Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: garddwr on October 13, 2008, 16:46

Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: garddwr on October 13, 2008, 16:46
I bought a new propagator yesterday and there is no tempreature control I don't think but it should be around 20c and when  I take off the lid and put my hand on the base its not very warm.Does the heat go out when I take the lid off quickly or is it not working properly ?
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: DD. on October 13, 2008, 16:50
20c is not much above ambient temperature, so it would not feel too warm to the touch.

But there again, I'm not expert on propagators - I use inflated re-sealable polythene bags!
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: garddwr on October 13, 2008, 16:54
oh yes room tempreature is 20c so is there much point in having a propagator ?
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: DD. on October 13, 2008, 18:04
If your room temp is ALWAYS 20c - no!
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: mikem on October 13, 2008, 20:15
Put some water in the bottom, if it is working the top should mist up (why is it mist up and not mist down?).
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: gobs on October 13, 2008, 20:31
I haven't felt the need for one yet.

Normal human body temp is around 36 point something, if you felt it warm by your hands, which are one of your most heat tolerant bits, it most likely would kill seeds rather than germinate them. Very few seeds of those things that we can grow here would germinate on such temperature.
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: DD. on October 13, 2008, 20:51
As much as it grieves me, I absolutely agree with gobs.

As I said before, the most I use is a plastic bag.
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: richyrich7 on October 13, 2008, 20:52
I've got 1 with no temp control it gets warmish on the base but no where near hot, they are very low wattage anyway,but like Gob's very valid point to hot and they fry !
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: Swing Swang on October 13, 2008, 21:49
Of course is the wife so objects to the smell of damp newspaper-pots in the house that they have to be relegated to a cold garage, then a heated propagator is essential. Which means that my Christmas list has only one item on it as far as she's concerned!

SS
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: gobs on October 13, 2008, 22:25
Also could be argued that if said garage has huge windows they will heat up tremendously in the sunshine. If it doesn't, then nothing will grow in said garage.
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: gobs on October 13, 2008, 22:32
Quote from: "DD."
As much as it grieves me, I absolutely agree with gobs.


 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

On the serious, I really do think a sunny windowsill heats up more than needed. To some 40C sometimes, lucky we water them, so keep them cooler.

The only thing we grow, from the top of me head that will germinate happily still in the thirties is aubergine. Everything else is dead, well I might remember wrong in bits, but more or less it should be so.
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: gobs on October 14, 2008, 09:46
Quote from: "gobs"
Also could be argued that if said garage has huge windows they will heat up tremendously in the sunshine. If it doesn't, then nothing will grow in said garage.


In retrospect, it's going to be cold in a garage, in winter most likely, but saying that where are you going to put them once they have germinated?
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: Bombers on October 14, 2008, 09:47
Nothing wrong with a windowsill! - As long as it's North facing. As DD said, the only thing I use is a plastic bag.
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: fallen angel on October 14, 2008, 10:19
Am i wrong to use my airing cupboard? I fill it up with seed trays and go back a couple of days later and their done generally?

Nicky xxx
Title: Is my propagator working ?
Post by: Bombers on October 14, 2008, 10:26
Quote from: "fallen angel"
Am i wrong to use my airing cupboard? I fill it up with seed trays and go back a couple of days later and their done generally?

Nicky xxx

Nope. If it Werks for you! :wink: