Garland Extra Large High Dome Propagator

Product Information

The idea of adding a propagator to your house might seem daunting – doesn’t it cost a lot of money to have a heat source on for a long time? My testing took place in early January (just to give a bit of seasonal context) and within 3 days the peas had started to germinate. After a week they were really going for it, and it was time to remove the lid of the cell. The giant peppers took 8 days to pop their heads through, and after two weeks we were even able to see a few strawberry stems shooting up! Of course, as this is a larger unit, it may not fit on a windowsill. Instead, it will need to be placed on a table, desk or worktop if you’re using it indoors. To give an idea of size: there are units that are small enough to fit onto windowsills, whilst others will need to be placed on a table/worktop/greenhouse shelf. With seven individually-vented cells and a reasonable price tag, this Garland Super7 Electric Heated Windowsill Propagator offers good value for money. Despite having seven cells, it has a compact design enabling you to grow germinate multiple seed varieties in one go. Very handy!

Other considerations include watering and ventilating. Ideally you will want the internal atmosphere of your propagator to be warm and humid, without too much disturbance. A capillary mat will hold quite a lot of water, which will be drawn up into the pots and trays and help to keep the air moist. This means less time spent watering and more time for the propagator to stay closed and undisturbed. Also, you will want to control the amount of air that circulates within the unit to ensure there is no loss of young seedlings due to damping off. Tomatoes are very susceptible to damping off, which is generally caused by a combination of cool air and moisture. For example, if you run a propagator of 100 W for an hour, at this rate, it will cost you 1.4p for that hour. A propagator of 50 W will cost 0.7p for an hour. And a propagator of 22 W will cost you 0.3 p per hour. This propagator comes with a power cord, although at 2m it may be a little short. Using it with an extension cable may be necessary. Large, one-cell units that measure around 52 x 45 cm can be used to try to germinate around 140 seeds. They’re often big enough to fit 2 x 24-pot seed trays, and if you get 3 seeds in each pot, this can mean the potential to plant 144 seeds.A heated propagator creates an environment that’s just a few degrees above air temperature, forming conditions that help many seeds to germinate. The best part is that they cost just a few pence a day to run. The base features a fully enclosed and completely water proof heating element which gives an even spread of heat across the base with no hot or cold spots. Temperature is precisely controlled by the include thermostat which can be accurately set in 1 degree increments between 5 and 30 degrees celcius.

The Vitopod is quite simply the best electric propagator your can buy. No, it's not cheap but the design and build quality of this unit is the best you'll see anywhere. It was voted the best buy propagator by BBC Gardeners World magazine. This professional electric propagator from greenhouse sensation will enable you to grow larger or tall plants with ease. Having an idea about the length of the propagator’s mains cable before purchasing is also a good plan. Some propagators have short cables of 1 m, whilst others are slightly longer at between 2 and 3 m. Depending on where you have a power outlet, either in the house or greenhouse, you may have to use an extension cable. Lid Height for Better Growth If you want to buy a heated propagator, the following information should help clear up any doubts or questions you may have: Choosing the Right Size I bought the large vitopod last year and it was fantastic. It fits lots of plants and is easy to set up. I love it. For example, the Garland Super 7 Propagator is one of the best heated electric propagators for catering to different seeds; it has seven different pods and each one has its own ventilation. These type of set up allows you to keep some seeds cooler than others, all whilst using the same propagator.

Bio Green Jumbo Propagator

Most standard propagators either come with on large seed tray, or one larger tray and a few separate smaller trays. These may be contained under the same roof, or in individual ‘cells’. Also, the cells can be prone to a condensation build up, even when the vents are open. I suppose though this is just what happens when you mildly heat something and contain it! Over time I’ve learnt that by switching the unit off and giving the cells a bit of breather everything clears up nicely. Plus, if you get a propagator with a thermostat, it will regulate the temperature and save energy by turning off when it reaches a certain temperature.

Measuring just 18.5cm wide, this propagator easily fits onto the average window ledge. The 76cm length means you can still fit ample seeds into this unit. The roof is high enough to allow seedlings to grow around 5cm, and the trays are also sufficiently deep to offer enough space for roots to fully develop. As a result, when it comes to planting seedlings out, they are already well established. A Vitopod heated propagator with the double height option can be used as a mini greenhouse and will protect plants for longer without you having to heat an entire greenhouse or polytunnel. In terms of performance, this propagator can be used to grow a wide variety of seeds. It comes with a 13W carbon fibre element that provides an even heat distribution, raising the temperature by around 8°C. Having said that, it’s still best installed on a sunny windowsill if you’re growing plants that prefer a lot of warmth. The size of propagator you should buy will depend on the space you have available, and how many seeds you want to propagate. The trays are very small, measuring just 14 x 7cm at the base. This makes them suitable for those who want to grow a small amount of each plant, although the trays are still deep enough for your plants to develop strong roots.Given that propagation can be a little hit and miss, having space in this large 52 x 42.5 x 28cm unit for so many seeds is one way to help increase the chances of success!

Electric propagators can range in wattage, and the size of the propagator will also affect how much power you need. The wattage determines the cost of running it. The lid height will dictate how long you can keep your produce growing in the propagator – if the plants start pushing the ceiling, they’ll have to be taken out. Extra features on this propagator are very limited. There is no thermostat and no timer, although a timer can be separately hooked up. Many users found that it got too hot for some seedlings, so I’d recommend keeping an eye on things for the first few days. If you want to ensure a high yield of germinated seedlings, this 22W Stewart P035B Electric Propagator allows you to plant up to 144 seeds at a time, which can result in germinating at least 50 plants in one ‘round’. This tray heats very evenly, but unfortunately there is no thermostatic control. Taking the temperature readings and opening the vents, or even turning the unit off for a brief time, is the only way to control the heat. However, most users find this level of control more than enough for most seedlings, and appreciate its ease of use.

Some smaller units have individual ‘cells’ for each pot so you don’t have as much free range with how many different seeds you can plant at a time. I love my new propagator! It was easy to assemble, holds lots of plants and the temperature probe is really useful. I bought two heights of sides and this is super as I am not restricted by size of cuttings. The design itself is very simple. This unit consists of a heated tray with a ventilated plastic lid – you supply your own trays/pots, but it can fit 2 x 24-pot plant trays, so that gives you a good idea of its size in practical terms. To allow adequate space for seedlings to establish, the best propagator will be around 15 – 20 cm in height . Ideally, you want to be looking for a propagator with a wattage of around 13 – 22 W . This will provide sufficient heat for seedlings without being too costly to run. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 10 – 15°C so the propagator needs enough power to maintain this.