Free Heating Mats

I have a heated propagator with lighting in the garage, no power in the greenhouse. I find it very useful and will be starting chilli seeds off soon, then tomatoes and perennials. I find it useful for getting things started, especially those requiring 20°C+ to germinate.

 

Mike, I have to admit to being slightly surprised by your comments, the gravitas your posts bring would suggest you might understand others situation better, the weather may well be acceptable for what you describe where you are but that does not mean that a couple of miles up the road it does not change, because it does.

To get the crops planted, grown on to maturity and harvested that I want, I have no choice but to use propagators, there would not be enough window sills in my house for a start.

"For you and me. Be honest. Do we/I really need my packet of seeds to germinate a couple of weeks, at the most before Charlie Browns?" Obviously a typo Mike, maybe you don't need to start early, and that is great, but assuming others do not, is a little short sighted, you should never assume what others needs are.

Mid March 2019, soil cable warmed bench propagator and plants doing well, note the celeriac in the round pot, without heat to extend my season there would be no way we could ever get a celeriac to grow to maturity and it is the same story with every other plant in the photo.( else I would not be growing it!)


Mid March 2019, soil cable warmed bench propagator and plants doing well. Tomato plants, I have to start tomato's early to ensure they grow, fruit and mature. I know the standard sowing time for many is May, but if I do not start in February and "mollycoddle" them along, then no growth, harvest or maturity.


These last two photo's show some of the tomato plants from above photo, planted outside in a not so sheltered area in NW Cumbria, in the middle of JUNE 2019, they where around 3-3.5ft going into the ground and deep planted. They continued to grow and fruit, then finally ripen. These are an early variety, crimson crush.




Mike.."germinate a couple of weeks, at the most before Charlie Browns?", nope my records and photo's show a full 8 weeks difference, not your assumed couple.

I am not serving to disrespect you or "have a go" here, merely trying to educate that others situations and reasons are both necessary and valid, if not there would not be such a huge trade in propagators.

If you want to start a few plants for a small bed then yes, a window sill will suffice, however if you need more plants you will need a heat source, good education and experience, a wing and a prayer and a favourable climate too.

Steve...

 

If I ever needed a reason to get some heated mats - this is it - FABULOUS

 

Another couple of years and we won't need heat mats at all - global warming will sort it out for us .

Monty was saying that in his life time, he has seen Autumn extend by a couple of weeks into what was Winter. What have we had so far this Winter? This weekend was a bit chilly - but looking at the forecast it's + temperatures for another week and possibly beyond.

My bulbs are sprouting - the daffs down the allotment are 3 to 4 inches above ground level - and tulips apparently need a good cold snap to flower.

 

I mostly start seeds off a bit later these days than I used to, but having said that I still use a propagator right up into May, for germination, before it gets turned off for the summer.

I then use it for rooting a few late cuttings in October that I intend overwintering.

Like others say, I wouldn't like to be without some form of gentle bottom heat, when things get a bit cold.

 

Lots of valid things said here. Imagine if I didn't start early, inside with lights, etc?

Sometimes we forget what challenges others try to overcome.

 

Very true, Lori. Then again, the northern spring gives much more light earlier than here in the UK, which creates ideal window sill conditions. And in the summer plants grow practically around the clock. It's just a different rhythm, and if you grow plants that adapted to it it's sort of ideal in it's own way. Then again, who could limit themselves to only growing plants that are spot on adapted to the conditions... not me

BTW, there was a sunrise in Utsjoki on Friday, after 8 weeks of night.

 

What? What Northern Lights? Totally confused.

 

I'm a Finn Lori

Anyways, I mean the big yellow-ish thing in the sky that my Portuguese friend described here in the UK "for decorative purposes only".

 

Aha, @Selleri I was looking at your location and therefore my confusion. Now, that said, my days are longer than yours because I'm down around the 43rd parallel. Brighter than you but no gulf stream to warm things up.

 

Another huge advocate of heat mats here. I have a heated bed in the tunnel and cover this with polythene at night. The tunnel is too big to heat to a meaningful temperature and my propane heat box keeps the main area above 2 degrees. Some of the plants will not tolerate this temperature and are happy with a bit of extra heat from the bed. The echiveria on the heated bed are much further ahead than their relatives in the main part of the tunnel.

I'm growing Canna brasiliensis which should survive our winters but wanted a show this year. They were sown on heat last autumn and I currently have around 30 plants 6"+ tall which should give me a good display this year. Sowing in March would more than likely mean no flowers this year.

Then theres germination. Ive had very little success with germinating Ensete in a 20 degree prop. Bring in the Vitopod and set to 30 degrees and the germination was amazing.

I would put my hand up for the trial but I already have the prop and heated bed so I decided not to ask to be considered in order for another member to gain the benefit of the heat mat.