[janeheritage]

Hello all. As the rain and wind set in (what happened to summer, by the way?  :shock: ) my thoughts turn to raising and nursing baby plants in the dark days.

This year I got my greenhouse   . Now I want a propagator for Christmas! But which one? There are so many different types and I don't even know what to look for. I'd like a fairly big one to raise my early aubergine, pepper and tomato seedlings, but am unsure whether to get just a heated mat for my bench or a sort of mini greenhouse jobbie.

Any advice or experience gratefully received!

Best to all, Jane

[Yorkie]

Hi Jane,

I don't really have a full answer but thought i'd bump this up to the top and jot a few comments anyway!

I assume you will have electricity laid on to the greenhouse?  I've got an electric propagator which holds one seed tray, but it generally does the trick indoors.  I don't know anything about heated mats, perhaps someone else will.

I also have one of the those mini greenhouses in my back yard.  Only problem with it as a propagator is that it isn't heated - most plants need fairly constant temps, particularly overnight in the darker months.  It's great for hardening off plants, but I wouldn't use it on its own as a propagator (though actually inside the greenhouse it might be useful).  If it's outdoors, make sure it's firmly tied / weighted down...

[compostqueen]

have a look at Two Wests & Elliott online. They sell everything and their website should help you make your mind up about what you need. Cost will be the decider I should think. Those small electric props are excellent. I have two Sankey ones and they're donkeys years old.  These are usually sold by Wilko just after the Christmas tat has been moved out the stores    Wyevale sells them too as do Dobbies but Wilko, will be cheaper. Our garden centre (also cheap) sells them too - Stewart or Sankey ones.  The cheap ones don't have a temperature selector stat thing though but are fine for toms, geraniums, aubs etc and can be used without the lid where a reduced temperature is required. Gentle bottom heat can be really useful as not all seeds need high temps to germinate, very few do in fact     I love mine and every year they get brought out about Boxing Day when I sow geraniums.  They continue in use til about June when they get cleaned and put away.  Two Wests has all the bigger set ups too

[janeheritage]

After putting this up I waited until after Christmas and got a propagator and mat half price in the sale from Sarah Raven's website (usually very dear but 50% off was irresistible). And by the lord Harry, all my seeds have popped up like nobody's business. I am astonished at the difference in propagation times, especially for leeks!

[mumofstig]

They do make germination speedy don't they I've got cue coming through after just 3 days
It means it has to sit on the window ledge for a good few weeks yet tho

[DD.]

Be very careful how you use it. Don't leave things in it and with a lot of seeds that don't need heat, fast germination can lead to weaker plants. It's not always a good thing.