Create and propagate

Want to start your seeds off early but don’t have a budget for a propagator or grow lights? Not to worry. A little bit of creative upcycling and you’ll be up and running in no time. Stephanie Hafferty shows you how

- Stephanie Hafferty

Many seeds, especially during late winter and early spring, when temperatures are cool and light levels still low, need a little extra help to germinate and thrive. Propagation equipment can be expensive. Here are some ways to make your own, using household items and upcycled materials. Start preparing now in readiness for the sowing season ahead!

HOME-MADE HEATED PROPAGATOR

I sow chillies, aubergines and sweet peppers in mid-February, and tomatoes in March. These seeds really benefit from ‘bottom heat’ – growing on gentle warmth, such as a heated propagator. A simple and safe home-made solution is to use a hot water bottle.

Take two similar-sized trays large enough to fit the bottle in and fill the hot water bottle with hot water. Line one of the trays with a few sheets of newspaper (this is for insulation), place the hot water bottle on top, cover with a few more sheets of newspaper and place the other seed tray on top. You can either fill this with compost and sow your seeds, or place smaller containers of compost inside. Make a lid from a couple of suitably sized clear plastic trays, or cover with a layer of clear thickish polythene (such as bags used as packaging) or bubble wrap. The hot water bottle needs refilling every day.

If you don’t have a hot water bottle, thick plastic bottles, such as milk containers, are a good alternative but require a deeper bottom tray (a washing up bowl works well) and more insulation (thin plastic will melt).