I’m not sure the courier delivery people that visit my home understand the levels of excitement that greet them. The other day I felt the need to explain what was in the parcel to justify my reaction. Strangely when I told the delivery man it was a heated propagator he still didn’t seem to get why I should be grinning so much. I did start to tell him about the benefits it was going to bring but, as he started to inch away from the door, I realised he wasn’t a gardener.
It’s funny how I just assume everyone is as into plants as I am. For me it’s such a fundamental thing. I look at gardens that are just bare lawn, or worse, and simply cannot understand why you wouldn’t want to run out and fill it with as many plants as possible at the first opportunity. Then there are the times when I’m at a party and I start chatting about plants and I can see eyes start to glaze over. I’ve recognised they haven’t got the bug before they then say something along the lines of, “I don’t do gardens”.
Fortunately though I discovered blogging; a little late, admittedly, since some of you out there have been at it for 5 years now. At least here I can rabbit away about plants and gardens and know there are people out there that understand why I would get so excited about a heated propagator turning up on my doorstep.
I have toyed with the idea for a while now but wasn’t sure how much use I would get from it. But, after a difficult spring last year trying to get some seed to germinate I decided to go for it. Window sills can get quite warm, even at this time of year when the sun is shining on them, the problem is it isn’t a constant temperature. Whilst a lot of seeds, particularly hardy annuals, don’t really need much heat to germinate, half-hardy annuals such as tomatoes and chillies prefer a constant temperature of around 20˚c to spring into life. They also require a long growing season if they are to fruit successfully in our climate and need to be sown in February. It’s not impossible to grow these plants from seed if you don’t have a heated propagator but it does help.
It’ll be interesting to see, over the course of the next couple of months, how much of a difference the propagator will make to germination rates and the choice of plants I can grow.
On a completely unrelated subject but which caused a similar amount of excitement was the discovery that my peace lily has produced a flower. I bought the plant 5 years ago, and apart from the flowers that were on it at the time, it hasn’t flowered since. I can’t say I’ve done anything differently recently that might have triggered it to finally produce a bloom. In fact, after years of TLC producing nothing remotely flower-like I resorted to a level of care just above neglect. Maybe that’s the key, perhaps I have to treat this peace lily a little bit mean.
I bought my propagator from a company called Two Wests and Elliott. It was recommended to me by my college tutor a few years ago. We were all intrigued by the name when she told us about them. The company was established by husband and wife, Christopher and Josephine West; Elliott was their dog.
What a great post, I know the glazed eye look very well and have seen it many times. It’s bad that we have to rein ourselves in, when all we want to do is share our excitement. I am sure that the heated propagator will be very useful. I have always managed to germinate my chilli’s on the windowsill in Bellboy pot’s, but your right the temperature must dip at night. I think you will have more reliable results with the stable temps provided by your new bit of kit. Good Luck with it all.
Thank you Sam. It’s remarkable what you can get to grow even if the conditions aren’t perfect. I have managed tomatoes before just on a windowsill.
All I can say is ‘thank you’ to whoever came up with the idea of blogging because it has given all of us frustrated gardeners a chance to talk about plants and growing to like-minded people.
Oh my, you had me laughing out loud at the first paragraph! It’s always such a pleasure to read your blog. I’ve been thinking about buying a propagator as well lately. I’ve already sown my peppers, paprika’s and aubergines and some of the aubergines seeds start to germinate. They’ll probably go all leggy, but then I’m just too impatient. Looking forward to read about your propagator experience!
:) Thank you Saskia, *blushes*. I’m impatient too but I’m trying to resist this year and actually follow my seed sowing plan.;) We shall see how that goes.
Be careful – window sill propagators are addictive. Once upon a time I had a single window sill propagator – now I have a 12 yard row of them, and three double tray sized ones, and a 2 x1m sand box with soil warming cables, and hot beds, lots of hot beds……….in fact if it wasn’t dark I’d be out mucking out the hens to start another one. Seriously, they are absolutely wonderful for getting that extra certainty about germination and adding a week or two to the growing season to make sure that you get a really good crop off marginal plants. And in the late autumn and winter they give you baby leaves really quickly. Enjoy.
I am very excited by it. I’ve gone from windowsill grower to greenhouse and propagator owner in less than 4 months. OH might be pleased though that we don’t have the space for hot beds or chickens. And I never thought about using them for baby leaves in autumn and winter. Thank you. :)
Another fab post!
I try to sow my seeds in propagators (heated or above the radiators) in the Christmas holidays, of course the tomatoes are racing ahead, the aubergines are growing steadily but the chillies are very slow to germinate (I must NOT prod them!).
BTW I loved your article in Country Living (p41, Feb ’13)… Come on you Crocus!
Thanks, I terrible for being impatient and prodding and poking the compost to see if there are any signs of life. ;) I must learn to leave them alone. I’m intrigued by the article in Country Living. Would you be able to take a photo of it and mail it to me if that isn’t too much trouble. My email is sweetpealou@hotmail.com.
Have just sent you a scan of the page…. x
good luck xx
I have 3 little unheated propergaters sat on my kitchen window sill (as its south facing) and so far really pleased after just a week i have some tomato, leek and marigold seedlings :-)
all so exciting :-)
Hi Kim, It’s so good to see the first seedlings appearing. The sense of excitement and anticipation is huge. :)
I fully understand having had several trays of seeds in the cold conservatory over the last two weeks. I have even considered doing a “Heath Robinson” propagator using a heated under blanket covered in plastic. Look forward to hearing what happens.
Mahalo
Be careful! You wouldn’t want your conservatory going up in flames. ;) I’ll keep you posted on how the propagator works.
Had to smile at this – it’s the same with me. Got super excited at the purchase of a folding Japanese pruning saw and new pair of shears the other day – I can now start to clear another of the overgrown borders! But that was nothing compared to finding out in college how easy it is to propagate cornus plants, especially after a visit to the winter garden in the Cambridge Botanic Gardens … oh sorry, are you glazing over?
Propagator seems a very good addition to your armoury, will expect great things from the greenhouse this summer!
I’m not glazing over. :) I’ve always wanted to see the winter garden at Cambridge. I wish I had the space for some cornus. Did they show you the rolling all the stems up into a bundle? I remember doing it at college. You can do it with roses too I think. I’ve never tried to take cuttings or roses. maybe that’s something for this year. Like the sound of your Japanese pruning saw.
That’s interesting about the need for a constant temperature, something I didn’t know. After browsing the gardening catalogues for hours on end over the winter, I’m not sure I can stretch to the propagator but I’ll have to put it on the list with a question mark against it. I know what you mean about people glazing over when you go on about gardening. My husband has told me that this year he will not be accompanying me to all the gardening shows I am planning to go to!
I was lucky to have a voucher which I used towards some of the cost which helped. I have managed for years without a propagator and done pretty well. Despite what the seed packets and books say seeds can surprise us by germinating even without the perfect conditions. The propagator will hopefully give me a bit of a head start but I’ve managed to raise an awful lot just using windowsills.
Oh no, has your husband developed show fatigue? ;) Wellyman likes a gardening show, luckily. To be honest he has more stamina when it comes to walking around the shows than I do. I nearly always flag before he does. :)
He is still going to “do” Chelsea and has his tickets but says he won’t get his wellies out for Hampton Court this year and is refusing all the smaller shows. Come to think of it, it’s about time there was something for garden bloggers at Hampton Court. You could throw a seminar about how to run a successful blog, people could meet each other and we could have stands and flyers to get more readers and people into blogging.
Thanks Claire. It would be nice to have a proper garden bloggers get together. Trying to arrange times when as many people as possible are free is so awkward though. I’m booking dates to visit family and friends up to 6 months in advance at the moment. Trying to fit in around work, various holidays etc. I do like the idea though. Maybe the RHS would be interested in organising something. At least OH is going to Chelsea we haven’t got any shows planned this year which is an oversight on my part. Will have to look into that one.
Lovely blog you have. The propagator looks great, any idea what you will sow in it? I will be sowing some chillis this week, borrowing a sunny windowsill at my parents house. No heated propagator though, maybe something for the future. Unfortunately in my flat I don’t really have and decent sized window sills to use.
I bought a peace lilly a few years ago, like yourself it had lots of flowers when I got it. After they all finished it continued to grow well but with now flowers for about 2 years when out of no where a flower appeared. All I ever did was water it occasionally. No other flowers every came and hadn’t since.
Thanks Adam. *blushes* I’ve managed to get tomatoes to grow on a sunny windowsill before without any extra heat so it’s certainly worth giving your chillies a go and there are always plug plants if you can’t get the seed to germinate. Most house plants don’t get the right conditions because our homes are aren’t humid enough and the temperatures fluctuate too much. Still I love the foliage of peace lilies and they are one of the best plants for absorbing chemicals given off by furniture and electrical equipment. So even if they don’t flower they are still worth having around.
I’m glad you found blogging too as I enjoy reading your posts very much! That is such a cool heated propagator! Mine is just one big compartment, but those individual trays would be so handy. Cool name for a shop huh! I too have a peace lilly that just never flowers. I don’t have mine in direct sunlight and often wondered if that was why? I guess they would like feeding too? Saying that though, like yours mine sprouted a flower very randomly last year and I have no explanation for it!
Thank you Anna. To be honest when I first saw it I thought mine was a bit big but I’m sure I’ll fill those seed trays pretty easily. ;)
I read your post with a rye smile! I’ve seen that glazed over look very often here. Italians don’t really have gardens, there are obviously exceptions to this (Alberto at Altro Verde). Two Wests and Elliot are wonderful, I bought quite a lot of greenhouse equipment from them last year which was sent by DHL at not inconsiderable cost but worth it as nothing like it is available here. ENJOY! Christina
I wonder why gardening isn’t really popular in Italy. What are the differences that mean us Brits love it and yet some of our continental neighbours have never picked it up in the same way? Curious. Ouch that must have cost quite a bit to get that couriered. It’s something I forget about, that so many of the products that we have such easy access to must be hard for you to get hold of. What would us gardeners do if we didn’t have all these garden blogs to read and comment on? ;)
I got my greenhouse from them – it’s still standing years later so I think it’s good. Must use my heated propagator too – my greenhouse (because of being lean-too against a wonky garage) is too draughty and having the propagator inside will mean I can sow tomatoes in Feb not April! Have almost given up on tomatoes because they don’t ripen in time.
Good luck with your tomatoes. I haven’t grown them for about 4 or 5 years now because we get a lot of blight here but this year I’m going to give them a go again, now they can go in a greenhouse.
I’ve got the same propagator, in fact I’ve got two of them. It’s really handy in that it’s designed to fit neatly on a windowsill, but because there’s no temperature control, it doesn’t give a constant heat, it raises the temperature by so many degrees, so if your windowsill gets cold during the night, the temperature in the propagator will drop too. It does help seeds to germinate quicker though.
I had so many problems last year with seeds. I think the really cold April and May was the problem. It’ll be on a sunny windowsill so I hope I don’t now cook the seeds. A one with a thermostatic control would have been nice but they were a little more pricey. I’m sure this one will make a difference.
I know the feeling of frustration that no-one around me can talk gardening with me! I got such funny looks from people when on a gardening holiday and I asked them what sort of soil they had!!
Good luck with your seedlings, hope they are a success in their new propagator.
Often someone we mention plants and I’ll think they are really interested and start rabbiting on about something to do with gardens only to realise that it was really only a passing comment and the poor person has been treated to something in depth guide to some plant or other. ;)
I’ve learned with my peace lily that it flowers best when left outside for the summer in a very shady spot, then brought inside for the winter. You get more flowers, and flowers all year round, the less light you give it! I keep thinking I’m going to kill it, but mine goes on the floor in the corner of a room with only very low, reflected light, and have over 10 flowers on it right now. I do keep it woth other plants to keep the himidity up. I only repot when it is competely root bound, and generally abuse it
Any idea why it’s called a peace lily? Is it associated with a specific war or country?
The white flower apparently looks like the white flag of surrender/peace hence the name. Thanks for the tips. I’ll try leaving it outside this summer.
Can totally understand your excitement, I’ve just had seeds come in post and I’m like a big kid, can’t wait to get planting!
Hi Andrea, It’s like Christmas all over again when seeds arrive. :)
Looking hot ;)
First a greenhouse – now a heated propagator – there’s no stopping you WW : ) Have fun with your new toy. My excitement levels this week have been tested with the arrival of a rootrainer set and a snowdrop.
Unfortunately my window sill space is very limited otherwise that’s what I would be doing. It’ll be interesting to see how you get on.
I also enjoyed reading all the other comments. xx
Greenhouse and heated propagator all in one go eh ? I have the luxury of a heated greenhouse however a couple of tips if I may, remember that your soil will dry out quicker so keep an eye on watering. When germination occurs try to keep the tops off as much as possible to prevent damping off. Finally if anyone is window sill growing then a sheet of tin foil placed strategically will reflect light back from the window onto the plants keeping your plants up straight! Good luck with your new venture wellywoman.
I have one of those propagators and I love it. It really does help to get things going. I normally get mine out in January as I’m so eager, but I’m a bit late starting this year. I must get some chilli and pepper seeds going very soon. I only grow my tomatoes outdoors, so they will have to wait, but I also start my leeks and some lettuce about now. There’s not a huge amount of space in each tray, but you can pack them in and then prick them out as soon they get their first true leaves. Happy growing!
Oh, how I know that excitement – and the raised eyebrows it can cause the delivery people to gain as you explain what they have brought to your door… That looks like the same propagator I have, which has been wonderful, and I invested in another set of the seed trays and covers too, invaluable for someone like me who struggles with the “sow thinly” concept almost as much as with the “you don’t have to prick out every seedling” idea… I have to confess that, faced with my “grow a new front garden” plan, I have invested in a second, larger one… Enjoy!
I can’t do ‘sow thinly’ or ‘don’t pot up every seedling that germinates’ either. My compost is ready and the seeds are poised ready for sowing tomorrow. I’m so excited.
I’m still horrified by the comment of the vile neighbour backing onto us who trashed the beautiful garden of the previous occupant, in favour of a mud patch dumped with rubbish and said he doesn’t like plants. Sadly he and his family seem only to be a slightly more extreme version of most of the people moving into the surrounding area with no interest in their gardens. So sad.. Spending so much time in the company of fellow gardeners online I tned to forget that we are perhaps not the norm!
I sympathise, there are a few around us like that. For a nation of gardeners there are a lot of us who don’t seem to like plants. I get so annoyed when I see gardens unused when I know people who live in flats who would love and appreciate the space.