Propagators and when to remove seedlings

[The Goatreich]

I've always suffered with leggy seedlings, and have recently realised that I'm leaving the germinated seedlings in the propagator for too long, and not giving them enough light.

To combat this, this year I've been sowing seeds in individual pots, and as soon as there's some life I then remove the pot from the prop and put it on as sunny a windowsill as I can find. However I'm curious how people use these large seed tray modules, as surely not all of the seedlings will be ready to come out of the prop at the same time? Even ones of the same variety often take days or weeks longer than others.

What's the best way of combining space efficiency of seed trays with propagators that doesn't result in some of the seedlings sitting in the prop for too long?

[Bill HH]

As most tihngs in life it is a balancing act. I suspect that even seeds that havent actualy appeared will have at least started under the compost.

[Scarlet]

Most things that I put in the propagator are in small trays of the same type/variety or single pots. As soon as I see any growth, out they come. Chillies always get sown in single pots because they can be stubborn, toms germinate very easily so I'm happy to sow them in a small tray and pull them out at the first sign.

[The Goatreich]

That's great, thanks

[Bren In Pots]

I sow my seeds in individual newspaper pots then whip them out of the propagator as soon as I see a bit of green emerging. My Heated prop only gets used for toms, chillis, cucs and courgettes so its not to much trouble.

[chefgage]

I sow all my seeds in individual pots that i then put in the propergator. The way i see it as soon as each pot shows sign of life it can come out of the propergator

[Alison]

I sow my seeds in individual newspaper pots then whip them out of the propagator as soon as I see a bit of green emerging. My Heated prop only gets used for toms, chillis, cucs and courgettes so its not to much trouble.

That's what I do too except I don't use my propagator for courgettes and just do them in 3" pots in the conservatory with no added heat.

[The Goatreich]

Hmm, so far I've used my heated prop to start off:
---germinated and now on windowsill---
tomatoes
chillies
lavendar
--------------------------------------
---not germinated yet----------------
pumpkin
courgette
butternut squash
marigold
nasturtium
basil
coriander
------------------
My purple sprouting broccoli, cabbage and sprout seeds are on the kitchen windowsill, not showing any signs of life yet. All of the above have two seeds in each pot, allowing for one to fail.

[Alison]

Of the things you've mentioned, I germinate as follows:

tomatoes - inside in an unheated propagator
chillies - heated propagator
lavender - in the cold greenhouse
pumpkin - in the conservatory
courgette - in the conservatory
butternut squash - in the conservatory
marigold - in the cold greenhouse
nasturtium - in the cold greenhouse
basil - in the conservatory
coriander - in the conservatory
purple sprouting broccoli - no sown yet but will be in the cold greenhouse
cabbage - as PSB
sprout seeds - in the cold greenhouse

Unless otherwise specified no extra heat or covering has been included. I find that most things do better if treated a little bit mean.

[The Goatreich]

OK that's interesting. Thanks for the info and advice

[Alison]

OK that's interesting. Thanks for the info and advice

It's not to say you have to do it any way, experiment and do what works for you.

[AllInContainers]

I used my heated prop for melon, chillis and hyacinth beans. All done in separate pots, or three seeds to a pot, and taken out as soon as they started. Nothing else going in the heated prop this year, but I might be starting off a couple of other items on the windowsill once a few of the tender items have gone out.