When can you start sowing seeds in a heated greenhouse for next summer?

[ItsEssexRob]

Whilst this season I was very much new to GYO and didnt start sowing seeds untill April, this year I can get a head start.

I had particular success in germinating and growing Chillis/Peppers, and wish to grow hundreds and sell them as seedlings at a car boot stall around March/April time.

At present my greenhouse is unheated but I shall be buying a heater so I can overwinter some plents and so I can start sowing earlier.

What time of year can you start sowing Chillis/Peppers/Tomatoes in a heated greenhouse?

Thanks

[rustylady]

What sort of heater are you getting Rob?

[ItsEssexRob]

What sort of heater are you getting Rob?

No idea yet, reccommend me one please I have a small polythene greenhouse.

[rustylady]

To be honest Rob I don't heat my greenhouse (8' x 6' Norfolk polycarbonate). I start stuff off indoors on the kitchen windowsill in an electric propagator (seed tray size) and then transfer to the windowsill once germinated.

I'm not sure, but I would think the only safe form of heating for a polythene greenhouse would be electric and that would cost you a fortune to run.

[darcyvuqua]

no need to heat a green house put them on any window sill with a little sun and you will get seedling i start late jan early feb with not problems at all i would not sow all at once i would sow some like every sunday as you dont want to get to many as you might plant 1000 and only sell 300

just my opinion though

[ItsEssexRob]

To be honest Rob I don't heat my greenhouse (8' x 6' Norfolk polycarbonate). I start stuff off indoors on the kitchen windowsill in an electric propagator (seed tray size) and then transfer to the windowsill once germinated.

I'm not sure, but I would think the only safe form of heating for a polythene greenhouse would be electric and that would cost you a fortune to run.

I know this sounds silly but this is 100% true. Due to a technical problem where we live we get free electric, so if an electric one is best and safest that would be very good for me.

Windowsill would be OK for some but im thinking of doing lots and dont really have the indoor room for that.

[veggiechicken]

Will you have power in your greenhouse, Rob? You'll need a safe power point/ socket thingy as water and electric don't mix. I'm not an electrician! but do be careful. You can't just put it on an extension lead

[zazen999]

Is it a blowaway 'greenhouse'?

[The Large One]

heat is the least of your problems
chillis need light to grow into nice strong plants which overwinter the light is very poor
even professional chilli growers don't start selling plug plants till late May and thats with huge heated greenhouses

[Bigmallly]

You may have more success with tomatoes Rob, you only need to sow a few of different/exotic varieties then just plant the armpits for more plants.

[ItsEssexRob]

heat is the least of your problems
chillis need light to grow into nice strong plants which overwinter the light is very poor
even professional chilli growers don't start selling plug plants till late May and thats with huge heated greenhouses

Was thinking of planting the seedlings in Febuary in the heated greenhouse. Yes it is a blowaway one, I think it is stapled to the ground though.

[zazen999]

Was thinking of planting the seedlings in Febuary in the heated greenhouse. Yes it is a blowaway one, I think it is stapled to the ground though.

So was mine...Every time the wind blew it knocked everything off the shelves, you can see it here after a particularly breezy week earlier this year - I can see if you have a heater it melting before it gets whisked away. They are glorified cloches, nothing more, nothing less,

[Farmer_Gyles]

if you have free electricity, start them in the house with heating and an artificial light ...

[Pinfold Plotter]

I've a blowaway but germinate most early seeds in the house (eg tomatos). I then pot them on int the house (it helps that I have sunny wide windowsills) but don't move them out till at least mid April depending on the weather. (We have been known to have hard frosts in May in our village because of the altitude).

If you want to give things a head start now the only thing I can think of would be sweet peas for companion planting (which will overwinter with a little bit of protection).

I don't think I would bother heating a blow away, there is very little insulation to keep the heat in and you will end up with a few "hot spots" and the rest will be cold anyway.

[Two_Sheds]

Yep, you can't heat a polythene blowaway.

Light is more important than heat for seedlings: late March is when you want to get started, when the days get longer