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seed starting beginner

jonmorris12jonmorris12 Posts: 16
in The potting shed
Hi all. New to seed starting and need a little clarification. Seed packets offer info on growing temperature. Does it refer to soil or air temperature? I have a newly aquired heated propagator with a probe. Does the probe measure the soil or air temperature? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Generally speaking, it's air temp on the packets @jonmorris12. The probe would be taking the soil temp.
    However, it's not always that simple. What you're sowing, and what facilities you have after seed germinates and needs pricking out/potting on, are the things to be aware of. Anything which isn't hardy will need to be protected until you can safely plant them outside.  Many plants don't need heat at all to germinate, especially heading into spring properly.  
    Lots of plants will grow in cooler temps than the info suggests, and some won't. If you can give us an idea of what you're sowing, we can offer better advice. :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    I started growing seeds last year with variable results even though I used a heat mat. I've had much greater success with germination this year but I think that's because I'm using the bigger windows which are all above radiators. Our thermostat is only set to 16 degrees and a lot of the time they aren't even on.

    The seeds I've sown this month are:

    Digitalis Camelot Cream/Lavender
    Digitalis Dalmatian Cream/Peach
    Pansy Antique Shades Nature
    Phlox Whipped Cream
    Scabiosa Fata Morgana/Ochroleucha
    Snapdragon Madame Butterfly Ivory
    Stock Aida Apricot

    They're all doing well but none of them require any fancy treatment though. I feel a little miffed that I had the heat mats on for weeks last year and I've got better results this time without them 🤷‍♀️






     
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    @Plantminded posted this link on another thread. You may find it answers some of your questions. Have fun!

    Seed sowing tips and tricks - BBC Gardeners World Magazine
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Digitalis and pansy need no heat,  best sown outside in a cold GH. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    @Lyn I'd need to have a greenhouse first! According to the instructions on the packets though, the pansies need 15-18 degrees to germinate and digitalis 15-20 degrees 🤷‍♀️ 
  • jonmorris12jonmorris12 Posts: 16
    Thanks for all your responses. I'm still a little confused and would like some more clarification on seed germination within a heated propagator. With a variable temperature heated propagator, what should I be aiming for. (a) the air temperature or (b) the soil/mix temperature? I've seen videos of the thermostat probe being inserted into the soil mix. So if the seed packets give information for air temperature, shouldn't the probe be monitoring that instead of the soil mix? So far I've noticed a big difference between the two readings. Any help greatly appreciated.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I’m sorry I can’t help you at all Jon,  I’ve never felt the need for a propagator or grow lights. 
     
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    What are you trying to sow @jonmorris12?
    It's often a combination of temps - ie air and soil,  that you need, and what suits one plant won't suit another. 

    I'm like @Lyn- I don't use extra heat as it's the follow on [pricking out and potting on]  that matters and I can't put stuff out here as early as folk further south, because of the aforementioned temps of soil and air, and the unsuitability of the soil early in the year.

    I'd need a heated greenhouse, or a very big conservatory- which I no longer have.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LunarSeaLunarSea Posts: 1,923
    Don't get hung up on absolute temperatures @jonmorris12. It is commonly acknowledged that a little bottom heat (ie. sitting on the warmed base of a propagator) will help things to germinate sooner. But most things would probably eventually germinate at room temperature anyway - just take a little longer.

    I've had success with a propagator but most often I can't be bothered because the ones I've used often overheat, or are very variable within the propagator space. I'm lucky in that I have a large aquarium with a flat hood that keeps seed-trays at a constant 20-21°C so I tend to use that. My tomatoes were up within the week, but then they might have been even if I'd just put them on a window-ledge.
    Clay soil - Cheshire/Derbyshire border. 

    I play with plants and soil and sometimes it's successful
  • jonmorris12jonmorris12 Posts: 16
    Still no clearer.  I was hoping for some expertise on Propagators. Thanks anyway.
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