Cheap Heated Propagator?

[Snadger]

Cheapest I have found is a one seedtray size with cover for £14.99!

Anyone spotted any cheaper ones?

[nick the grief]

is it for up home or at the lottie Snadger?

[Snadger]

is it for up home or at the lottie Snadger?

The plan is to start my seeds at home in an electric propagator and once the seeds have germinated and plants have hopefully been potted on, transfer them to the lottie where I have the paraffin heater!

Time is of the essence I know!

[nick the grief]

OK Snadger, the reason I ask is that I think you'll find a single tray sized on a bit limiting.

I used to use a steel shelf filled with damp sand that I could get about 5 or 6 trays on & a parafin heater underneath & that was OK. Now I've got the luxury of a permanat heated bench (8ft x 2ft) with a 150w cable in it & a thermostat.

You can do away with the stat if you get cable that is only just big enough for the area of the propagator as it will only disispate a certain amount of heat.

The Thermostat is the most important as a lot of the electric ones you buy don't have a thermostat on them & they just raise the temp xdegrees above the ambient temp so if it was indoors in a roo that was 20c it may lift it to 25c f it's in a cold greenhouse & it drops to 0c it may struggle. where as mine sits at 20c no problems.

It may pay you to pay the extra bit & make a heated bench thats bigger & if you have one about half the size of mine it's not to much hassle to remove the sand & store it till next year when you want it again.

[WiZeR]

http://www.garden4less.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=JP-H

what do u think of this one?

[Alice]

What seeds is it you want to start Snadger. I've never used a propagator for anything. I find indoors is enough (and some special techniques). I've got some peppers on their way (early I know but long story) Will try to post pics topmorrow if time available. I always have my seedlings potted up by March and then just have to put the heating on in the greenhouse and get them out for space reasons. The house is like a hippie commune by that time.
If you tell me what you want to germinate I'll see if I can suggest anything short of a propagator.

[nick the grief]

Expensive was my first thought but I guess it's not that bad realy.

I used to have a "tomato" house like this & the problem I found with it was the cover broke down where it fitted on the frame. Also having one cover like that is a bit limiting. I prefer to use individual ones then if I want to take a batch of geranium (pelargonium) cuttings I can do as they tend to rot if you keep them in humid conditions (well they do for me anyway).

The big advantage of it is you can take it apart & pack it away come the summer but you could do that with a heated mat anyway.

[Alice]

Or tomatoes will just germinate on any windowsill.

[Snadger]

What seeds is it you want to start Snadger. I've never used a propagator for anything. I find indoors is enough (and some special techniques). I've got some peppers on their way (early I know but long story) Will try to post pics topmorrow if time available. I always have my seedlings potted up by March and then just have to put the heating on in the greenhouse and get them out for space reasons. The house is like a hippie commune by that time.
If you tell me what you want to germinate I'll see if I can suggest anything short of a propagator.

Hi Alice, I've just popped along to the Garden centre (luckily it's within walking distance, next door neighbour in fact!) and purchased the £15 jobbie. Fancied one for a while and its an early Christmas present from/to me!

Bit of a tradition round here to sow the Kelsae or Mammoth Improved onions on Christmas day, so bought a few small trays to go in propagator and I already have some compost and the seeds waiting! Might sow some 'Ham' onions mentioned in an earlier thread as well. I don't bother with show leeks, far too much competition round here!

One has to make an effort for the GYO cyber show one knows, doesn't one?

[nick the grief]

Don't let competition put you of Snadger. I grow Mammoth Blanch & pot leeks - they wouldn't win a spring onion class but the taste .........

[NOG]

http://www.garden4less.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=JP-H

what do u think of this one?

£89 I have paid less for cars than that.........

[Snadger]

£89 I have paid less for cars than that.........

Yeah with a full tax and test an all!

[tricia]

Focus are selling heated propagators at half price. Smaller one at £14.99 and large one at £27.49. I bought the large one last year. It has three seed trays and five 3" pots. Right now I have chillis, aubergines and celeriac germinating.

Tricia