Hi All
Can anyone recomend a good propagator
thanks
Anthony
help please
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oldherbaceous
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Dear Anthony, i think a lot depends on how much you will be propagating. But i think one with a thermostaic control is well worth the money, as it gives you a lot wider range of germinating temperatures.
I would shop around and see what is the best deal you can find, i think most of the propagators on the market are good quality, so i won't recommend one make.
I would shop around and see what is the best deal you can find, i think most of the propagators on the market are good quality, so i won't recommend one make.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
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Chantal
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Hi Anthony
I have one really expensive one from the garden centre (cost around £70 and that was 10 years ago), it's thermostatically controlled but I usually forget to change the temperature. The other thing I find alarming is that if there is a power cut or it's accidentally unplugged and then plugged back in again, it stays in the OFF mode until the temperature is reset. I've left it off for over a week by accident before now!
I also have three, the same size which cost about £20 each from Aldi. No thermostat but they do just as good a job for me. Once plugged in they stay on and if there is a power cut they come back on with the power.
However, as OH says, it's all a question of how much you want to spend and what you want it to do.
I have one really expensive one from the garden centre (cost around £70 and that was 10 years ago), it's thermostatically controlled but I usually forget to change the temperature. The other thing I find alarming is that if there is a power cut or it's accidentally unplugged and then plugged back in again, it stays in the OFF mode until the temperature is reset. I've left it off for over a week by accident before now!
I also have three, the same size which cost about £20 each from Aldi. No thermostat but they do just as good a job for me. Once plugged in they stay on and if there is a power cut they come back on with the power.
However, as OH says, it's all a question of how much you want to spend and what you want it to do.
Chantal
I know this corner of the earth, it smiles for me...
I know this corner of the earth, it smiles for me...
Hi Anthony,
Many moons ago I started off with an uncontrollable proagator and it threw a temp of around 85F which was far too high so I bought a large one with a plastic dome with ventilators that had no heater but held two full standard seed trays and I placed that propagator on two breeze blocks and put the overheating one underneath which then gave a gentle heat to the one above. They are at least 25 years old now and are still in working order. I have now a number of very large propagators 8ftx 4ft made with the aid of heating cables but they are for commercial use. I made one out of our old Iced Diamond Fridge which propagates in the dark but is used for such things as Parsley and when the first few 'whispies' appear you remove them from the propagator and place them on the bench and within a few days there are hundreds of geminated seeds. I suppose that this could be termed as an germination inducer.
However I seldom use a propagator for any vegetables and find that with Brassicas a propagator is more of a disadvantage rather than an advantage.
Too rapid germination can lead to weak plants is many instances. Certainly things that are not indigenous need a propagator such as Peppers, Aubergines and Tomatoes but very few other things.
JB.
Many moons ago I started off with an uncontrollable proagator and it threw a temp of around 85F which was far too high so I bought a large one with a plastic dome with ventilators that had no heater but held two full standard seed trays and I placed that propagator on two breeze blocks and put the overheating one underneath which then gave a gentle heat to the one above. They are at least 25 years old now and are still in working order. I have now a number of very large propagators 8ftx 4ft made with the aid of heating cables but they are for commercial use. I made one out of our old Iced Diamond Fridge which propagates in the dark but is used for such things as Parsley and when the first few 'whispies' appear you remove them from the propagator and place them on the bench and within a few days there are hundreds of geminated seeds. I suppose that this could be termed as an germination inducer.
However I seldom use a propagator for any vegetables and find that with Brassicas a propagator is more of a disadvantage rather than an advantage.
Too rapid germination can lead to weak plants is many instances. Certainly things that are not indigenous need a propagator such as Peppers, Aubergines and Tomatoes but very few other things.
JB.
i tend to use the conservatory window sil, except for the toms, and cuecumbers which start in a cheap plastic propogator. in the past ive used the propogater to start loads too early and ended up with with loads of tender seedlings when the weather is too diabolical too plant anything out. basically the heated propagater is now only used for the first batch of a hot house crop destined for the polytunnel.
Hi Richard,
That is the problem with propagators as most people simply do not need them. Tomatoes should never be below 10C along with the others I mentioned last night but even tomatoes will germinate at room temperature in most houses and once germinated they need to be able to grow at their own pace without being forced. Propagators simply force the initial growth which simply leads to poor plants.
I have seen this time after time yet people seem to think that they cannot do without them when in truth for the home gardener they are really not needed.
So the seed germinates quickly then what? I can get a tomato seed to germinate in about three days but where does that get me?
Seeds have been germinating for millions of years without propagators.
Come to the floral side of gardening then that is a different kettle of fish and many seeds require specialist treatments.
JB.
That is the problem with propagators as most people simply do not need them. Tomatoes should never be below 10C along with the others I mentioned last night but even tomatoes will germinate at room temperature in most houses and once germinated they need to be able to grow at their own pace without being forced. Propagators simply force the initial growth which simply leads to poor plants.
I have seen this time after time yet people seem to think that they cannot do without them when in truth for the home gardener they are really not needed.
So the seed germinates quickly then what? I can get a tomato seed to germinate in about three days but where does that get me?
Seeds have been germinating for millions of years without propagators.
Come to the floral side of gardening then that is a different kettle of fish and many seeds require specialist treatments.
JB.
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strawberry tart
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I agree with J.B. However if you do require a serious propagator I would recomend a Horti hot sheet, but Ive just been online and the only suppliers I can find are Fargo who are commercial suppliers. I used to deal with them direct and they were in Dorset I'll get back to you when I come up with more info.
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strawberry tart
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well things have moved on since i bought my two 3'x 10' horti-hot sheets they are now called heatwave and the company is hotbox international in Yorkshire. http://www.hotboxworld.com/heatwave.html
http://www.hotboxworld.com/propagator.html
http://www.hotboxworld.com/propagator.html