Heated propagator - recommendations?

[MawkishHawk]

Anyone have a heated propagator that they love? 9
Or hate?

I am just setting up new potting shed (moved in a few months ago, first year in new garden!). Shed is brick built, unheated, and I have set up a 5ft x 2ft table against the south facing window which will be my seed sowing/seedling space to get things started.

I have two cheap Wilko heated propagators (these ones, £20 each) already but I think I’ll need more heated space now, wanting to get lots of things started early this year - chillies, peppers, aubergines etc that have long growing season and need heat to start. Hopefully I’ll have a new greenhouse set up by the time they get big but otherwise we are in London so a lot of them might do ok outdoors anyway! Peppers were fine outdoors on my old allotment around here.

So anyone have any recommendations? Am wondering about heat mats and just putting seed trays on top as a more flexible system, vs getting a few more cheapies, vs something more fancy pants.

Hopeful Sunday evening bump :-)

Vitopod propagators are excellent.

I have the cheapies and they've been fine, lasted years. But I've long lusted after a heat mat set up.

However, I now want the vitopod that Sadik linked to

What about light -will the chillies have enough or would grow lights be good?
Again, I dont have, but do want.
(But can't justify)

Vitopod with thermostat. Brilliant. Mines in the greenhouse so gets reasonable light, but it would like to have grolights as a topup

I have a large Vitopod in my greenhouse, but I invested in a large Geopod last year, which also has lights, and sits in my front room. I use it for germinating cactus seeds and overwintering tender succulents. However, it is very expensive, so probably not suitable for you.

www.greenhousesensation.co.uk/heated-electric-propagator-with-propagation-lights.html/

I also have a hydropod which is only for cuttings so less versatile, but you can get many plants quickly with it. I have that in my utility room with Sunblaster growlights but I don’t use the heater. The lights are bought separately and fit into the grooves on the lid.
www.greenhousesensation.co.uk/hydropod-cuttings-propagators.html/

Chillies have done ok for me the last few years in my old flat starting in heated propogator on south facing windowsill sowing on New Year’s Day. I am trying to make it my tradition but failed this year!

My immediate issue has been solved with my father in law remembering he had an old one in his loft - 20 years old but never been used so “brand new” and it fits 2 full-size seed trays in it so pretty much doubled my heated space! Score!

But oh my lusting after those proper systems now - the geopod especially. I’ve seen some YouTubers using vitapods. They do seem very expensive in comparison though. Those of you that have the proper dealios - how often do you vary the temperatures, and what do you use different temps for?

I grow small-scale commercial so this is likely to be overkill for home gardeners! But for starting chillies / aubergines etc I sow mid Feb & run mine at 28C in the day, dropping to 18C at night (it's in the greenhouse so I also cover it with a duvet to minimise heatloss overnight). The temperature cycles helps speed up germination. Once they're through I shift them to a second one which runs around 15C in the day / turn down to 8 or so at night to save heated space, they grow a little slower but I think gives a nice sturdy plant ready to go out into the tunnel end April / early May depending on conditions (with the option to fleece in the tunnel if needed. Over the season I start roughly 50-80 peppers/aubergines then 70-80 tomatoes cycling through 2 large vitopods & out onto the (bubble wrap lined) greenhouse bench. (I've also got a frost protection heater in the greenhouse to use for later cold snaps but don't need it too often.) I have contemplated growlights but never really felt the need, however obviously I have the time to give them a lot of tlc & faffing as it's my work!

@LemonViolet, I don’t vary the temp in either much, they are set to a temp that the plants inside are happy with. In my case they are quite rare succulents that like it warm! So about 25-27C.

For general seed raising I guess 20-25C would be ideal.

I have my vitopod set at 21 for growing hardy and half-hardy annuals and perennials starting late Feb. I leave the lids off in the day and replace at night. If the sun is out the temp will rise well above 21 during the day