[emsi]

My husband has filled our small house /kitchen with seed trays and propagators. Every window sill, every bookshelf and every table surface- soil and water leaking everywhere...not to mention the unsightly mess, I am at my patience end and now it is a question of either me or the plants  (no kidding!).
Is there another way of doing this? How do people manage when they don't have a big garden with a green house? He claims it is traditional to use window sills...
However If I bought him a small lean to glass greenhouse to go in the passage way (north facing though) as our garden is too small, and also bought a greenhouse thermostatically controlled heater and propagators, would the seeds germinate so the husband is happy and has no excuse and I can save my marriage?
Thank you for any ideas and help.

[mattwragg94]

what seeds has he started? as some seeds germinate at different temps, for example brassicas need no heat to germinate whereas chilli's do!

as to the leaky soil issue - why dont you buy some trays with no holes in them to put underneath the trays with holes in them!

[Yorkie]

Welcome to the site 

I'm going to move this over to Grow Your Own where the veggie people will see it.

Depending on what seeds he has got started, many do need a fair bit of warmth and decent light for germination purposes - so your small greenhouse / heater suggestion is unlikely to be an adequate alternative.

I have no greenhouse and do resort to window sills, but I never have leaks anywhere.  I grow most things in modules which  are then placed in seed trays without holes at the bottom, or in propagators which have solid trays - or, if push comes to shove, with a decent layer of newspaper underneath.  If the compost is moistened and allowed to drain before the seeds are sown, it shouldn't need watering for a while, particularly if the lid is left over the seed tray.

[yorkiegal]

how long is a while Yorkie? I have 5 propagators on the go since yesterday which are all on a windowsill in the sunshine with a radiator under the window too. I gave them a good misting before putting the seeds in and the lids are nice and steamed up.

Also is it best to water them by misting them or to sit them in a tray of water for a while?

[mattwragg94]

i only water from the bottom when the plants are established. however i wouldnt water yours for a while as yorkie says - the condensation will drip and keep the soil moist.

[TheSpartacat]

A north facing passageway is not a good place to put a greenhouse. Greenhouse needs to get some sun in order to warm up, and then trap the heat. If it gets no sun, then you're relying on heating it yourself... and then there's the problem of shade- seedling need light. So on all counts, i'd advise that would be a waste of money.

If they are dripping all over the place (they really shouldn't be) then he needs to reduce watering and just keep the compost moist with a spray bottle, or water from the bottom once his seedlings have emerged... so investing in some trays to sit the plant pots on would stop a lot of the water mess...

As for the unsightlyness... well, thats more difficult... to him, they are probably beautiful... especially when little green shoots emerge... 
Have you ever tried growing something yourself?? It might help you regard the aesthetics of gardening differently? (its quite exciting!!!)  Failing that... it wont be long before they get planted out... think of the lovely fresh veg... ?? 
(sorry, i know thats probably not what you want to hear... but your seed trays everywhere sounds a lot like my place... it is what it is...)

[Yorkie]

Usually I don't need to water after sowing seeds until they are through, if there is a lid on the propagator / a clear bag around the seed tray to retain a moist atmosphere.

Take the lid off once germination has happened, though, and from then on keep an eye on the moisture levels in the compost.  You can often tell how dry it is by checking its weight - wet compost weighs more than dry.

[yorkiegal]

thanks Yorkie. I was going to water them everyday! 

emsi, is there a room which isn't used much, like a spare bedroom? How about buying one of those very cheap narrow shelving units like you have in gargages, which you could stand on the window sill. Then he could fit several layers of propagators on it and hopefully free up the rest of your house.

[emsi]

Many thanks for all your replies.
I really need to move the trays outside as they are driving me crazy and they get knocked about by cats and children. Not to mention the lack of space for anything else.
If I buy a temporary plastic green house ,which I place in the sun, and stack electrically heated propagators in it,  will that do the trick? After all I am thinking that in nature these plants (not exotic by the way) are meant to grow outside in the soil...they don't need a house of their own made of bricks and mortar!

[DD.]

Some do need it some don't.

This is all very vague, whilst we don't want to get into the middle of an argument, is it possible to see the other side and hear from your other half or at least know what he's growing? It could be that all don't need to be inside.

[Yorkie]

What you're suggesting doesn't really sound very safe.  The electric propagators are not designed to be used outdoors.  I am not an electrician but there are additional rules for some types of outdoor electrical stuff and at the very least I would advise against it without RCDs on plugs and use of weatherproof cabling.

The plastic greenhouses are not stable unless tied to something fixed - they get blown about by the wind.  There are also big temperature fluctuations in them.

As DD says, what is being grown - that may solve some of the issues.