as the area doubles up as my 'mini' office.

T'is my birthday next week and people keep asking me what I want

Any thoughts appreciated.

Dave

[Shadylane]

I sowed some alpine strawbs last year without the help of a HP. I may have covered em in cling film while they germinated but they came up pretty quick just being kept indoors. Be warned though they take ages to actually look like plants and you'll need quite a few. If you're getting into this growing lark though a propagator would make a much more interesting pressie than socks

[craigrockfield]

I brought a small Stewarts heated propagator this year for the first time for under twenty quid. I was pleasantly surprised by how simple it is to use and at just 8 watts you can run it constantly for less than a quid a month. For some seeds it cannot replicate nature, you would expect the cosy warm moist environment to work for almost anything, everytime I tried peas they would just rot, stick them in the hardy outdoor soil rain sleet or shine and they come up everytime. Flower seeds seem to do especially well in them, but just be sure to harden them off outdoors slowly.

I do have a question for the experts myself though.. most propagators operate at an ambient 20 degrees c, are they any devices which operate at a much higher temperature say between 25-30 degrees. I have a few mexican palm seeds which require far more heat than my propagator can offer it.