Kitchen Garden Forum

Tony

I posted in response to you earlier but it doesn't seem to have appeared. If another one appears similar to this one, please ignore it.

I like the idea of your propagator. What temperature do you keep it at? Do you control on the air, compost or sand bed temperature? When you take the covers off do you leave the heat on? If you do leave the heat on, is this as well as heating the greenhouse or do you rely on the heat rising from the propagator to keep the air around the plants warm?

Sorry for so many questions, but it's a measure of my knowledge!

Regards

Ian

Ian in Cumbria wrote:Hello Primrose

So do you now direct sow outdoors only or do you raise seedings in your bay-window without a propagator?

I raise most of my seedlings indoors on a widem deep bay windowsill without a propagator and because there is light on three sides of the bay window it works well enough for me. Apart from my chilli & peppers seeds which I sowed a couple of days ago, the leeks, celeriac, tomatoes, beans & kohl rabi will follow a little later. Once they're fairly sturdy I transfer them to my mini plastic greenhouse but also cover them with newspaper overnight if a frost is forecast. The kale, peas & Swiss chard I sow direct into the ground.

As for sowing early, if you've got a greenhouse, then I'd certainly sow earlier if it's in a location where there's enough light to get the seedlings to mature earlier to get an earlier crop, but often window sills only offer light from one direction, which results in leggy plants.

The soil warming cable I use is a parasene one, about 240W. The bed is formed by a frame of wood 4-5" deep set on the floor, with a layer of polystyreen packaging chips in first, then a layer of polythene, then sand with the cable snaking through it. I use a rod type thermostat to control the temperature of the sand at 15-18C, When the covers come off I leave the cable on at 15C, but put a fan heater on with its own thermostat set low (say 5-8C) to prevent disaster if there is a really cold night. Bottom heat seems to work very nicely with tomatoes.

Usually at the time the covers come off, the tomatoes go into their final rings (15L plastic drums with the bottom cut out), sitting on the same bed of sand. The cable stays on until I'm happy that nights are warm enough to do without, usually beginning of May.

That's what I do, but I'm sure there are other ways and I'm always interested to hear them ...

Tony

Thank you. Very comprehensive and useful reply. Like you I'd be interested in the views/methods of other people as well.

Regards

Ian

I've taken Peter's advice and bought a plastic covered "Growhouse". It was £14 as an offer in a garden centre, which I thought was OK. It's a bit bigger than Growbag size and has 4 shelves. It's in the greenhouse and I've put the propagator on the bottom shelf, which is about 4" above the ground. It's only been running for two days but seems to be working well. I'm keeping the greenhouse above 5C and the "Growhouse" minimum is around 14C. I've put the Aubergines which had already germinated on the shelf above the propagator and have today sown more Aubergines (in case), Sweet Peppers, Cucumbers and various Tomatoes, all of which are in the propagator. We'll see how things go. The sun came out for a short while today and although the greenhouse temperature didn't go up much, the temperature in the Growhouse shot up very quickly. I think this will be the problem so I'll need to keep an eye on it. If I'm around it's not a problem but I think if I'm not, I'll leave the Growhouse front unzipped. Leeks sown today as well - on the greenhouse bench - no need for the propagator. Eating overwintered lettuce which is good because it has some flavour unlike some of the bought stuff. Outside is still far too wet to cultivate so the garlic and shallots are in 3" pots in the greenhouse. They are loving it - too much?

Just noticed I've become a "Regular". Also became a first-time Grandpa last weekend - it's all happening!

Regards

Ian

Morning Ian, congratulations on both counts.