Allotments 4 All

Evening all!

I have been hanging around these boards for quite some time now, and thought it was about time I introduced myself!

My name is Nikk, and I currently have one and a half allotments in Suffolk which I have been tending for the past three years.

Now, if I may I would like to pick your brains. I have been encouraged by various posts here to try some early sowings in my heated propagator. I was thinking of things like cauliflower and broccoli. I remember that when I read the instructions for the propagator, it told me not to use either perlite or vermiculite inside of it, but I have lost the insructions and cannot remember which one it said.  ::)

Does anybody have any experience with either? My propagator is a simple one, that reaches about 20 degrees.

Thanks all.

Welcome, Nikk. If you find those instructions, please let us see them.

I always thought that V was a neutral, stable mineral derivative. Certainly, I use it to cover all my seeds & nothing has exploded yet! = Tim

Hi Nikk..Vermiculite will take temps of 1000C, also used in the insulation industry. I'm presently using this product in slab form and have been warned to wear a mask when trimming, but otherwise safe.Clean to handle,non abrasive, sound absorbent, resistant to decay, odourless and non irritant.

Perlite has already been heated to 871 C which makes it pop like popcorn which is why it's so light. I can't imagine a propogater being hot enough to reverse the process, so if there are guidelines suggesting it's not used, it must be for other reasons than stability.

I'm pretty certain it was perlite. I remember reading it in the instructions to my heated propagator too. It doesn't say why, though, annoyingly.

And welcome on board Nikk!

Thank you for a wonderful welcome.

I remembered that I was surprised that I wasn't allowed to use one of them as I knew that they were both heated to high temperatures before they are sold to us, but got myself in a bit of a panic!.

Thanks again
Nikk

Funny if it's Perlite - been through the same sort of birth pangs??

Would still be interested in the info source. = Tim

Hi all
The E Palabora who mine and sell the raw product share an office with the company I work for (part of Rio Tinto).
I can pass your queries on to their technical officer if that is any help - infact he's walking past me now so I have printed this page off and given it to him!
Helen   

Hi Nikk - like the others I can't fathom why you shouldn't use it in a propagator unless it holds too much moisture around the stems of seedlings which may help them to damp off.  I have used it with seeds in my heated propagator and had no trouble but make sure you use the very fine grade.

The following website is that of the main UK manufacturer who also makes propagators and J Arthur Bower's composts, fertilisers etc..

            http://www.william-sinclair.co.uk/

Small world, Helen!! = Tim

The seeds are sown and in the propagator now, thank you all for your reassurances.

Tim: If I ever find the instructions I will let you know what they say, although I'm sure there was no reasoning, just a 'dont do it'!

Thanks again.

Hi

Interesting you should be discussing Vermiculite..

I read last year that growers in the US use 100% Vermiculite to germinate seeds.  Now being the cautious sort I did try a few in pots in the latter part of the year.

I found that germination was extremely quick (within days) and the root structure unbelievable... I will be trying a few more samples this year

Don't believe everything you read Derek. This grower doesn't and nor do any other growers I know- its much more expensive than peat. I'm sure some do somewhere but its use is not general although many do use it to cover seeds, including me.
Having seen perlite turn green, meaning it has algae/slime moulds growing on it, I wonder if the given advice is because of potential disease problems, as clod hopper mentions.