Normally I sow my seeds in pans (shallow pots). They are about 4″ diameter, and smaller than seed trays, as usually I only want a few plants. Then I pop the pan in a resealable plastic bag, and leave it on the window ledge until the seeds germinate.
Trouble is that the house is not really warm enough for some things – Tomatoes, Peppers, Aubergines and so on want 20-24C, and our central heating thermostat is rarely set above 19C, and has a night time fall-back of 16C.
So I treated myself to an electric propagator (well, two actually, but I don’t think the DW has noticed yet!)
I looked at a thermostatically controlled model, but I’m not that fussed. Just something to provide gentle heat.
I got a couple off eBay called the “Garland Super 7″ they take 7 small seed trays, with clear plastic domes and little ventilators, and they run at less than 20 watts. Cost £29.95 each
Propagator
So I got busy and sowed some seeds. For quite a few things I only want 6 or 12 plants, so I sowed the trays half-and-half. I’m never sure about this … often when I come to prick-out I find that the lifting the earlier germinated plants disturbs the later ones which aren’t yet ready to be moved. We’ll see.
Propagator Seeds Sown
I’ve got one of those cheap plastic-covered mini-greenhouses (well two actually, don’t tell the DW that either please!!) in the conservatory, and I put any trays that have germinated, and my recently pricked-out plants, in there during the day so they get some warmth and sunshine, but I bring them back in and put them on the propagator at night when the temperature drops.
Update 09 March 2009
I’ve now got lots of little seedlings growing on in their mini-trays. During the day I put these is a mini-greenhouse which is in my unheated conservatory, and I bring them in at night. I expect the house is warm enough for them at night (i.e. they only really needed the extra heat to make them germinate), but I’ve been putting them on the propagator to keep them warm.
But I’ve got more seeds to germinate, so I’ve bough an extra set of 7 spare trays, and lids, so that I can sow more seeds. The existing trays which have germinated will have to do without the propagator heat from now on! I think it is debatable whether I need lids, or not. The lids could probably be left off the seedlings – I’ve been venting them during the day for a while, but the best price I could find was for a package of Trays & Lids, but they are sold separately.
See also the Vegetable Patch 2009 page
