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Starting seeds off indoors and popping onto windowsills until able to put in greenhouse. My question is I will be purchasing a couple heated propagators to help them along but do I also have to purchase a grow light?
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At this time of year they suffer more with lack of light,the indoor temperatures usually alright because of heating it’s usually above ten degrees etc. It’s nearly March by the time they germinate it might be ok to just have them on the windowsill? What seeds are you starting first?Location : Essex -
Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Courgettes, Aubergine and Marigolds which will all be in heated propagators.Comment
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What you start now will need housing till it gets to about ten/eleven degrees outside,in about May/June they’ll be really big plants by then if you start now,tomatoes will need potting on a couple times,if they’re in their 3” pot too long they get pot bound. If you leave some sowings till March they won’t be as tall & easier to carry in & out? I think courgette might be a bit too big to start now? A lot of us have started some early tomatoes & peppers now but in February it’s so dark I’d only start a couple of seeds now unless you don’t mind difficulties. I started some melon seeds last year in Feb,March & April the later sowings were the best plants (they survived) with bigger leaves for better photosynthesis so I’d never sow them or cucumber early
Location : EssexComment
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The heat helps the seeds to germinate faster but, as soon as you see any germinated seeds they need to come off the heat and into the light. I don't normally use lights but grow my seedlings on a well lit, south facing window sill. Unless you can provide good light, either naturally or with grow lights, its too early to start the seeds that you want to grow - except, perhaps, marigolds.Comment
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Lights I would say or not a necessity, but would say they are a very handy piece of kit to have in your gardening armoury if you can afford the initial outlay.
They certainly help to get chillies, tomatoes, aubergines, bell peppers and other heat loving plants off to a flying start.
Courgettes to be honest I wouldn't be sowing anytime soon as these grow at a great rate of knots and can be quite large plants in no time"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad"Comment
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JaneoOo Take a look at my portable Grow Stations and the one I have out in the brick shed here Alans Allotment: Grow StationsComment
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