From

Location

Message

Date Posted

has anyone tested heating pads to see if germination is actually that much quicker? i did a little test, with and without the heat pad, using 3" peat pots, and the seeds with heat came up maybe half a day sooner, not much. How many inches of soil can the heat pad actually heat up? I'm thinking about folding the edges of the heat pad up around the peat pots to warm from all sides.

4/28/2003 1:54:16 AM

Lake Elmo, Minnesota

You'll need some kind of cover over the pot and heating pad. Otherwise, most of the heat just goes into the air. I use one of those cheap plastic rectangle cake covers. The are on all sheet cakes anywhere you buy them. Makes for a mini-greenhouse. Cut a hole somewhere in the top and do some soil temperature testing. without a hole in the top of plastic, temp will get close to 100 degrees inside.

4/28/2003 9:49:04 AM

Montoursville, PA

One good answer is in my diary. It works and costs most of us nothing.

4/28/2003 10:00:25 AM

Billerica,Massachusetts

i used a square plastic cake container over my heating pad worked great! after my sons b-day party i justed washed out all the frosting, makes a great germinator!

4/28/2003 11:06:49 AM

I folded up the sides, and now the sides of the peat pots feel a little warm. I'll search around the house to find something to cover it. I don't think the Jiffy plastic covers will be tall enough.

4/28/2003 10:42:19 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

My heating pad is currently inside one of those cheesy styrofoam coolers. (set on low)

It is a perfect 85 degrees inside.

4/28/2003 11:46:59 PM

I got it all set up last night; they fit perfect in a jiffy seed starting tray with the plastic cover over it. There was condensation this morning, so I tilted the cover a little, I'll put a thermometer in it tonight to see what temp it is in there. Styrofoam coolers must work for keeping seeds warm; we use one as in incubator every year for hatching eggs.

4/29/2003 9:18:35 AM

New Brunswick

When all else fails...read the instructions. That seems to be true for me unfortunately. I started my seeds in their paper towel May 1st. Two sprouted and I put them in ice cream containers today. (Doqpipes idea to use the containers...and a great idea it is too) THEN I read in my pumpkin growing book that seeds should not be started more than one month before the last frost date...in my case June 10th. Uhoh...I am 10 days early. Now I just read here about using strofoam coolers. What would happen if the soil was nice and warm on June 1st and the only danger would be cold nights with possible chance of frost...And I had a mini greenhouse built...would a styrofoam cooler turned upside down over the seedling at night be enough protection? I would also cover the greenhouse with blankets.

5/3/2003 11:11:08 PM

Covington, WA

I've been using a germination mat the past couple years, basically a waterproof heating pad, and it has made a big difference. I have much better control of the temperature with fewer fluctuations and no chance of my wife cooking the seeds if she preheats the oven for a pizza.
Desert, you only need to set up the cloches and make sure they are buttoned up well at night. A black weedblock fabric inside the cloche will help warm the soil during the day and hold the heat in at night. If power is available nearby, soil heating cables would be helpful as well. My pepper plants lasted through several frosts last fall inside a cloche until we had a hard frost with temps below 25. If you are able to add the heating cables you will extend your season and get off to a good start. Don't worry about that last frost date. That is what early season protection is all about. Go ahead and plant them when you have the first leaf, no need to wait until June.

5/4/2003 3:34:04 AM

Montoursville, PA

Cables and other resistance heaters need to be checked for watts and or amps needed. All home circuits have limits. The older homes may not be able to handle the resistance heating tools.

5/4/2003 7:32:29 AM

New Brunswick

Cloches? Do you mean greenhouse? Would black plastic around the plant with straw on top be a substitute for weed lock fabric? I bought the black stuff from veseys last year, didn't have quite enough and used plastic garbage bags around some of the plants. I did not see a difference. As for heating cable....my hubby rolled his eyes and said "no". I have spent enough he said on green house material and a portable greenhouse that I just ordered. I am gonna sneak in some soaker hose though....even though I have no idea how to lay it out or how it works (:....any suggestions?

5/4/2003 11:18:17 AM