Propagator

[emzgogo]

I have aldi propergators got them in the sale last yr 1.99. If condensation forms i ust give them a wipe. When they start germinating i lift lid off then. If im doing items they will germinate at a different time. I do them in half loo roll pots and take out one by one when germinated xx

[kathyd]

How bizarre... Most of my seeds do germinate at a similar time I grant you, but some like the cyclamen I'm trying for the first time are more tricky. I've been compromising - out during the day to keep the biggie happy, then back in at night to keep the little'un cosy. Not sure if I'm making things better or worse!? I tried the fridge / propagator thing with a tray of hellibores, but OH got stressed with all the bits of soil that kept falling off so they're now in the garden/porch taking their chances. Very slowly. Doing nothing at all! Maybe I'm better sticking to veg for now..

[Elfeda]

very good tips.

I have a big platform to utility room window, but there is no heating in the small utility besides kitchen. I just wonder if this place can be useful for any

[Bigmallly]

For those looking for optimum germination conditions, this may help. It does not contain all veg you may wish to grow:

[Kristen]

some like the cyclamen I'm trying for the first time are more tricky

Very tricky ... they want pitch-black [cover the pot with tinfoil] to germinate, so what are you supposed to do when one seed germinates early? I never found an answer to that! I gave up trying to raise them from seed and bought a few plants as cheap as I could and now I let them self seed under the trees instead. Once established they produce loads of seed, compared to a seed packet!, so I figure by the law of averages they will spread reasonably well

I tried the fridge / propagator thing with a tray of hellibores, but OH got stressed with all the bits of soil that kept falling off so they're now in the garden/porch taking their chances

For things that want Cold/Warm or Warm/Cold/Warm I use little zip-lock bags with a teaspoon of only-just-moist vermiculite. I stick a label on with how many days they need at each temperature with a gap to write in the date, like this:

20C 30D 07Jan
5C 90D 07Feb
20C Germ .....

So the bag was made up on 07-Jan, and needs 20C for 30 Days, so on (or sometime after) so (today) I write 07-Feb on the second line which is the date it will be ready to move to the fridge at 5C. When I move it I will add 90 days to the (then) date and write that on the next line as a reminder for the [earliest] date it can come out of the fridge.

I then put all the little zip-locks in a Tupperware box (one for each temperature regime, so only need 3 or 4 in total), the single Tupperware box in the fridge doesn't take up much space

Maybe I'm better sticking to veg for now..

I can't think of any Veg that don't germinate all-at-once given the right starting temperature, and all (that I can think off ) only take a week or two to germinate. Hooray for that!

[kathyd]

Very tricky ... they want pitch-black [cover the pot with tinfoil] to germinate, so what are you supposed to do when one seed germinates early? I never found an answer to that!

I can't think of any Veg that don't germinate all-at-once given the right starting temperature, and all (that I can think off ) only take a week or two to germinate. Hooray for that!

Blimey! No wonder some of my seed packets are labelled 'Plantsman'! I mean, you have to be Patient, and Organised! And seemingly have endless spaces at specific temperatures to put them all... Hmmm. But I do love a challenge now and again . My only naughty germinator so far with veggies is a Marmande tomato - only one has come up! All the others appear OK though, touch wood. Now to clear space for potting on.. I always thought gardeners got a break in the winter, but it's just not true is it! Lol .

[Jay-ell]

For those looking for optimum germination conditions, this may help. It does not contain all veg you may wish to grow:

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Thanks - now if I remember f to c is
C = (f-32)*1.8 or ((f-32)*5)/9 if the decimal place make mental arithmetic hard

At least I think that's the formula

[Kristen]

if I remember f to c is

Google will do that for you - especially useful if you have a predictive search thingie in your browser (such as Chrome provides) as it gives the answer without having to actually visit the Google page.

61F in C =

will give you 16C

I remember it as:

32F = 0C
and then the digits reverse for these two:
61F = 16C
82F = 28C

and I extrapolate, roughly!, in my head for figures in between.

[Jay-ell]

Ah but on the lottie with a flat battery or no reception its handy to be able to do the math. Sometimes useful in a no phones pub quiz as well.