temps for growing seeds

[Headfry]

If a seed needs a min temp of say 18 -20 deg c
once germinated surely it wont need that kind of heat to grow on in?
Will it??
Once germinated can I put into a propagator say at a constant 14deg

Talking about
peppers, aubergines and tomatoes etc

Many thanks kind grapes

[lynda66]

i germinate all my seeds on top of the boiler, in trays with lids it's nice and warm there, then as soon as they pop their heads out, they go on the windowsill or under a grow light depending on what they are, but they are all in an unheated room.... i leave the lid on for about a week, then take it off during the day for a week, then leave them without till they are ready to go outside or be transplanted

[bazzaboy]

Interesting question Headfry, it would be good to get a response from commercial growers like Thanet Earth who no doubt have got this down to an exact science. The usual range for germination of the plants you mention is about the 25C mark but I would think then reducing to 14C might check them (e.g. its cooler than the recommended night-time temp). As always it's wise to do any temp change gradually so if it gets too cool they will recover. If you think what happens in the summer in an unheated greenhouse they seem to be happiest at 25-30C (probably depends on variety and humidity). b.

[faerieprincess]

Using the boiler

i germinate all my seeds on top of the boiler, in trays with lids it's nice and warm there, then as soon as they pop their heads out, they go on the windowsill or under a grow light depending on what they are, but they are all in an unheated room.... i leave the lid on for about a week, then take it off during the day for a week, then leave them without till they are ready to go outside or be transplanted

Woo hoo! Thanks for this tip!!!! I've run out of window sill propagator space as I am trying to get both vegetable and flower seeds to germinate - hadn't even thought of the boiler cupboard. Yay, more seeds going in today!!!!!

[emmij]

Hi I am gonna try sitting them ontop of my tropical fish tank, it has a steady 24 degrees. LOL So I will let you know if it works. Last year I just popped my peppers on a sunny windowsill with a radiator below which seemed to work really well.

[pigletwillie]

Once germinated, grow the tomatoes et all on at about 10degrees C if started early or at ambient temps if later.

This temp is enough to grow them slow till its time for them to be planted out. Too much heat this early in the year will only give you lots of leggy tomatoes.

As for temperature fluctuations, my tunnels can go from 40 degrees on a sunny day to 6 degrees on a clear night. The net result is that my tunnel toms produce buckets of great toms right through till very late autumn.

Just keep them above 10 and they will not suffer a check. Some seeds might like a warmer temp to germinate, but even the Dorset Naga, (which recommend a temp of 25 degrees) came up on my kitchen worktop.