I am on Holiday end of Feb beginning of March so not sowing any seeds until we get back , could be a bit late but that's the way it goes this year
Put some broad beans in last year at the allottment , under cloches had to take them off yesterday as they where getting to big , never done that before so wondering how they will do ?
Shadowweaver i agree with you there is no point in trying to beat mother nature as you cant i have 2 52cm thermo propogaters i start my seeds at the right time a propogater is safer than sowing your seeds in a cold greenhouse as the germination rate is better by the time your seedlings are big enough to transplant the soil outside should be warm enough if not hold them back until it is ,
The last few years the O/H has done the seeds in window sill trays in a conservatory then potted up in a unheated greenhouse and in general terms it has been very successful , as you say can't beat nature
I have to beat nature or I couldn't have the garden I want! Because I live in the NW, up in the hills, winter effectively lasts from about mid October till at least the end of March.There is at least two weeks difference between our plants and those a mile or two away down on the plain. We have had snow on Halloween and in 2013 I couldn't get my car to the house for a month, till mid April, as it was the wrong side of a 9 foot snowdrift! My propagator is essential, even for hardy annuals, as it can be so late before the soil warms up there would be no growing time left.
I have an ancient propagator from Dobies. It is more than 25 years old, big (65cm X 55cm), with a high lid (homemade as the original one UV-degraded) and a thermostat.
I am lucky in having very wide south facing windowsills, so move things from heated propagator to an unheated one, then remove the lid ,then move them to the greenhouse which is kept just frost free in winter but a little warmer in a cold spring.
I use it for a fair part of the year as it provides a contolled environment for growing on things like begonias and streptocarpus that have tiny, vulnerable seedlings, and for rooting cuttings. It has even been used to raise orphan ducklings!
Gordon Bennett!! Just had a sneaky peak under the condensation filled lids and I can't believe my mince pies! The dahlias, zinnias and cosmos seeds are all sprouting!! I only turned the thing on on Saturday....and it's only Monday! Wow wee!! I can see I'm going to like this heated propogator a LOT!
I'll just have lots of fun having a go at keeping them healthy and strong, and if they don't make it, guess what??......I'll just have another go! This parade doesn't get rained on that easily
Each to their own though, and I'm delighted with mine!
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I am on Holiday end of Feb beginning of March so not sowing any seeds until we get back , could be a bit late but that's the way it goes this year
Put some broad beans in last year at the allottment , under cloches had to take them off yesterday as they where getting to big , never done that before so wondering how they will do ?
Shadowweaver i agree with you there is no point in trying to beat mother nature as you cant i have 2 52cm thermo propogaters i start my seeds at the right time
a propogater is safer than sowing your seeds in a cold greenhouse as the germination rate is better by the time your seedlings are big enough to transplant the soil outside should be warm enough 
if not hold them back until it is ,
The last few years the O/H has done the seeds in window sill trays in a conservatory then potted up in a unheated greenhouse and in general terms it has been very successful , as you say can't beat nature
Yep, I definately can't beat nature because my natural instinct is to get started so I've just obeyed myself!
I have to beat nature or I couldn't have the garden I want! Because I live in the NW, up in the hills, winter effectively lasts from about mid October till at least the end of March.There is at least two weeks difference between our plants and those a mile or two away down on the plain. We have had snow on Halloween and in 2013 I couldn't get my car to the house for a month, till mid April, as it was the wrong side of a 9 foot snowdrift! My propagator is essential, even for hardy annuals, as it can be so late before the soil warms up there would be no growing time left.
I have an ancient propagator from Dobies. It is more than 25 years old, big (65cm X 55cm), with a high lid (homemade as the original one UV-degraded) and a thermostat.
I am lucky in having very wide south facing windowsills, so move things from heated propagator to an unheated one, then remove the lid ,then move them to the greenhouse which is kept just frost free in winter but a little warmer in a cold spring.
I use it for a fair part of the year as it provides a contolled environment for growing on things like begonias and streptocarpus that have tiny, vulnerable seedlings, and for rooting cuttings. It has even been used to raise orphan ducklings!
Orphan ducklings!! That's sooooo cute!
Sounds like a lovely selection there Lesleyk. Would love to know how the monarda gets on. Looks smashing.
Gardengirl, cut flowers are such a fab idea aren't they...hoping its a success.
Gordon Bennett!! Just had a sneaky peak under the condensation filled lids and I can't believe my mince pies! The dahlias, zinnias and cosmos seeds are all sprouting!! I only turned the thing on on Saturday....and it's only Monday! Wow wee!! I can see I'm going to like this heated propogator a LOT!
So now they've germinated in a propagator, you have very tender young plants and environmental conditions of low light and frost risk. What next?
Thing is Ed, I don't want to be 'told'
I'll just have lots of fun having a go at keeping them healthy and strong, and if they don't make it, guess what??......I'll just have another go! This parade doesn't get rained on that easily
Each to their own though, and I'm delighted with mine!