Heated seed beds

johngalway

Just wondering does anyone run a set up using rope lights like the link below?

http://jwvanno.xomba.com/how_build_heated_seed_bed

I presume it'd work for warm stratification of seeds?

Cold stratification I can do with a cheapie fridge

johngalway

I'll take it no one does then

Cardinal Richelieu

johngalway wrote: »

I'll take it no one does then

I haven't used that method before but I have used a hot box with artificial lights after sowing seed in peat/vermiculite mix in seed boxes, then tranferring seedlings at a later date to pre-made peat blocks in a bed.

Whats warm stratification? Does it exist? as my understanding is that stratification is

Stratification is the process of subjecting seeds to both cold and moist conditions

so basically winter dormancy conditions.

looksee

Is this a really thick, non-techi question, but why don't they overheat and burn out?

johngalway

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

I haven't used that method before but I have used a hot box with artificial lights after sowing seed in peat/vermiculite mix in seed boxes, then tranferring seedlings at a later date to pre-made peat blocks in a bed.

Whats warm stratification? Does it exist? as my understanding is that stratification is .

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Crataegus

Scroll down to "propagation" I'm sure Google will give more answers (not passing the buck there, I just don't have much info for ya!).

I don't know tbh, I'm only going on what I've read, both cold and warm stratification have been mentioned.

johngalway

looksee wrote: »

Is this a really thick, non-techi question, but why don't they overheat and burn out?

Good question and I don't have the answer for you. The house I'm in is cold, no central heating, but I am wary of burying lights for obvious reasons. Next thing I might do is to look into possible ways of powering those lights off the grid, like with solar and battery maybe, less of a hazard if they're in the shed compared to the house.