They are great but you do need to make sure the windowsill gets enough light or your baby seedlings can really suffer.... that was the mistake I made! Or make sure you have somewhere very light to move them to when they've germinated.
Personally I would want one free of charge....and I ask the question, what are you going to do with these seedlings after they have germinated at express speed?....A heated greenhouse (to 60f) would be imperative.
Experience tells me that trying to beat nature by producing stuff early is doomed to fail.
Alas, garden centres will once again have tomato plants for sale in February & people will buy, only to be back for more in May.
I'd agree with David that beating nature is hard to do but I also know just how itchy I get in January to see things growing! In practice, the early-sown seeds of most plants don't really get you ahead of the game - the later sowings nearly always catch up and (to be honest) are often healthier..... BUT it is just so nice to see something green happening as early as possible! So, as long as you don't expect miracles from your propagator I'd say go ahead and have fun with it. And there are definitely a few seeds that do benefit from early sowings.
But you do need to think about where you put the baby seedlings once they've germinated - they won't need heat any more but they mustn't be cold, and they'll need lots and lots of light. Have you got anywhere that might work?
I don't have a GH and don't have space for one unfortunately.
Im looking to plant echinacea and rudbeckia amongst others but seeds are the most cost effective.
Is it possible to germinate without a greenhouse with either a propagator, cold frame or one of those mini shelf greenhouses? My shed has east facing windows so probably not enough light all day.
Thanks David and Rosie - you are the voices of reason which is what an 'ants in your pants' person like me needs to be reminded of! I did think that, in the back of my mind, but strategically ignored it in order to do two of my favourite things; shopping and gardening!
I have a greenhouse but it's cold. I do have a heater that my dad bought me but I'm worried to leave it on all the time. Then there's the spare room which is waiting to be decorated so could pop a few in there.
i think I might experiment with things like sweet peas which can be sown now and see how I get on. But I will hold my horses on some of the many seeds I've ordered!
Went to the garden centre yesterday. Other than bulbs and spuds, it just looked sooo bedraggled of stock.
Hi All. I have two of the Stewart 52cm heated propagators which each fit two of the large seed trays and they have been absolutely brilliant! Over the last two growing seasons they have enabled me to bring on multiple sowings of chosen seeds far quicker than I could have achieved using a non-heated propagator (which I had previously). I don't have a proper working greenhouse (yet!) so seedlings live on either on a windowsill or in a small 4-shelf, budget, outdoor 'greenhouse'. The propagators have certainly helped achieve fairly consistent results (coreopsis, echinacea, cosmos, rudbeckia etc!
David K raises an interesting point when he says '...trying to beat nature by producing stuff early is doomed to fail'. In part, I'd agree. Raising seedlings too early in the season can certainly result in failure if the outside growing conditions aren't conducive to planting on and you don't have a greenhouse or similar. However, if you are planting seeds in a heated propagator within the recommended planting times then I don't see you are trying to beat nature per se. I view it that you are simply helping to create the optimum conditions for seed germination rather than relying on opportune weather conditions and possible disappointment as a result of our crazy climate. Exactly what having a greenhouse - perhaps with a heated bench - is trying to achieve. They can certainly give us 'greenhouseless' folks the chance to create a greenhouse effect in miniature although I accept that its probably not a tool everyone is comfortable using or would want to use
It's arrived!! Am very very excited about getting started. Am holding my horses though, but I reckon I wont last longer than the week and it'll be full next weekend!
It's probably my fault but I invariably fail when I grow seeds in the window. South facing and they boil. North facing and they are 3 foot tall before I notice. I don't do east or west!!!
Posts
They are great but you do need to make sure the windowsill gets enough light or your baby seedlings can really suffer.... that was the mistake I made! Or make sure you have somewhere very light to move them to when they've germinated.
Personally I would want one free of charge....and I ask the question, what are you going to do with these seedlings after they have germinated at express speed?....A heated greenhouse (to 60f) would be imperative.
Experience tells me that trying to beat nature by producing stuff early is doomed to fail.
Alas, garden centres will once again have tomato plants for sale in February & people will buy, only to be back for more in May.
I'd agree with David that beating nature is hard to do but I also know just how itchy I get in January to see things growing! In practice, the early-sown seeds of most plants don't really get you ahead of the game - the later sowings nearly always catch up and (to be honest) are often healthier..... BUT it is just so nice to see something green happening as early as possible! So, as long as you don't expect miracles from your propagator I'd say go ahead and have fun with it. And there are definitely a few seeds that do benefit from early sowings.
But you do need to think about where you put the baby seedlings once they've germinated - they won't need heat any more but they mustn't be cold, and they'll need lots and lots of light. Have you got anywhere that might work?
Hello I use the 2 of the Wilko £3-50 ones but I'm sure got them from Poundland , can you work out how I paid for them?
Put them on consertary window sill and so far great results
I don't have a GH and don't have space for one unfortunately.
Im looking to plant echinacea and rudbeckia amongst others but seeds are the most cost effective.
Is it possible to germinate without a greenhouse with either a propagator, cold frame or one of those mini shelf greenhouses? My shed has east facing windows so probably not enough light all day.
Thanks David and Rosie - you are the voices of reason which is what an 'ants in your pants' person like me needs to be reminded of! I did think that, in the back of my mind, but strategically ignored it in order to do two of my favourite things; shopping and gardening!
I have a greenhouse but it's cold. I do have a heater that my dad bought me but I'm worried to leave it on all the time. Then there's the spare room which is waiting to be decorated so could pop a few in there.
i think I might experiment with things like sweet peas which can be sown now and see how I get on. But I will hold my horses on some of the many seeds I've ordered!
Went to the garden centre yesterday. Other than bulbs and spuds, it just looked sooo bedraggled of stock.
Move over January! Get a wiggle on spring!
Hi All. I have two of the Stewart 52cm heated propagators which each fit two of the large seed trays and they have been absolutely brilliant! Over the last two growing seasons they have enabled me to bring on multiple sowings of chosen seeds far quicker than I could have achieved using a non-heated propagator (which I had previously). I don't have a proper working greenhouse (yet!) so seedlings live on either on a windowsill or in a small 4-shelf, budget, outdoor 'greenhouse'. The propagators have certainly helped achieve fairly consistent results (coreopsis, echinacea, cosmos, rudbeckia etc!
David K raises an interesting point when he says '...trying to beat nature by producing stuff early is doomed to fail'. In part, I'd agree. Raising seedlings too early in the season can certainly result in failure if the outside growing conditions aren't conducive to planting on and you don't have a greenhouse or similar. However, if you are planting seeds in a heated propagator within the recommended planting times then I don't see you are trying to beat nature per se. I view it that you are simply helping to create the optimum conditions for seed germination rather than relying on opportune weather conditions and possible disappointment as a result of our crazy climate. Exactly what having a greenhouse - perhaps with a heated bench - is trying to achieve. They can certainly give us 'greenhouseless' folks the chance to create a greenhouse effect in miniature although I accept that its probably not a tool everyone is comfortable using or would want to use
Warmest wishes
Adam
It's arrived!! Am very very excited about getting started. Am holding my horses though, but I reckon I wont last longer than the week and it'll be full next weekend!
Tootled looks good , interested yo known how you get on with it
best of luck
It's probably my fault but I invariably fail when I grow seeds in the window. South facing and they boil. North facing and they are 3 foot tall before I notice. I don't do east or west!!!
What is the secret of your success please?