Propagator temperature

HI all



I am wondering what your propagators are set at with regards to temperature and location.

Mine is four years old now and has no controls.The temperature inside seems to be about 24 deg but as it is in the greenhouse the temp can go up higher when the sun is out and I suspect it is " cooking" some of my seeds!!

Any advice much appreciated.

 

Usually the best temperature is between 18-24 degrees depending on what the seeds are =] and depending on how the propagator works it should have a cut off point

 

Wilroda - you are quite right. I have a propagator with no controls, which takes two large seed trays.

I bought a seperate thermostat (cost about as much as the propagator - but I like toys :D). However it didn't do me much good. As when the outside was cold the heater (21 watta) was not enough to compensate. However I think my thermostat will stop it cooking things in hot weather.

My propagator raises the inside by about 5C above ambient. However this suits me well. I keep it in a room inside the house that is not that well heated. Consequently the temperature is reasonably constant between 18C and 25C. I think a greenhouse is probably not the best place, because as you say it can cook seeds on a hot day, and may not always keep them above freezing on a very cold night.

 

Thanks everyone!

As i suspect - its a cheapy propagator not best suited to my greenhouse- note to self, next time buy one with controls!

I have left the heat off for now and bought it indoors and think that all will be well.



Thanks Marley Farley for the welcome back! - I havent posted but have been lurking alot!

 

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Mine has no temperature control as well!

When in use, I have it placed on the greenhouse bench, shaded from direct sunlight but still in the light!

I do not use full size seed trays for sowing seeds, either quarter size seed trays or half pots, for as soon as I see the first couple of seeds or so in a tray or pot showing through the compost, I take that tray out and place it in an unheated tray with cover.

The reason for not using full sized trays is that I would never have use for that amount of seedlings that would be produced from a full sizes tray!

Once one or two germinate the rest are usually not far behind, so no more heat is required as that only makes them drawn and leggy!

Cheers!

 

I built myself a propagator from twin walled polycarbonate a small timber base lined with pond liner, and a soil warming cable, buried in sharp sand, connected to a thermostat.

That was about 15 yrs ago and its still going strong.

The twin wall poly gives diffused light and as the season progresses I cover the top with news paper.

Its in the greenhouse and it copes very well with the temperature changes.

Its germinated all kinds of seed for me over the years, tropicals even in a frost free greenhouse that has a min of 4C.
If you build your own you can put in whatever size heating cable you like, combine that with a thermostat, and until we get to mid April you dont have many problems, its then that overheating can occur.
But I just open the top each morning and have no problems.

 

Thanks everyone for your advice! - spot on as usual!