Any ideas guys ? I feel I need one and don't want to spend a fortune. I have no airing cupboard and my greenhouse is unheated. Do I need variable temperature control or is a 'billy basic' one just the job ? Will seed tray covered with the prop lids be OK on windowsills (i have and escapologist cat who tap dances on windowsills)
I am in need of advice.
What I did this year and most years is to so my tomatoes if febuary in small round pots about 2 inch or 2.5 inch in diameter. Place the pots on a sourcer, them place over the top the top half of a pop bottle with the top screwed on. This forms like a mine greenhouse. Then I place it on my bedroom window sill above my radiator and 7 days later my tomatoes started to appear. (I was a bit later this year I sowed them in mid march and for some reason they took 12 days to appear ???) I also did this with my geranium seeds and it worked really well also. And the best thing as well is that it cost me nothing :)
Personally I have never used a propergator at home. I have only used the seed tray type with the clear lids over the top that are unheated.
Baggy Ive got a heated propagator. I got it from Index and its long and slim to fit on a window ledge. There are 7 seperate trays on it each with its own lid. The lids have ventilation too.
I swear by it, ( ooo naughty!) ;)
Cant remeber how much cos its a couple of years ago now. Maybe £20 or £30?
http://www.index.co.uk/rf/navigation/product.do?product=247363222&Mis_item_id=15&D=249535057&SN=242222887&Ntk=pca_id&Mis_item_loc_id=1&versionid=1182&Nu=this_product&Nty=1&thisprod=247363222&categoryid=242222887&SNu=pca_id&Ntt=249535057&Dx=mode+matchall&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial&Np=1&N=0
I hope that gets you there. ::) I think its gone wiiiiide, sorry if it has.
Doh! you need to type 'propagator' in the search box. ::)
Its £20 btw.
Bargain! It's £30 in Argos :o
I splased out a whole pound (that's right One british whole pound) on the propigator tray and flimsy plastic lids you can get in Homebase - filled it with little peat pots with seeds and dumped it on my bright windowsills and...... 100% success rate - all my seeds (loads of different types) are going absolutely wild! Some were up within 24 hours... who needs fancy electric ones when a 99p one on a windowsill above a radiator does the trick? I swear by it now (how wude!!!) :o Just one tip though - if you use peat pots make sure you soak them in some warm water with a drop or two of BabyBio frist!!
Mark
Mark seems those of us who swear by them are frightening the seeds into growing! ;)
Well done you, great bargain. I need the heated one cos this is a cold house most of the time.
B&Q had some heated std seed tray style propagators for about 13 quid the other week. I got the Sankey version for £17 which has capilliary matting and trays included -shouldn't have bothered really as I bought some matting the other week for the g/house.
Jeremy
I don't have one. :-\
I like my pop bottle trick that is FREE!
ooo sexy, I do have propogators then, hundreds of them, and they serve me very well on the allotment!
(by the way, number one son loves your grinning snail! ;D)
Thanks :D
I too have bought those cheapo plastic trays with clear covers (£3 for 3 at Instore) and put them on windowsill with 100% germination rate.
Cheaper the better! The only time you need a propergatoe is when you are growing houseplant seeds or you want to grow tropical plant seeds. Also propergators are good for cuttings as the bottom heat helps them to strike (or root).
PS What is a propergatoe ???
Its the opposite of an impropergatoe of course! ::) ;D
Is it a camp foot
Electric propagators are only £10 and I wouldn't be without mine. I use them with the lid on, and off just when a bit of bottom heat is required. I don't have window sills or an airing cupboard so mine is invaluable.
where did you get you ten quid one Wardy ? I have looked in GCs and Wilkos but only find the unheated ones. Cheepest so far is 19.99 index one that Maz suggested. I daren't put things on windowsills esp in the summer as the rescue cat has become fly killer with a mission and nothing is safe - washing up liquid, roller blinds, recycling caddy ... ... ...
The ten quid ones are from (dare I say it on this forum) Wyevale Garden Centres :o :o There I said it ;D
At this point I say "boo hiss"
:o