Heat mat

[redser]

Thanks Snakeshack, very helpful.

[andy_j]

I have two 48 x 12 heat mats which i use in my sun tunnels. I just put the seed trays straight on top of the mats and don't use thermostats.

The results are amaizing....sometimes, seed trays don't fit on the mats (where i try to cram too many trays in) and the seeds on the mat germinate much quicker than the ones that aren't on it.

Toms, cues, chillis, courgettes, runners plus all my ornamentals are started like this with excellent results

[redser]

Thanks Andy, good to know. And how long do you leave the mats on? I was hoping to keep them on through February/March then gradually reduce the temp to wean them off bottom heat.
Do you find them pricey to run?
Cheers

[Bigmallly]

I don't mean to go off on a tangent Red but wouldn't it be easier to just to buy a couple of electric props.

[lottie dolly]

is this any help to your decision making,


https://www.google.co.uk/#q=reptile+...evid=558952414

[redser]

I don't mean to go off on a tangent Red but wouldn't it be easier to just to buy a couple of electric props.

Well germination isn't the problem at all. I have a sankey and that works fine. The problem is raising stuff on window sills once they get potted on. Now that I have the greenhouse using window sills isn't going to happen anymore. At all. Ever. I've been told.
I like to get stuff going early and rather than an electric fan heater which I believe is expensive to run I read that providing gentle bottom heat from a cable or a mat is the best option.

[redser]

is this any help to your decision making,


https://www.google.co.uk/#q=reptile+...evid=558952414

Thanks lottie dolly

[Bigmallly]

Sorry to appear thick Red but I thought you only needed heat for germination purposes, once germinated, they need no heat.............as an afterthought, if you are still thinking of going down this route, I have just read an article whereby someone used an electric blanket as a heat mat...........

[veggiechicken]

This sounds a good way to warm a GH

[redser]

Sorry to appear thick Red but I thought you only needed heat for germination purposes, once germinated, they need no heat.............as an afterthought, if you are still thinking of going down this route, I have just read an article whereby someone used an electric blanket as a heat mat...........

Thanks BM. I've read on people using blankets to germinate, but that they are pricey to run long term.
I would be looking for extra heat for the tender things like tomatoes and peppers in particular. They need 10 degrees C on average. I know they can tick along at lower temps but they are severely set back and checked in growth. You would be nearly as well waiting for it to warm up. So I need something extra. Also read that keeping the roots warm is more important than keeping above the soil warm so long as the foliage doesn't get frosted. So bottom heat sounds good again.

[redser]

This sounds a good way to warm a GH

Thanks VC. The T lights are worth a bash. Believe it was a standard way once upon a time, a candle under a terracotta pot. I think you can get 8 hour burning T lights. I guess one would have to section off a small area under a smaller blow away inside the GH.
Cheers

[Gina's plot]

My husband put a tubular heater in my greenhouse under one of my benches so I just put that on in the winter and turn off during the day, it worked really well last winter and I had great results with early tomatoes


Sent from my iPad using Grow Your Own Forum mobile app

[redser]

Thanks Gina!
My heat mat guy has gone AWOL so I'm going to try Veggiechicken's candle in a pot idea first and see how that goes.