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After the heated propogator

• Message 1. 

  Posted by michael (U8304653) on Sunday, 20th February 2011

  I never quite get it right so any thoughts would be appreciated.
  
  At this time of year I sow chillies,tomatoes,peppers,aubergines and other seeds which need an early start but I always have to double up on quantity which then gives me a space problem.
  
  The reason for this is that as the seeds come through they tend to bolt towards the light and as they do not all come through together the first ones get very leggy and are often lost on transplantation.
  
  I was wondering if it would be better to prick them out within a day or so into an unheated propogator outside in an unheated greenhouse (average temp here in northwest about 4/5 degrees) as if I try and bring them on in the house I have the same problem with bolting.
  
  I am assuming the germination temperatures of about 15 degrees is not so important once they have come through as long as I protect overnight from frost etc.
  
  

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Engineer (U3135859) on Sunday, 20th February 2011

  Lack of light is a problem for everyone who starts seeds this early.
  Moving them to an unheated greenhouse will likely kill them or at least give them such a shock that they will 'check' and may actually take longer to develop than by waiting a few weeks and sowing later. Peppers and chillis can't take temps below 5C at any stage in their life-cycle.
  You could try providing artificial light using a timer, perhaps using a lamp placed above a box lined with aluminium foil (if you have the space indoors.)
  If you can provide an electricity supply to the greenhouse, the easiest would be to grow them on inside a heated propagator placed in there - think "mini-heated greenhouse within a greenhouse."
  Because of these problems, I now try and resist the temptation to start so early and sow a little later in the year. Everything still crops just as well but as chillis need such a long growing season, I extend it by bringing them indoors at the end of the year once nght temperatures begin to fall below 8C. Luckily, Mrs Bob thinks the plants with their coloured fruit look good on the windowsills - they are usually still producing chillis at Christmas and beyond.
  HTH -- Bob
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by michael (U8304653) on Wednesday, 6th April 2011

  Following the comments from Bob I thought I would try the following which has worked a treat.
  
  My greenhouse is bubble wrapped during the winter but I purchased a couple of mini greenhouses (available Aldi, Wilkinsons and many other sources) and added a few cold propagators. I then transferred my seedlings out of the heated propagator into the cold propagators then putting them inside the mini greenhouse within the Greenhouse this has had the effect of triple insulation.
  
  The effect has been just what the doctor ordered, no more bolting or damping off and I have had a far higher yield of strong seedlings.
  
  I am posting this as it may help other amateurs like me who cannot heat the greenhouse due to cost or logistical problems in supplying power.

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