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Heated propogator
Kitty 2
Posts: 5,150
Help! 
I'm tempted to buy a heated propogator that's reduced to £6 in my local wilko but still dithering.
I'm thinking that I may end up with too many seedlings, too far ahead of natural germination times that just aren't ready to go out into the plastic greenhouse.
I usually sow in march, in the conservatory and just let them get on with it.
Does anyone up north use one? I'm in Manchester so have to wait a while before planting out.
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Hi Kitty 2. I do not live too far from you and I have had a heated propagator for over 5 years. You have to be quite disciplined in not sowing too many seeds at once but it is a definite boon to have. I think that £6 is quite a bargain. The little quarter size seed trays fit into it fairly well.
Thanks for the input Lady B. I was thinking of working in batches just to kickstart germination.
How do you find they cope once out of the propogator?
Mine would not get the benefit of the house's central heating for warmth (like windowsill grown ones), but have plenty of natural daylight in the conservatory.
I move mine to a cold greenhouse (sometimes these days its anything but!) when they are a good inch (old money!) high, but I make sure that they are on the lower decks of the staging so that they are out of any sun that gets through the shading.and open doors. I turn the trays each day to try to ensure that growth is even before pricking out into larger trays once the first true leaves have appeared and then finally into 9cm pots before hardening off and planting out. I think your conservatory will be ideal.
I am in the South but even I have to use a bit of self discipline about germinating very tender plants too soon. However, what I wanted to add is that they are really great for helping to root cuttings, too. Go for it!
Thank you everyone for your advice, I'll pop over this afternoon and pick one up.
Never crossed my mind to use it for cuttings, I'll give it a go. It's one of the things I'm rubbish at and they always fail, maybe this could be my path to success.
Here it is folks.
It's the size of a standard tray (38cm)
I opened the box in the store for a nosey first and thought the lid looked a little flimsy, it was the same thin plastic as cheap lids but had a vent in it. I decided to buy a better quality one for it, same brand "Stewarts" and only £1.50 in the sale.
Grand total £7.50
Just remind me not to get carried away next spring