Propogator - Working TOO well ??

Hi All,
I received a lovely heated seed propogator for Christmas and last weekend was the first time I've had a chance to try it out. What's REALLY concerning me is whether it's working too well? On Sunday 9th, I sewed Cosmos, Californian Poppys,Dwarf Sunflowers and Blue Salvia. ALL of them have started shooting! According to the seed packets they should take 14-21 days. Should I unplug it? I'm of course DELIGHTED that it's **working**, as I've read they can sometimes be a bit hit and miss.

Thanks

SpringsHere

 

Hi Springshere and welcome to GC.

A propagator simply keeps the seeds warm in a controlled environment i.e. it holds the moisture in as well.

If you put too much heat on seed that would germinate naturally in our weather then you will simply accelerate their germination. Once they have germinated you need to put them somewhere so if it is still freezing cold outside and you have no greenhouse then you are really defeating the object. If you have a greenhouse then no problem, it simply means that you will get your flowers a few weeks early. Otherwise just pot them up and keep them frost free for a while before planting them out. If you have nowhere to keep them frost free and have to plant them outside, and they are not frost hardy, you really shouldn't have accelerated them.

 

Thanks Sarraceniac, Much appreciated. They are in the greenhouse in the propogator. The tallest 'ling is about 2.5cm tall, others (different breed)0.25cm tall. Taken onboard all you've said, that was the reason I wanted the Propogator, so I didn't have to buy expensive garden centre bedding plants. So, should I just wait until all a handlable size before pricking out and growing on? It is in the greenhouse, which only gets sun for about 1.25hrs on the very top left corner this time of year.It's staying at about 10 degrees during the day, and there's a frost protect fan heater that flicks on and off during night when needed. I'm really quite excited about this as in the past when I've sewn seeds before getting Propogator, just in seed trays, not all of the seeds have germinated. This looks like ALL of them have!

Thanks again, any more tipe GREATLY appreciated!!

S

 

Normally you prick out as soon as the seedlings are handleable.

I don't grow any of the plants you mention. I know PeterS is quite expert on Salvias and may spot the thread and comment. I reckon, as long as it's frost free you can take them out of the propagator and pot them on into the greenhouse. The point of a propagator is to give you a head start. You certainly got that.

And as usual bed out when all danger of frost has passed. I your (and my) case Late May.

 

Thanks very much Sarraceniac, will just keep an eye on it all and thin out when need to. Very interested to see how it will all work out!

Springy
x

 

Hi Springy and welcome. A heated propagator is a very useful thing to have. Not only is it good for germinating seeds, but also excellent for taking cuttings, which is another way of increasing your stock of plants - which you might like to try at a later date.

When you grow plants from seed there are three seperate stages. The first stage is the germination of the seed. ie when you are trying to wake it from its sleep. The heat helps most at this stage. Seed in the ground outside is programmed to stay asleep when its cold, because the resultant seedling could easily be killed by the frost. By supplying heat you are effectively telling it that winter is now well past and that it is safe to germinate.

Many seeds will germinate quickly if it is warm enough. I have been growing some seeds inside the house in unheated propagators, where the heat from the house is sufficient to do the job. The germination results were - 2 days, Wallflower, Hollyhock and Salvia viridis (annual Sclary); 3 days Salvia sclarea (true Sclary), Cosmos and Lupins (soaked in water); 4 days Hesperis (Sweet Rocket); 5 days Agastache and Calandrina etc.

The second stage is a very short one where the seed grows using the energy that is stored in the seed. Cosmos for instance can shoot up at an alarming rate in the first few days, but once its used up this store it stops. Heat probably speeds things up at this stage too - but its going to happen anyway. As long as they have moisture seeds can survive for up to two months in a sealed polythene bag with no soil just living of this source of energy. They will even grow several leaves.

The third and main stage is after this. Once plants have used up the seed store of energy they must manufacture it through photosynthesis. At this stage the rate of growth is determined by the amount of light they receive. Temperature helps a bit, as photosynthesis works better at higher temperatures. But if the plants don't get enough light, temperature won't help.

I think you should have no problem with a frost free greenhouse. The general rule is that plants that self seed in the garden will be hardy and will be happy as long as it doesn't freeze. Your Poppy probably comes in that category. But plants that don't self seed in UK gardens such as the other three are more tender and need to be put outside later.

 

Blimey Peter, when I said you were quite expert, I didn't expect the Spanish Inquisition. :D

 

Nobody expects the spanish inquisition :D

 

I lecture my seeds twice a day John - its what makes them grow up perfectly straight. :D

 

G'Morning PeterS, Sarraceniac & Smiffy008.
I am VERY sorry I haven't answered you earlier, but joined a very special club last Friday - the GRANDMA club, which saw us whizzing off down south to meet the new arrival at the weekend.

Very good advice here! All the seeds are well on the way to growing now, the Cosmos are about 4-5cm tall, but all are 'leggy', but they DO have plenty of light, and as well as having the heat from the Propogator, the air temperature in the Greenhouse is fairly stead at about 10 degrees (in the day)and I don't think it's dropping much at night, due to the small fan heater set to 'frost protection'.

They are quite 'cossetted' I think, but am really anxious to see how it all works out!

Many thanks to you all,

'Granny' Sparky!!

xxx

 

Congratulations on the grandmadom Springshere. :D

 

Oooo Thank you Sarraceniac .... 8-D

xx

 

Congratulations Granny.

My Cosmos are also very leggy - but I think that after the initial spurt they will settle down. In a while you will have to think about 'Pinching Out'. This is removing the growing tip to encourage the plant to sprout from below and bush out. But you need several leaves before you do this.

 

Thanks PeterS ! Grannydom is goood.

I'll look forward to the Cosmos stop 'spurting' then. The others look pretty healthy too. Will I need to pinch out the other 3 varieties please? They are: Dwarf Sunflower Californian Poppy and Blue Salvias.

Springy
x

 

Congrats on Grandmadom Springshere - You get all the fun and then send them back to mum ! We have 5 and number 6 is on the way....
If I could add to your previous question ...
1- How do you know what plants to pinch ?

2- And how do you pinch ? Do you remove the whole top section of the plant?

TIA


Harry