Raising propagator lid

[monkeyboy]

Whilst most things are growing slowly, the toms have proliferated and almost reached the top. If I leave them unattended, either they will suffer or they will block out all light.

Given the need to leave them for a fortnight, what's the best option?

Remove them from the propagator?
I've got nowhere yet to move them too.

Or raise the lid? The lid itself holds the two growlamps so I can't remove them completely. The base is heated so I need a way of maintaining temp.

Any thoughts?

[nickdub]

a photo would probably be a help to give you a good opinion, but its not just the height of the plants that can be an issue. Tomatoes are v sensitive to having their roots restricted, so you have to be careful that they have plenty of soil/compost to grow in to as they get bigger.

As a rough guide my plants are about 9" high and I have just potted some of them on into 8" pots and put them out in the poly-tunnel. (I have kept about half still inside as an insurance in case the weather turns nasty again - these ones are in large wooden trays in my conservatory )

[monkeyboy]

a photo would probably be a help to give you a good opinion, but its not just the height of the plants that can be an issue. Tomatoes are v sensitive to having their roots restricted, so you have to be careful that they have plenty of soil/compost to grow in to as they get bigger.

As a rough guide my plants are about 9" high and I have just potted some of them on into 8" pots and put them out in the poly-tunnel. (I have kept about half still inside as an insurance in case the weather turns nasty again - these ones are in large wooden trays in my conservatory )

I grew everything in seedling pots:
https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-.../178166_BQ.prd

I recently potted everything up into 10cm plastic pots:
https://www.diy.com/departments/lei-...1886603_BQ.prd

I was hoping to have built a mini-greenhouse or growhouse by now that I could then transfer initially for hardening and then for growth before transplanting into growbags. That hasn't happened due to time restrictions. I will have it done by the end of April or start of May.

The toms themselves are now reaching 6" height not including the pots (which adds about 4"). I'm tempted to raise the propagator lid up with some sort of support which will buy me some time until I return. As long as it keeps the heat in, the plants should be fine.

[nickdub]

I grew everything in seedling pots:
https://www.diy.com/departments/b-q-.../178166_BQ.prd

I recently potted everything up into 10cm plastic pots:
https://www.diy.com/departments/lei-...1886603_BQ.prd

I was hoping to have built a mini-greenhouse or growhouse by now that I could then transfer initially for hardening and then for growth before transplanting into growbags. That hasn't happened due to time restrictions. I will have it done by the end of April or start of May.

The toms themselves are now reaching 6" height not including the pots (which adds about 4"). I'm tempted to raise the propagator lid up with some sort of support which will buy me some time until I return. As long as it keeps the heat in, the plants should be fine.

Sounds like you're doing fine so far. I suppose you could raise the lid either by propping it up somehow or suspending it from something, if that's easier .

You don't say where you plan on putting your grow-bags, but that's obviously going to be a factor too. Some years we can grow a half decent crop of tomatoes outside, but often times the weather is just too cold and rainy for long periods.

[Bigmallly]

Ideally, if you are leaving them for 2 weeks you either need someone to look after them or set up some kind of capillary matting. If you was sat in the sun for 2 weeks wouldn't you at least need a drink?

[monkeyboy]

Sounds like you're doing fine so far. I suppose you could raise the lid either by propping it up somehow or suspending it from something, if that's easier .

You don't say where you plan on putting your grow-bags, but that's obviously going to be a factor too. Some years we can grow a half decent crop of tomatoes outside, but often times the weather is just too cold and rainy for long periods.

Yeah last year was a bit rubbish and my first time growing toms. I used growbags. This year, I was looking at SFG and planting toms directly into the raised bed. But I've been looking at using growbags again and some sort of watering system. I have no greenhouse of any kind and the garden is too small for a proper one.

I was thinking of buying one of those mini growhouses that have a frame from metal tubing and a plastic cover, but using timber to provide more structure and support.

Ideally, if you are leaving them for 2 weeks you either need someone to look after them or set up some kind of capillary matting. If you was sat in the sun for 2 weeks wouldn't you at least need a drink?

This is my current set up:
https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ml#post1587886

The window sill one has been changed to look the same as the propagator because I've added more pots.

[Bigmallly]

As the name suggests, propagators are for germination purposes not for growing on. I would place the plants on a light windowsill with capillary matting. Once germinated & established, they should come out of the propagator........By all means use artificial light but they don't need undersoil heating.

[monkeyboy]

As the name suggests, propagators are for germination purposes not for growing on. I would place the plants on a light windowsill with capillary matting. Once germinated & established, they should come out of the propagator........By all means use artificial light but they don't need undersoil heating.

I'll turn off the heat, remove the lid and see if I can support the lights in some way.

[Bigmallly]

If they are in the house, light & water should be the priorities.

[monkeyboy]

Well I took the lid off and realised there's no way the toms will survive two weeks in such a crowded environment. So they're sitting in a tray on the kitchen window sill, capillary matting going into a slightly lower tray. Bashed up a reflector using some cardboard and foil. Not sure if it's tall enough so i've angled it upwards ever so slightly.

I moved the celery and mangetout into the propagator as they've not germinated yet.

Everything hopefully now set up to leave alone for a bit.

[veggiechicken]

Look on the bright side, monkeyboy. There's still time to start seeds at the end of April. Enjoy your holiday and time your seed sowing to fit around your holiday next time.

[monkeyboy]

Look on the bright side, monkeyboy. There's still time to start seeds at the end of April. Enjoy your holiday and time your seed sowing to fit around your holiday next time.

Thanks. TBH it's our anniversary so will always fall in April, which will always make it a challenge. But what's the point if there's no challenge in growing your own veg?

[veggiechicken]

I love challenges The important thing to remember is - not to be disheartened when you fail, but to learn from it and do it differently next time.

Oh and I'm not saying that you're about to fail, just not to get worried about it, as there are more important things in life than seedlings - like holidays, anniversaries and treating your OH.