I have the Vitapod with extra height which I find useful. Get the biggest one you can.
Assuming you'll be growing tomatoes and other tender plants, your plants will need to be in the propagator until all risk of frosts have passed and it's warm enough for them to come out of the propagator and onto the greenhouse staging. For me in Essex that's sometime in May - often late May. I sow chili and peppers in my propagator in late Feb and tomatoes in early March.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Would appreciate hearing what others grow in their heated propagators, when they sow seeds etc. I anticipate starting off my tomato seeds in mine, but need to learn when to sow etc so that the weather is safe to plant them on when they outgrow the propagator. I'm in Sheffield and my Vitopod is arriving tomorrow.
I find that to get good germination of peppers, chili and tomatoes, I start off with the temp in the propagator set to 25c. As soon as I see the seedlings coming through the compost I reduce the temp to 22C. The rest of the seeds germinate well at 22c
I've tried sowing earlier, but the plants tend to get leggy as the sun isn't strong enough until around mid-March so I stick with the sowing schedule above. I usually pick the first tomatoes in late June
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Cleaned the windows of the greenhouse this morning whilst waiting for the Vitopod to arrive. I've now set it all up. I went for the large double size and double height model, 'go big or go home'!! I haven't built the top layer yet as it wont be needed for a while.
For anyone who hasn't got one, the thermostat plugs into the wall socket, but it also has a trailing lead with a socket on the end, the Vitopod plugs onto this socket. I need to get a waterproof box to tuck this plug/socket into to stop any water splashing onto it.
You're well ahead of me. I've still got the greenhouse to clean inside and out before I set mine up again. But while we've got some sunny weather I should get on with it. At least it'll be warm inside and when I'm cleaning the apex glass and the cold water is running down my arm then soaking into my T shirt, it's not quite so bad
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
When is the best time to move seedlings out of a heated propagator?
Some say to move them out as soon as they have germinated, but I guess it depends on the temperature inside the greenhouse? Should plants be left in the propagator to grow?
I'm mostly having success with my Vitopod, with quite a few seedlings germinating well. Once the seedlings are looking healthy I've been moving then out and replacing with more seed trays. Though some plants like my tomatoes don't seem to have grown much since removing them.
It depends on the plants. Tomatoes won't like temperatures below 14C, so they'll struggle a bit. Most of the seeds I've germinated from the above list are out of the propagator, the tomatoes, cucumber, chilli, peppers and basil are still inside, but with the lid off and the thermostat set to 16C. Frost is unlikely here now, so whilst some may be a bit slow growing, the ones on the staging should be fine
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Posts
Assuming you'll be growing tomatoes and other tender plants, your plants will need to be in the propagator until all risk of frosts have passed and it's warm enough for them to come out of the propagator and onto the greenhouse staging.
For me in Essex that's sometime in May - often late May.
I sow chili and peppers in my propagator in late Feb and tomatoes in early March.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I've ordered the double size with double height layers for £200. I think having it will also make me think of uses for it.
I anticipate starting off my tomato seeds in mine, but need to learn when to sow etc so that the weather is safe to plant them on when they outgrow the propagator. I'm in Sheffield and my Vitopod is arriving tomorrow.
Here's when I sow mine and put in the Vitapod or my other propagator
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
As soon as I see the seedlings coming through the compost I reduce the temp to 22C.
The rest of the seeds germinate well at 22c
I've tried sowing earlier, but the plants tend to get leggy as the sun isn't strong enough until around mid-March so I stick with the sowing schedule above.
I usually pick the first tomatoes in late June
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
For anyone who hasn't got one, the thermostat plugs into the wall socket, but it also has a trailing lead with a socket on the end, the Vitopod plugs onto this socket. I need to get a waterproof box to tuck this plug/socket into to stop any water splashing onto it.
Pleased with it so for..
I've still got the greenhouse to clean inside and out before I set mine up again.
But while we've got some sunny weather I should get on with it.
At least it'll be warm inside and when I'm cleaning the apex glass and the cold water is running down my arm then soaking into my T shirt, it's not quite so bad
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Some say to move them out as soon as they have germinated, but I guess it depends on the temperature inside the greenhouse? Should plants be left in the propagator to grow?
I'm mostly having success with my Vitopod, with quite a few seedlings germinating well. Once the seedlings are looking healthy I've been moving then out and replacing with more seed trays. Though some plants like my tomatoes don't seem to have grown much since removing them.
Tomatoes won't like temperatures below 14C, so they'll struggle a bit.
Most of the seeds I've germinated from the above list are out of the propagator, the tomatoes, cucumber, chilli, peppers and basil are still inside, but with the lid off and the thermostat set to 16C.
Frost is unlikely here now, so whilst some may be a bit slow growing, the ones on the staging should be fine
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.