Heated Propagator
Good evening,
I want to grow chillies from seed this year and the advice that I've got back is to make sure that they get a good start by heating the soil to 70 degrees, using a heated propagator. No idea on what make or model to buy - can anyone recommend a manufacturer? I only want to grow a dozen or so plants so I assume a cheap and cheerful, small propagator will be sufficient. Any help gratefully received. Cheers, Andrew |
Heated Propagator
ajr wrote:
Good evening, I want to grow chillies from seed this year and the advice that I've got back is to make sure that they get a good start by heating the soil to 70 degrees, using a heated propagator. No idea on what make or model to buy - can anyone recommend a manufacturer? I only want to grow a dozen or so plants so I assume a cheap and cheerful, small propagator will be sufficient. Any help gratefully received. If it's only for chillies, it's quite unnecessary: a warm windowsill is all I've ever used for both seeds and mature plants. I recommend peat pots to avoid root damage when potting on. My take on this -- but others may know better -- is that you may bring your seedlings on too quickly and risk ending up with straggly plants instead of stocky tough ones. The plants you get need to be suitable for the conditions in which they'll be finally planted out: spindly ones won't do well anywhere, but outdoors or in a cold greenhouse they'll be set back particularly seriously. If you're going to use a heated greenhouse for the final situation, then that's also the place for the seeds, in my opinion. -- Mike. |
Heated Propagator
"Mike Lyle" wrote in message ... ajr wrote: Good evening, I want to grow chillies from seed this year and the advice that I've got back is to make sure that they get a good start by heating the soil to 70 degrees, using a heated propagator. No idea on what make or model to buy - can anyone recommend a manufacturer? I only want to grow a dozen or so plants so I assume a cheap and cheerful, small propagator will be sufficient. Any help gratefully received. If it's only for chillies, it's quite unnecessary: a warm windowsill is all I've ever used for both seeds and mature plants. I recommend peat pots to avoid root damage when potting on. My take on this -- but others may know better -- is that you may bring your seedlings on too quickly and risk ending up with straggly plants instead of stocky tough ones. The plants you get need to be suitable for the conditions in which they'll be finally planted out: spindly ones won't do well anywhere, but outdoors or in a cold greenhouse they'll be set back particularly seriously. If you're going to use a heated greenhouse for the final situation, then that's also the place for the seeds, in my opinion. -- Mike. Thanks for the advice Mike. No idea what to do, so I'm going to plant half the seeds as you've suggested and the other half using my new heated propogator - I have to justify buying it somehow!! :-) Will let you know the results in the summer. Cheers, Andrew |
Heated Propagator
"ajr" wrote in message
... No idea what to do, so I'm going to plant half the seeds as you've suggested and the other half using my new heated propogator - I have to justify buying it somehow!! :-) A heated propagator - even the cheapest basic model* without any thermostat can be a great help when striking cuttings. Without any bottom heat some cuttings can seem to sit around for ages. Whereas a bit of heat gives a much better success rate, and quicker too. Similarly for anyone growing cactus from seed a heated propagator can make all the difference as the seed germinates quicker, and so can be sown earlier, allowing the plants to reach a reasonable size, match head as opposed to pin head by the end of their first season. Although columnar cacti may be bigger. *One thing to look out for is the lids. More expensive lids are made of acrylic which doesn't yellow with age. The styrene lids used in some cheap propagators does. However some cheap unheated propagators come with acrylic lids - and are worth looking out for as this often works out cheaper than buying a spare acrylic lid individually. Provide they're from the same make and so can be guarenteed to fit, that is. As has been pointed out by Mike Lyle, you will get unbalanced plants if the heat outstrips the amount of available light. The structure of individual plants species is the one best adapted to take advantage both of the prevailing light levels and its associated temperature as is normally found in nature. i.e. the plant develops leaves more quickly so as to take advantage of the (maybe non-existent) light levels more normally associated with that ambient temperature. Most biological processes are speeded up by an increase in temperature within limits. Which is why bottom heat can be useful for both cuttings and seeds. Although it should be pointed out that not all seeds need a high temperature. In some cases precisely the opposite. Capsicum seeds don't necessarily need 70% to germinate. However in some areas - maybe in some daylight zones in the US, it may be necessary to start capsicums off early with artificial heat in order for the plants to achieve full size in a single season. Something that doesn't apply in the UK. michael adams .... Will let you know the results in the summer. Cheers, Andrew |
Heated Propagator
In article , michael adams
writes Although it should be pointed out that not all seeds need a high temperature. In some cases precisely the opposite. Lettuce won't germinate over a certain temperature either Janet -- Janet Tweedy Dalmatian Telegraph http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk |
Heated Propagator
On Sat, 4 Feb 2006 21:50:19 -0000, "ajr" wrote:
Good evening, I want to grow chillies from seed this year and the advice that I've got back is to make sure that they get a good start by heating the soil to 70 degrees, using a heated propagator. No idea on what make or model to buy - can anyone recommend a manufacturer? I only want to grow a dozen or so plants so I assume a cheap and cheerful, small propagator will be sufficient. Any help gratefully received. Cheers, Andrew I made my own in the corner of the greenhouse on my allotment by boxing a corner of the greenhouse with wood spars and bubble film and under the bench a twin burner parafin stove on the bench water proof trays with capillary mating 1/4 seed trays a soil themometer and a fleece curtain down th front. I am steady at 65f and tomato seedlings are now ready to pot on, Kelsea onions were poted on last week. Neil |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:36 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter