what could I propagate now ?

[gingerneil]

I am itching to get started, and about to hit 'buy' on a Super 7 electric windowsill propagator....
However, I am trying to kepp my feet firmly on the ground - especially as I always get itchy green fingers at this time of the year!
I have a 3 raised beds for growing (1.8m x 90cm), and a 4 tier mini greenhouse (on an East facing wall of the house). I have very little space inside, and could prob just about persuade my dear wife to let me put a heated propagator in the kitchen!
So.... if I were to buy one now, what do people suggest I could start off growing in the next few weeks that would be ready to plant out (first in the mini greenhouse, then outside) about the right time?

[SlugLobber]

Tomatoes, All Year Round Lettuce, Onions... (desperately trying to think of 7 things!!), broad beans, some strawberry varieties.

Help me out, someone!

[gingerneil]

tomatoes... I wondered about those. If I propagate now, would it be warm enough in an unheated mini plastic greenhouse in 6 weeks time ?

[BarleySugar]

I don't usually put my tomatoes out in my 8 by 6 unheated glass greenhouse until mid April/beginning of May, and then fleece them if it gets cold. I don't think it will be warm enough in 6 weeks, they don't like getting cold, so if you haven't got any other windowsill space, I'd leave sowing them until later.

[Alice]

You could sow some spring onions now, but they won't need a propagator.
They'll do fine in pots on the windowsill then move them to cool conditions once germinated.

[HotStuff]

Tomatoes, All Year Round Lettuce, Onions... (desperately trying to think of 7 things!!), broad beans, some strawberry varieties.

Help me out, someone!

Chillies!

[PatioGardener]

Broad beans too!

[BarleySugar]

If you do chillies you need to keep those warm like tomatoes.

[Two_Sheds]

Broad beans don't need heat to germinate, neither do alliums.

I mostly use my electric propagator for chillies, tomatoes, celeriac, squashes and flower seeds
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...res_15025.html

[gingerneil]

Broad beans don't need heat to germinate, neither do alliums.

I mostly use my electric propagator for chillies, tomatoes, celeriac, squashes and flower seeds
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...res_15025.html

Thanks. When do you normally start ? WHere do they go after the propagator - do you have a greenhouse that takes them ?

[Dobby]

I stared out some sweet potatos last week an them and today i can see 3 shouts
dont know if its too early but i thought id give them a go
bought normal sweet potatos from aldi and scrubed them sloced them and put them in sand and soil in the heated prop

[Two_Sheds]

Thanks. When do you normally start ? WHere do they go after the propagator - do you have a greenhouse that takes them ?

Most things get started in Feb/March. First on a windowsill or electric propagator, then into the plastic greenhouse, then hardened off before going outside proper in May.

I have discovered by trial & error that there is no point at all in sowing too early ... later sowings always catch up and are usually bigger & stronger too

[inearlygaveup]

Totally agree with TS, its tempting but.........not always worth the effort

[MaureenHall]

Might not be worth the effort, but it gives our itchy fingers something to do