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Post by nightmist on Nov 20, 2008 17:22:22 GMT -5
Too bad that would squash the seedlings. I have a cat that I'm not entirely sure has moved since August. Seems like hatching something would be the perfect job for her.  |
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Post by sandbar on Nov 20, 2008 22:40:08 GMT -5
Bottom heat, huh? Couldn't you just sit on them until they, like, hatch?? ;D What a visualization that comment makes! ;D I bought a couple of commercial heat mats and a thermostat ($175 total) that would hold 4 flats. Had to be careful that they didn't dry out the plug flats, so had to water daily. GREATLY helped my heirloom pepper germination (around 80% with bottom heat ... around 50% without). Did not notice much of a difference with tomato germination on/off the mats. Did not use the mats last year on my peppers and wish I had. |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Nov 20, 2008 23:49:55 GMT -5
Ah, but Nightmist, a Cat would never sit on anything that it was supposed to sit on...
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Post by nightmist on Nov 21, 2008 3:02:09 GMT -5
Ah, but Nightmist, a Cat would never sit on anything that it was supposed to sit on... Alas! Too true, unless of course she thought it would hatch into something yummy for her. If she didn't drool and purr on my foot for no reason so often, I would suspect her of cupboard love.  |
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Post by nightmist on Nov 21, 2008 3:19:04 GMT -5
I bought a couple of commercial heat mats and a thermostat ($175 total) that would hold 4 flats. Had to be careful that they didn't dry out the plug flats, so had to water daily. GREATLY helped my heirloom pepper germination (around 80% with bottom heat ... around 50% without). Did not notice much of a difference with tomato germination on/off the mats. Did not use the mats last year on my peppers and wish I had. A little heat makes all the difference with peppers especially. I'm told eggplants as well, but nobody else in my family will eat them so I don't plant them. A lot of peppers won't even think about germinating unless they are at around 80F. I have a small table in front of some large windows, that I put flats on. Then I tape bamboo garden stakes to the corners and tent plastic over it, and put a small thermostatic space heater underneath. I tried it with my tomatoes as well as my peppers this year. Rate of germination was about the same, but the number thriving post germination increased significantly. |
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Post by Alan on Nov 21, 2008 14:01:43 GMT -5
Peppers are always one of the trickiest crops to get to germinate from seed. They need a higher heat which will cause the flats to dry out quicker, so you have to keep them watered more, and yet at the same time they have to be well ventilated but preventing mold can be a problem and the mold can kill the plants.
Peppers have been the bane of my existence in the greenhouse business and I always approach them with trepidation, however they are a terrific market crop and with just a tiny bit of TLC they are always worth the effort!
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Post by johno on Nov 21, 2008 17:00:01 GMT -5
I hate to recommend this because it is a little "iffy" regarding mixing water with electricity, but here's what I do for germinating pepper seeds. I have an old heat pad (for sore muscles, etc. - definitely NOT made for wet service) that I put beneath a grille to allow some air circulation, otherwise it builds up too much heat. I set jars or plastic bags containing a moist paper towel with the seeds on top of the grille, and it keeps them right at 90 degrees F. I usually have great results.
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Post by sandbar on Nov 21, 2008 23:10:08 GMT -5
Last year, I started about 500 tomato and pepper plants (all hybrids) for a seed trial with our county MG program. WITHOUT any bottom heat, these hybrid pepper plants averaged 95% germination!
Not only that, I was pressed for light shelf space so I put them in a 400 cell starter tray ... really tiny cells maybe 3/8" square ... didn't water them well ... amazing vigor from these particular varieties. My OP varieties fared much worse at about 50% germination and significantly weaker seedling vigor.
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Post by lieven on Dec 11, 2008 17:35:41 GMT -5
My hot bed is 5 m3 big & consists of all kinds of compostable stuff. It's right at the end of the greenhouse, flattened on top & covered with a 5 cm layer of regular garden soil. I sowed radishes, lettuces & onions on Nov 25, and they're germinating fine, one after the other, in spite of low temps outside.
The bigger your shit stove, the longer it will burn!
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Post by Alan on Dec 14, 2008 20:41:26 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip Johno, I'm going to give that a go this spring. It's not all that far away now! It's already mid December!
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Post by plantsnobin on Dec 15, 2008 8:57:51 GMT -5
About the heating pads,you will have to find an old one. The new ones have an automatic 'safety' timer that turns it off after about 1/2 hour so that people don't fall asleep on one and get burned. Sounds stupid, but I am sure some idiot sued a manufacturer and got a lot of money.
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Post by Alan on Dec 16, 2008 13:36:49 GMT -5
I'll use my heating pads either from the old waterbeds we had or the actual plant starting pads we have, both have thermostats and are easy and reliable to operate, but I'll definitely give this a go this spring!
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