Allotments 4 All

I don't have a heated greenhouse or props but have put some onions and chilli seeds in the spare room - if I put an electric blanket underneath the board would it have the same effect?

watch out for water on it  :o

OK with a plastic sheet in between  :o

Chillis need 20degC plus to germinate so would probably welcome the blanket

Onions only need about 10deg C so should germinate just about anywhere in the house.

I'd be very careful - it could get very hot indeed. A normal electric blanket isn't meant to be on continuously (unless they've changed), and also normally it has to heat the few cm's of air that surround it, albeit trapped air. I've noticed before when leaving a book on top of an electric blanket that it get's very hot underneath. Just something to be careful of, IMHO...

Yes - I too would be very careful you don't want to start a fire!

Good luck though - Isn't it exciting though - we can begin to do stuff!!!!!

Old Bird ;D ;D

How about an ikea timer on / off for 20 mins or 40 etc...

and just raise the seeds, like ollieC said, using blue crates or something.  BUT be careful.

I would be careful - we used to have electric blankets in the late 70's - the old ones without timers or cut offs - anyway for some reason one of the beds were not slept in - about 2am one of us woke up and smelled burning - the mattress was alight when she threw back the covers - the smoke then belched out - and we all had to charge with the matress and lob it out of the landing window - we was all wheezing and coughing.  We laugh about it now - but if my sister had not woken up it would have started a house fire.

Maybe not such a good idea then  :o. 

Plan B: Turn the radiator full on and site the chilli trays nearest to it, just hope they cope with the fluctuation in temperature.

Thanks everyone for your help.

My thoughts?

Both the blanket & radiator would be a huge waste of heat. For the same expense, a small professional 'hotbed' for just those things that need heat would seem better? And more flexible that a propagator.

Trouble is, germinate & then what? All things need good light & a continuig 60F to progress.

How about a purpose made gel filled electric blanket?

http://www.twowests.co.uk/TwoWestsSite/product/WP.htm

I looked at that but reckoned the Bio Green heat mats, although more costly, are better value because they are larger and include a soil temperature thermostatic control.

http://www.cmsgardens.co.uk/propagator.htm  (about one-third down the page).

What about - a win making heated pad - they are waterproof and about 2 feet square - you stand the demijohn's onto them to maintain fermentation temperatures - have a look on ebay for one.

why not cover at night with some old blankets and use a hot waterbottle :)

As Barnie says - either the Bio Green or the Hotbox ones. I have found MS very good to deal with.

Put a 2" thick foam plastic sheet underneath.

Gave up on blanket, didn't turn the radiator up just left the door open to normal heat in the house and, hey presto, chilli seeds have started to germinate!

Give them light!! At least those that have germinated.

Thanks Tim, rushed up tonight and took the lids off - they are in a bedroom that faces west, near the window and there's a huge wardrobe mirror the other side of the bed so that's reflecting light back too.  :)