Germinator

[annppayne]

I have a cheap electric germinator which I keep on my kitchen windowsill.    It has no thermostat.  But does have small ventilators which I can open to control the condensation.

I am growing Tomato seeds, Chillies, Courgettes etc. in it.

At what stage should I remove the seedlings from the germinator.    Is the job of the germinator purely that .............and I should remove the seedlings once they are apparent.    Or should I leave them in the heat until they have formed their "proper" leaves.

The benefit of your experience would be very helpful.

Best wishes, Ann

[annppayne]

[chriscross1966]

depends on where you have to put the seedlings.... I use one side of mine as a "cracker" in that nearly all seeds get some time on it, the other side (it's a two-tray one) is there to keep my tomato seedlings frost-free....

[Justy]

I don't have an electric propagator but just an ordinary one and some root trainers.  I usually wait until they have all germinated and then leave them on the windowsill but uncover them as I find they can shoot off too quickly and become 'leggy' if I leave them with the lid on.  Then I wait until they have their real leaves and move them on. (Having said that I really am no expert so you will probably get some better advice too!)

[saddad]

I get things out of the heated propagator asap... as soon as I can see them emerging.  :)

[shirlton]

Me too Sadad. Once germinated they very soon get leggy. I only use the windowsills above my radiators after that no heat at all.

[annppayne]

Thank you for your advice.    Yes, the seedlings do get leggy, so now I will take them out earlier on, and put them on the windowsill to grow on.   Many thanks.

[GodfreyRob]

Watch out for your propagaor overheating if its on a windowsill. If the sun shines on it while you are out, it can cook things in it. An ideal propagator would also have a fan to cool it when it gets too hot - but I could not afford one of those either. Theres a diy project there...

[caroline7758]

I've hardly used my heated propagator this year because we've had so much sunshine. A plastic lid or plastic bag combined with the heat of the sun has been enough for just about everything except toms & aubs, whereas assaid above the heated prop has got too hot.

[annppayne]

Yes, you are all right.     My kitchen window is south facing, so when it is sunny I put a piece of white A4 paper between the germinator and the window, this keeps the heat off, but allows the filtered light through.    I learnt to do this after several experiences of seedlings shrivelling up  !!

Many thanks Ann