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Produce => Under Glass => Topic started by: Tee Gee on January 11, 2017, 10:59:24

Title: Made a start to 2017
Post by: Tee Gee on January 11, 2017, 10:59:24
Came out of hibernation long enough to prepare my hot bed for the forthcoming season as you can see here.

This is it after I took the polythene cover off as you can see there has been quite a bit of algae forming under the plastic sheet since I used the bed last season:

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Hotbed/IMG_5339_zpsh5wrayth.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/Hotbed/IMG_5339_zpsh5wrayth.jpg.html)

Scraped most of the algae off:


(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Hotbed/IMG_5340_zpskcv05cp6.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/Hotbed/IMG_5340_zpskcv05cp6.jpg.html)

Watered the sand including adding a little bleach to the water to hopefully kill of any spores or pests.


(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Hotbed/IMG_5341_zps407ttsph.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/Hotbed/IMG_5341_zps407ttsph.jpg.html)

Washed the plastic cover and put it back in place where it will remain until  around this time next year;

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Hotbed/IMG_5342_zpsagmhkp5n.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/Hotbed/IMG_5342_zpsagmhkp5n.jpg.html)

Switched on the power and put my thermometer on the surface to establish my settings,  the markings on the thermostat are quite unreliable so I will make adjustments over the next few days to get a temperature of around 65°-70°F (18°-21°C)

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Hotbed/IMG_5344_zpsh3yqb5bl.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/Hotbed/IMG_5344_zpsh3yqb5bl.jpg.html)

This is the fan heater that has been keeping my greenhouse at a minimum of 39°-40°F (4°C) over the winter       

   (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Hotbed/IMG_5343_zpsqafxevhz.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/Hotbed/IMG_5343_zpsqafxevhz.jpg.html)

I might sow a few seeds at the weekend!                   



Title: Re: Made a start to 2017
Post by: laurieuk on January 11, 2017, 15:22:19
i Tee Gee
It looks like a Parwin heater such a shame they do not make them now. I had one for many many years they even sent me some spare parts so I could mend it my self when it started to wear out.
Title: Re: Made a start to 2017
Post by: Tee Gee on January 11, 2017, 15:35:40
Quote
mend it my self when it started to wear out.

I agree Laurie it was one of the reasons I bought the model.

I also bought their thermostat which is accurate to +/- 1° as opposed to the more common type which is usually +/- 5° although I never new if the ° was Fahrenheit or Celsius (Fahrenheit I would guess)

OK I paid a bit more for this but this accuracy has well and truly paid for itself over the years.

I do think I would be able to buy a compatible element  if needs be as I think most of these are of a pretty standard design. Length would be the critical thing I think!

Title: Re: Made a start to 2017
Post by: johhnyco15 on January 11, 2017, 16:08:53
I'm still sitting on my hands may give the old electric thingy a clean  the weekend and then sit back on my hands until mid Feb having no power in my greenhouses i dint start too early as they go leggy indoors and having two sons yes two who are electricians I'm still waiting 8 years on for power in my greenhouses at home they dint have much trouble remembering where i live at xmas and birthdays  :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:
Title: Re: Made a start to 2017
Post by: ancellsfarmer on January 11, 2017, 19:10:54
I'm still sitting on my hands may give the old electric thingy a clean  the weekend and then sit back on my hands until mid Feb having no power in my greenhouses i dint start too early as they go leggy indoors and having two sons yes two who are electricians I'm still waiting 8 years on for power in my greenhouses at home they dint have much trouble remembering where i live at xmas and birthdays  :sunny: :sunny: :sunny: :sunny:
Have you written to ask them each to tender for the job?
Title: Re: Made a start to 2017
Post by: Obelixx on January 12, 2017, 15:01:31
HI TeeGee.  Is your heated potting bench for helping germination or rooting cuttings or growing things - or all 3?

Just wondering if I'll need to work on OH for one when I get my new veggie plot and a polytunnel going.
Title: Re: Made a start to 2017
Post by: Tee Gee on January 12, 2017, 15:33:03
Germination, pricked out plants & cuttings mainly as you can see here:

(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/03-March/P1140838.jpg) (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/tgalmanac/media/03-March/P1140838.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Made a start to 2017
Post by: Obelixx on January 12, 2017, 16:23:04
Thanks TeeGee.  You have a great setup.  Good luck for this coming season.
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