Allotments 4 All

hi all, has anyone any advice on electric propagators, or are they as easy to use as they look,

windy ;)

Yes but the secret is to remove the trays as soon as the seeds have germinated to prevent the seedlings getting leggy.

I have two electric propagators and I have used them alot. Each morning I take off the tops and either let the lids dry or wipe the moisture off with a towel. I leave my lids off all day then and just have the bottom heat on. Once at least 75% have germinated they get moved into a south facing window sill with a foil reflector of tin foil placed at the back; this bounces the light to the back and sides, stops the seedlings getting too leggy and they grow more upright also :)

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,39147.0.html

Thermostatic?

Quote from: tim on February 21, 2008, 08:42:06
Thermostatic?

Yes...One of them use to be a commercial propagator.. it's huge

I have one thermostatic and one non-thermostatic. I think it's worthwhile paying a bit extra to get the thermostatic control - not necessarily the very posh types with a connection to a soil temperature probe -  but one that gives you a variety of settings so that you can go high (for certain chillies) or low for veg.

You can use a soil temperature thermometer to check what temp is being generated.

hi all, thanks for the replys, the unit was as a gift, it does not have a thermostat, i'll have to buy a hand soil tester thermostat,

but i'm sure it will speed up germination ;D

If you find the soil is getting too hot, just buy a mains timer switch to reduce the number of hours for which the heat is on.

Check TG's guide - http://tinyurl.com/yv9u3h

You will see that most things germinate at room temperature, or less - & some, like Lettuce,  do not like it too warm.

Quote from: tim on February 21, 2008, 16:58:50
Check TG's guide - http://tinyurl.com/yv9u3h

You will see that most things germinate at room temperature, or less - & some, like Lettuce,  do not like it too warm.

Yes. I got mine for basils, chillies & tomatoes which was pretty much all I grew before we had the allotment, but they can also help get the season off to an early start. Also some seeds like a steady temperature (which is where the thermostat comes in).

I have since become a little broader minded and tackled the odd non-edible plant i.e. flowers, and it seems some these, the more exotic ones in particular, need quite high temperatures for good germination.

This is what I use to keep a check;




By the way; thanks for the plug Tim.

Let you in on a secret; I sometimes cheat if I have got a bit behind with my sowing.......I up the temperature a little above what I indicate on the planner  ::)

Having said that I agree with what you say!

My rule of thumb is; if the packet says it can be sown in the ground then generally sowing at room temperature is sufficient.

HA! HA! they are up :o :o ;D

QuoteEach morning I take off the tops and either let the lids dry or wipe the moisture off with a towel. I leave my lids off all day then and just have the bottom heat on.

I've been leaving my lids on with the moisture on them.  Just take the lids off every couple of days to check if anything's peeping through the compost.  Am I doing it wrong?    ???

WHAT is up, Windy?

That's the easy bit. What do you do with them now??