Germination Idea!

[bigredfeather]

With Winter upon us, as always, I am planning this coming year's garden and trying to improve techniques. I had an idea the other day. I always have trouble finiding a place warm enough to get my seeds to germinate. I got to thinking about a way to do this without buying a germination mat. I was thinking about trying my incubator. I can set the temp as low as 70 degrees, which is ideal for germination. It is a cabinet style bator, so I can fit up to four trays in it at once.

What do you think?

 

[digitS']

I imagine that it should work great .

Most seeds germinate best at about 75F. I can't find any indoor location that maintains that warm of temperature overnight. The best I can do is place the containers on top my fridge and then, as that fills up, move things up on the shelf above. It's 70 at most up there overnight.

One thing, as soon as you've got seedlings - they need to go into the light. They will quickly grow leggy and have permanent problems. Many plants really must be moved into light within about 12 hours of full emergence.

You know the old saying - out of sight, out of mind? I become obsessive about looking thru the containers. Wish I'd show the same diligence in the garden when I try to start carrot seed under a board . . .


BTW, pelleted carrot seed takes most of the risk out of carrot germination . . . for those of us who can ignore a board laying in the garden.

Here's wishing you the best of luck!

Steve

 

[Ridgerunner]

I also think it would work great for germination as long as you watch the light as Digits mentioned. I think heat-loving plants like peppers or eggplant may need the warmer soil to grow well, so you might watch that.

While we are on the topic of adding heat, I made a flat box out of plywood (lined the bottom with foil to reflect heat) so a heating pad would fit in it. I then set a flat waterproof tray filled with dirt and put small yogurt cups with the bottoms cut out on that to plant in. With the heating pad set on low, I can maintain the mid-70's F in the soil in my garage. It made a huge difference in germination rate. I don't have pictures in this set-up as I am using it now to keep water thawed in the chicken coop.

Many different ways to address this issue. I've heard of people using a string of Christmas lights in a box like this to add heat. You adjust the temperature by adjusting the number of lights that are not burned out. I sprout my sweet potatoes on top of a tall bookshelf unit to get them in the warmer air higher in the room.

 

[Greenthumb18]

biggreenthumb,

I tried using an incubator for germinating seeds last spring, it worked great. I noticed that the seeds usual germinate faster because of the temperatures in the 95 to 100 degree range. I would recommend you water often or place plastic bags or saran wrap over the trays to keep the soil moist, especially with forced air incubators the soil dries out super fast.


Hope this motivates you to try!


Good Luck!!

 

[bigredfeather]

biggreenthumb,

I tried using an incubator for germinating seeds last spring, it worked great. I noticed that the seeds usual germinate faster because of the temperatures in the 95 to 100 degree range. I would recommend you water often or place plastic bags or saran wrap over the trays to keep the soil moist, especially with forced air incubators the soil dries out super fast.


Hope this motivates you to try!


Good Luck!!

I am going to try it. I can set the temp on my sportman down to I think 70 degrees. I may see if I can unhook the fan, so it doesn't dry them out so fast.

Thanks.

 

[Texan]

It was suggested to me that one could use Christmas lights on the bottom of a tray to add heat. I couldnt figure out how to do it. It seems like a halfway decent idea though.

 

[Lavender2]

The incubator sounds like a great idea! Christmas lights! ... good tip too! I had not heard of that one.
I would think they would heat a cabinet or enclosed shelving unit... they do put off a fair amount of heat.

biggreenthumb,

I tried using an incubator for germinating seeds last spring, it worked great. I noticed that the seeds usual germinate faster because of the temperatures in the 95 to 100 degree range.

Wow, 95+ degrees is pretty warm for most seeds.
I would think it may affect the germination rate of many seeds...

This table for germination temperatures has come in handy for me... although I do find that I have very few failed seeds at 70-80 F.

I set my trays directly on top of my shop lights. This keeps the soil around 75-78 F.
Overflow occasionally goes into the oven ... ... I can fit 6 flats in there. With the oven light left on it holds a perfect 80*F.
Dinner is a little late tho .......

 

[obsessed]

I like the idea of the oven! That is awesome. I do the germination on refig, and in the wintersown pots. But the oven is now avaliable.