I am still confused at growing seedlings. I have been looking at mini-propagators and they don't have many instructions except when to open the side vents and top vent. One propagator advertisers that it allows plants to grow 19 cm tall!!
What I can't understand is this: I thought once the seeds have sprouted the cover should be taken off. Wouldn't that apply to a propagator as well. I would like to put the seedlings outside when the seeds have sprouted but wouldn't it get too hot with the cover left on outdoors (in sunlight)?
Can someone please clarify this.
Thankyou
Anna from Downunder :)
I don't suppose peeps do things on a small scale here ;D
Anna from Downunder :)
Hiya Anna,
I used a mini propogator indoors this year, I placed it on a south facing window ledge and opened the vent if it was a particularly hot day (the themometor on the ledge is reading mid - late 20's, which I guess is not that hot to you!)
Once the seedlings have sprouted and are big enough to be handled with out damaging them, or if it specifies on the packet a certain length of time, I then pot them on into bigger pots and put the in them in the cold frame. If there is still a risk of frost etc... I put the lid on at night, or bring them inside. Very fragile things I then continued to grow on a west facing window ledge un-covered.
I don't think propogators are intended to be used outside?! though am bound to be proved wrong!
I use two types of propagator - a basic electric one for gettong seeds to germinate (like early tomato) which you use indoors, plug in and gentle bottom heat is generated; and ones that consist just of a tray with plastic cover. They do get very hot if left outside in sun, even if the vents are opened, and I've lost plants by forgetting to take the lid off in the day. I find them most useful for giving protection to young plants at night in spring, when frosts threaten. (I have no glasshouse) The height is a problem that I come up against too, I suppose the art of it is not to start things off too early, but then you wouldn't necessarily need the propagator... I have actually built a tall cold frame to cater for taller plants.
Most seedlings don't require heat to start them off. If you check on the packets it will tell you what temp is required and you only need the propagator if it says something like 68 degrees to 70 degrees something in that range. This is only to germinate them and once the seedlings are up you switch the power off. You can use the electric propagator for gentle bottom heat as well and then you'd leave the lid off. Some veggies benefit from a bit of bottom heat, eg sweetcorn.
The propagator is NOT to be used outdoors as they're not made for that purpose and wouldn't be safe :)
Thanks Jennym & Daisymay.
Yes one does think of custom building some thing. Â Maybe you should have your designs manufactured ;D ;D ;D
Wrt a cold frame; is that just covered with shade cloth and still OK at night in cold weather?
I'm thinking of getting an old wire shelf set and covering that with shadecloth. Â Would that work once the seedlings have come through (outside) or would it still be too cold?
Now we're going to start getting technical...
Wow, Wardy your post came thru just as I was going to submit this. The propagators I have seen aren't heated. They just have the vents.
The problem I have is WHERE to put the seedlings once they have germinated. There just isn't enough light on my window sills (facing west). Hence the idea of making 'something' for outdoors. But knowing at what stage it is safe to put the seedlings outdoors ??? Even though it's spring here it is still cold at night.
PS: The few salad seedlings I have had outside for 2 weeks (with lawn/scrap compost) hasn't grown at all!! Yet they were so quick to germinate indoors.
Anna from Downunder :)
A cold frame is usually low, rectangular, about a foot high one side about 2 feet the other, with a sloping piece of glass or clear plastic for a cover - very basic. Mine is made of wood. If you have a wall, you can make this the back side of the frame and build out from that. I have also a free standing metal frame which is covered in Enviromesh - this offers a bit of protection too, but not enough here for severe frosts. (below 4 degrees C)
It depends on what you're sowing. Some seeds need cold to germinate for example but the seed packet will tell you exactly what temperature is needed for germination and then at what temperature to grow your seedlings on. It usually says "a warm windowsill" or whatever so the instructions are usually quite good. All seeds though are different and require different germination times, temperatures etc so you have to be guided by the packets. A small electric propagator is cheap and really useful I reckon for geraniums, tomatoes, sweetcorn and sweet peas. Really handy if you can afford it :) Otherwise you could use your airing cupboard (hot cupboard) instead
Managed to get a picture of my tall cold frame - to give you an idea.
(http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a215/jennympics/coldframe-tall.jpg)