If we were all to rely on the variable and often unpredictable nature of the British climate 100% then it’s safe to say that our output of plants, flowers, crops and fruit would be rather different to the luxurious levels we enjoy today.
Don’t get us wrong. The UK’s weather system has its perks. We’ve plenty of rain, winters that may appear harsh (but in reality are anything but in the global scheme of things) and summers that come close to scorching but never go truly go wildfire. But, as tastes and wants grow ever more demanding UK growers have, over the years, had to pull a few tricks on mother nature to best deliver the goods.
With the right equipment, care, and attention we can start growing seasons early, prolong summers, bolster daylight hours and stave off winter chills that would otherwise stop our more ambitious efforts in their tracks.
Planting indoors in a propagator gives delicate planting all the help it needs to get started, while the grim outdoors would be the kiss of death.
So what are our options?
How to choose a propagator
Heated or non heated
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A propagator can be as simple as a basic clear plastic lid over a basic plastic tray. In a cosy, bright spot in the home the clear cover will let light through and provide a micro-climate that’s sufficiently buffered from the changes in your room temperature (and certainly a lot warmer than outdoors).
A heated propagator goes one further by providing warmth and light as the heat boosts the rate of root growth so your planting will be more able and ready to fend for itself when the right time comes to move outdoors. Heated options do – of course – cost more than the more utilitarian non-heated options and will of course need a source of power, so if your ideal bright spot is miles away from a socket you may have to rethink your options.
Large or small
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Of course, this all depends on what you’re growing and the size of the space you’ve set aside. Ambitious grows such as lettuces or even tomatoes will need a larger, taller unit to house their early growth spurt, while a simple mixed crop of herbs will be an altogether shorter, more lateral affair. Worth saying that small plants benefit from smaller, more confined and consistent spaces, so lots of tiny plants in a one giant propagator will feel less benefit than the same crop spread across lots of cosy smaller ones.
Optional extras
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You get what you pay for and if you’re looking for maximum convenience and performance there’s an option for that. Go for a propagator with flood lighting and you can create a perpetual even glow. Or get a self-watering option so that you can either rest easy knowing your creations are getting the right level of moisture, or you can leave totally unattended and just return when the fun bit is over.
Simple basic necessities include air vents that allow you some degree of control over the internal temperature (allowing condensation to dissipate) and easy hydration options so you can water your new plants without any fiddly lid lifting or dismantling.
Suttons Super 7 Electric Propagator
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If you’re new to the world of propagating plants and perhaps don’t have an outdoor space available then this all-in-one option from Suttons really has all you need to get growing. It’s tailor-made for your windowsill, being just 18.5cm deep and 76cm long, allowing you to turn your sunniest spot into your own indoor grow zone.
There are seven separate compartments, minimising the volume of air circulating and keeping each compartment cosy and warm, and adjustable vents on every section allow you to cut down on condensation and release a little heat should it be required. The base tray holds 3.4 litres of water so keep ich your plants canMeanwhile a simple 13w heating element in the base provides consistent even heat across all the units.
Selections Jumbo Windowsill Heated Plant Propagator
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If you’re planting seedlings en-masse and don’t require separate compartments then this simple all-in-one unit is perfect. It’s large and lengthy at 80cm but at just 20cm deep still thin enough to place on a windowsill.
Either fill the 5cm deep base with pots or fill directly with your chosen compost and sew with impunity! Vents in the lid prevent condensation – head-height is 12cm here – and a thermostatically controlled 12w heating element will maintain a constant 21 degrees centigrade.
Stewart Thermostatic Heat and Grow Electric Propagator
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This premium electric propagator goes the extra mile, giving your growing more room to breathe and comes complete with a set of trays and 10 pots to cater to plants and flowers of any size. Its 22w heater has the capacity to quickly heat up and maintain temperature within the main space and the thermostat control allows you to dial in a heat of between 18 and 23 degrees then let the unit keep that constant without further intervention. Of course, vents on the top allow you to release hot air and moisture should it be required.
28cm height gives headroom for your cuttings while 52cm width and 45cm depth make it perfect for a sunny kitchen worktop, table or bench.
Hydropod Cutting Propagator
- Buy now from Dobbies (£119.99)
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If finding a sunny spot is a problem – or if you simply want to boost your growing speed and chances of success – then a heated propagator with lighting will give your planting the best possible start. As you can imagine these units combine all the cosy, warm climates of a heated propagator but add lighting into the clear lid to either boost what available light there is, or provide a perfect perpetual sunny day.
This hydropod cuttings propagator goes one better, by ‘misting’ your cuttings with water as they grow, which gives perfect moisture levels and minimises the risk of waterlogging, while encouraging root growth as the roots reach out to find more water. Simple place your cuttings on the sponge discs, add some water and switch on.
Riogoo Seedling Heat Mat and Thermostat
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If you’ve got your preferred pots and trays and simply want to inject a bit of heat into your roots then a heat mat is a simple option that won’t require you to repot or reposition your works in progress. Simply slip the mat under your pots and trays, set the thermostat and let it deliver gentle warmth exactly where it’s required.
The 24cm by 52cm mat is 100% IP76 waterproof so you can water your plants exactly as normal, and has a scuff resistant coating so it can take more than a few knocks. The digital thermostat lets you set a precise temperature and a separate wired soil probe measures the temperature in your pots meaning whatever you set will be maintained with 100% accuracy.
Suttons Geopod Large Heated Propagator
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If you’re really serious about growing in bulk then Sutton’s Geopod is the state-of-the-art way to give your planting the maximum boost in early life. Perfect for a large greenhouse its 112cm x 63cm x 29cm high growing zone will accommodate anything you can fling at it while it’s thermostat is digitally controllable to maintain the entire space at anything from 5 degrees to 30 degrees centigrade.
The icing on the cake comes in the form of two lighting systems mounted in grooves in the lid lined with nano reflectors to reflect back 99.9% of previously lost light. This even glow creates healthy growth the legginess you’ll be all too familiar with following a dark and gloomy spring.
Get your greenhouse ready for winter
If you’re thinking of growing through winter on a much larger scale then your trusty outdoor greenhouse needn’t become a barren no go zone. A few simple tweaks and an affordable purchase can make it effective all year round.
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Of course genuinely ‘heating’ a greenhouse through our coldest cold snaps would be a 24/7 job and an uphill battle all the way, but a little insulation and a helping hand from a simple small heater is certainly better than nothing and may make all the difference.
A little greenhouse maintenance is your first step. Ensure that over-lapping glass sufficiently overlaps, clips are tight, windows and doors fit frames snugly and your putty isn’t cracked or absent. The more you can insulate and cut out drafts the less hard your heater will have to work.
Try lining drafty areas with bubble wrap, or create your own smaller internal ‘greenhouse within a greenhouse’ with a garden cane and plant tie frame and a bubble wrap outer skin. The more layers you can put between outdoor and your inner growing zone the warmer it will be.
Finally add a heater of your choice. There are electric options of every size (which will require power, of course) and old-fashioned burners (which could well be off-limits if you’re cutting down on burning fuels).
Lighthouse 2kW Greenhouse Heater
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This simple but powerful industrial-strength option has the power to heat 20 square metres thanks to its fan and two heating elements. Both are completely adjustable allowing you to set a range of temperatures and fan strengths for your needs, from a constant warm glow through to a hot blast to quickly take the chill out of any outdoor space. An adjustable thermostat allows you to set a temperature then leave the unit to achieve this, and then maintain it indefinitely. Or, in summer, if you’re simply looking to keep air circulated it can run in fan-only mode, keeping air moving around your growing space.
Elixir Gardens TH01-D Tube Heater
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This simple electrical option comes in a variety of sizes and power levels and can easily be wall or floor mounted. Its efficient electric heating coil heats a tube to deliver an even flow of heat across a bench or beneath a working area. And to prevent any risk of burns – either to you or to your plants – it comes with optional covers to keep delicate leaves at bay.
Digital controls give you precise adjustment of heating times, allowing you to set it to only heat during cold winter nights, or come on for two hours, then off for two hours, for example, to save energy.