Chilli, Aubergine & Peppers

[HayleyB]

Due to the lack of windowsills in my house and an unheated conservatory I am fretting about the sowing of all the above. What is the latest sowing I can get away with or alternatively how early could I chance trying the conservatory.

Thanks peeps

[Gwen11ian]

Have you considered purchasing one of those heated mats?

Here is one for £17.53

MAT SEEDLING HEAT 9X19.5 10 - CheapPetProducts.Net

I've never used them.. but you could put your germinated seedlings on them your unheated conservatory, and I expect they will do fine there. Just enough to take the chill off. If it's forecasting really cold weather, just bring them inside for the night.

[HayleyB]

Thanks Gwen11ian but a lack of readies means I need to look at it the hard way

[SarzWix]

I think once temps outside are sticking at around 5°c overnight, it'll be warm enough in your conservatory to grow on tender crops with no extra heat. Tomatoes, chillis etc need a min of 10°c for growth, 5°c for survival, so work from there. You should get a few degrees extra indoors. If you can spare or borrow a small electric heater to plug in overnight, then that would give you better scope.
I know up here I'm looking at mid April to turn the heatmats off overnight. in my unheated porch. It might be sooner where you are though

[amandaandherveg]

Do you use Freecycle Hayley?

Perhaps you could put a wanted post on looking for a heated mat - the type they use for Home Brew or Vivariums?

[Gwen11ian]

If you don't mind the effort (and can remember), just bring them inside very night until it's above 5C.

[HayleyB]

Thanks Guys - never seen freecycle around here, I think mats are the way to go but maybe get thinking cap on for something that is similar but not garden related that therefore doesn't have a garden premium on the price

[Eyren]

There's a Cambridge Freecycle group - they are online, so you wouldn't "see" them

cambridgefreecycle : Freecycle Cambridge (UK)

or there are several other groups in the area that might be nearer to St Neots:

Beds, Herts and Cambs Freecycling

You just sign up via email (moderators check you aren't a spammer before letting you loose on the mailing list!).

[HayleyB]

Thanks Eyren, joined Bedford, now maybe I can get some help

[tamsin]

I would start them somewhere warm, eg radiator/airing cupboard. Keep a really close eye and as soon as they show move them to the conservatory. At night either cover them up well or bring them inside.

Or you could set up a grow light if you felt like a bit of an experiment

[maytreefrannie]

Do you use Freecycle Hayley?

Perhaps you could put a wanted post on looking for a heated mat - the type they use for Home Brew or Vivariums?

Thanks for that tip - about the heated mats for winemaking - I've got a few which I never use for wine, but now I think I'll try them with seeds.

Also, Hayley B, I use fleece on stuff on and near the cold kitchen window - fleece isn't too expensive and I had some spare pieces which I use on those; this might help for the cold conservatory.