Propagators

[andrewo]

A few questions as I use a propagator on a south facing windowsill, I always seem to either:
1. End up with plants all reaching for the light (I do turn).
2. Spindly plants that shoot up.
Does anyone have any advice on this? Do I take the seedlings out as soon as they germinate?

[Nicos]

I wonder if it's too warm??

[JennieAtkinson]

Mines got a cover - do you take that off for a while and let heat come up from the bottom once germinated?

[andrewo]

It's not a heated propagator, but should I take the lid off when all the seeds have germinated?

[Nicos]

If they are getting as leggy as you say, yes, I would keep the top off once the seeds have germinated. They are after all indoors, and presumably in a warmish place.
We have one heated and one not, and lost a lot of seedlings in the heated one due to excessive condensation (they were really leggy too). I like to think of propagators as a germination aid.The lid however does prevent the compost from drying out, so you may need to play around for a few days to see what suits you.

[nick the grief]

I know mines not a windowsill (8'x2') But I do the same as Nicos. Cover when they are sown and as soon as they start to come thru' I uncover them. Heat+moisture = Ideal fungus conditions

[sewer rat]

I had the leggy problem too - see my thread Reach for the Stars for some grapes suggestions on how to combat this.
Rat

[hils]

I know mines not a windowsill (8'x2') But I do the same as Nicos. Cover when they are sown and as soon as they start to come thru' I uncover them. Heat+moisture = Ideal fungus conditions

Nick,

Try watering your seedlings with a weak mixture of Bordeaux mixture. I tried it with my propagated toms last year with very good results - no damping off.

Hils

[JennieAtkinson]

Bordeaux mixture?

[hils]

Bordeaux mixture?

Commercially available, soluble powder, the active ingredient is a copper salt, probably the sulphate form. Cheeeeeep to buy in any good garden goods supplier.

Best of luck
Hils

[andrewo]

Will this mix not have an adverse response to some plants? Is it organic?

[nick the grief]

Bordeax mix is Copper sulphate & Lime, I'm not sure if it's recognised by the Organic assoc or not. Used from victorian times when french workest notice lime & water work better if they mixed it in a copper vessel rather than a wooden bucket, hence the name. I used to be used on the Vine to compat Mildew.

Yellow sulpur will see off most Fungi as well. But giving plenty of air is as good .. and cheaper!

Warm bottom cold tops make's for a happy plant

[andrewo]

It doesn't sound very organic, may give it a miss, the idea of adding metal additives and lime sounds pretty bad. But they give them fancy names don't they? I bet they wanted to call DDT, Toulouse Mix 35.

[JennieAtkinson]

Sounds a bit unorganic to me too - thought it might be some home-made concoction from left over red wine. There's none of that in this house

[nick the grief]

My typing is c**p ! What was I doing