A Heated Propagator?

[Wendie]

Last year I was successful in growing simple things like tomatoes, chillies, beans and coriander, so I decided that this year I would go on to cucumbers, beetroots, spring onions, radishes as well as the others. The thing is that it says on the packet that I need to plant the seeds and use a heated propagator to start them off at 20 -25C for the beetroots and cucumbers. Is this necessary? I would have planted them in seedtrays and put them on the bedroom window with a lid on but the house isn't 25C (at any time of the day or night)!!
Advice would be lovely on if I need a heated propagator or what others do if they haven't got one. Also not sure when to start planting these seeds - I thought perhaps March time would be OK?

Any thoughts would be appreciated

Thank you from a not so confident gardener

[zazen999]

No, you don't need a heated prop.

I only use mine Jan and Feb and that's for peppers.

Those instructions are definitely wrong - I've got beetroot that were sown a few weeks ago in an unheated greenhouse that have just germinated - average temp probably about 5 deg C and that's during the day.

Sow your beetroot, radishes and spring onions now, they can go outside; and your cucumbers in April, again outside [or indoors if you haven't got an outside and put them in a coldframe as soon as they are germinated]

[Kristen]

If anything needs warmer temperature to kick-start germination put it in a sealed (e.g. use a twist-tie) clear plastic bag, stick it in the airing cupboard, and make sure you check it twice a day for signs of germination, as soon as it shows signs of germination move it to a well lit windowsill. The things that want warmer germination temperatures will probably need to be kept somewhere that has a minimum temperature of 10C (lower than that and they will "stall" and take ages to resume even when it gets warmer)

Germination temperatures:

Chillie 60-70F Sow now
Tomato - 65F No huge rush
Cucumber - 70-80F Sow later

The rest will not be terribly fussy on temperature, but if you can give some warmth (inside the house) until they germinate that will help get them going, but they will grow "weak" if they stay in central heating temperatures for very long after germinating - so move somewhere cooler once germinated

[Dottie]

I always direct sow beetroot and spring onions, with no problems.

I don't like radishes, but grew them direct for someone a few years ago and as they only take 6 weeks to harvest time, then it hardly seems worth starting them off indoors.

If your seed packet is a multi pack of 6 from Poundland, then don't take any notice.

[Wendie]

Sorry - i got it wrong - the Chillies - Pinocchio's nose says 20C and Cucumber - Cucino says 20-25C, both packets are T & M so I thought they would be reliable.

[smallblueplanet]

Have a search on the site for threads on heated propagators, there's lots. So then there's them that swears by 'em & there's them that don't.

I swear by 'em, bought one many years ago, use it every year for stuff that the seed pkt says needs a bit more heat than our 'dining room heat (18C)'. Stuff like chillies, aubergines, tomatoes, some flowers, cucurbits, etc... Perhaps its not necessary but it makes it easier and more predictable, says I.

[zazen999]

In the last week, tomato seeds have germinated just in the dining room, so the heated prop is only on for chilies now.

If you haven't got one, just pop them in the airing cupboard/warmest place in the house for a few days with a plastic bag over the top....

[Glutton4...]

Last winter I bought two heated propagators on eBay - but, where gardening is concerned, I guess I come in the "All the gear - no idea" group!

[binley100]

For stuuf that needs heat I use the airing cupboard, other stuff, kitchen windowsill , or the mini blowaway which is inside the gh .......

[Potstubsdustbins]

Wendie, if you can grow toms wihtout a propagator you can certainly grow the rest.

I tend to plant a bit late so my Toms are going tomorrow They will start life on a south facing window sill.

Next week will see my first radish and spring onion go in they will be outside in an unheated greenhouse, but a sheltered spot will do.

Like others have said cumbers will go in late March early April on the window cill vacated by the toms.

An old gardener once remarked to me that most plants will catch up with those sown earlier and so far I have found this to be true. I have a friend with a heated green house
but I start cropping a week or so behind him. Natures a wonderful thing those plants are programed to fruit and reproduce and usually thats just what they do.

Colin

[zazen999]

Yeah, but sowing early keeps lots of people quiet during January - it's like a virtual dummy for the adults

[Potstubsdustbins]

Zazan I must agree with you I am certainly getting itchy fingers, always do. I keep my seed packets close to hand and keep reading the instructions etc as a seditive. Folllowed by examining my chitting spuds every hour or so to see if they are making progress.

Colin

[Wendie]

I'm getting a bit itchy now too - this is the first year that I've bought lots of different seeds and am a bit worried that I'm leaving things too late. Going away on Saturday for the week and haven't started anything yet! PANIC! I too like Colin keep reading the seed packets, it's like taking exams, I'm trying to remember everything they write, but same as at school I keep forgetting and going back to take another look at them. It's only 35 years since I was at school an all. I must admit it keeps you on your toes! Thanks to all the tips

[Two_Sheds]

Going away on Saturday for the week

Well don't start anything until you get back - unless you have reliable help for fussing over your seedlings

Starting to sow in Feb isn't totally necessary, most things sown in March catch up anyway
As Zazen says, we do it for something to do in the dark days

[radioactive]

Well don't start anything until you get back - unless you have reliable help for fussing over your seedlings

Starting to sow in Feb isn't totally necessary, most things sown in March catch up anyway
As Zazen says, we do it for something to do in the dark days

Whilst I agree things can catch up if sown later I am taking things a stage further as in my GH I have heated status for the first time and I firmly believe that giving LIGHT is going to be the secret ingredient as we know the days of Jan and feb are pretty short light wise so I am giving my seedlings a full 16-18 hours of metal halide lamp this will I believe trick the plants into thinking its March April time and speed the growth rate
well that;s the theory at least so lets see I have in mind to sow seeds in the polytunnel later on so I should be able to do a comparison test