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Latest Update 18 July 2020.

The new propagator is still evolving, and the latest incarnation contains the following features:-

• Greater stability for the potting table and more space for a storage shelf under (still to come).
• The cover is angled so that it improves solar capture during winter.  Melbourne's latitude is about 38 deg. south which means that in mid spring and autumn the optimal angle to set the cover is 38 deg, but in winter when we need sunlight most, the sun is lower in the sky, so the design angle has been set at 45 deg.  This angle is also easier to deal with during construction.
• The steeper angle of the cover provides more height for growing-on taller plants like tomatoes in larger pots.
• The design of the cover and lowering the front wall of the unit improves the amount of light coming into the unit considerably.
• A new external frame on the cover holds the polycarbonate sheet flatter than before making it more secure against flying insects and heat loss.
• In summer the new cover holds 21% or 75% shadecloth instead of the polycarbonate sheet to cope with extremes of wind and temperature and excludes pests.
• The floor space inside the propagator is the same size and shape as previous models and comfortably holds either three 30 (small) cell or three 12 (large) cell seedling trays.

• Two new 2 stage air vents are set high in the side walls to help regulate daytime propagating temperatures in spring and autumn.  They are usually kept closed in winter.

June Blog 2020

Latest Update 7th June 2020.

This is my latest propagator design.  Its based on my EcoPropagators, but has no self watering capacity.  After 3 years of excellent results with the old model, its proved to be more expensive and time consuming to maintain than expected.  This is mainly because the wicking medium needed to be replaced regularly to avoid pest build up, and the constantly wet environment makes frequent repainting necessary.

The new units (I have built 2) are smaller and considerably lighter than the old ones because they no longer have a built in water tank and the associated wicking apparatus.

Because of this I have been able to raise the unit to a more sensible working height (for an old codger like me), and still retain some of the old unit's best features.

The new design has a slatted platform built into the unit to support three 30 cell seedling trays.  The bottom of the unit is sealed off from pests by a layer of heavy duty shadecloth.   The unit retains the multipurpose cover which helps moderate extremes of temperature in the hottest and coldest of our weather.  Its also very effective at protecting the seedlings in heavy rain and high winds.

Currently I do my sowing and initial transplants on a bench in my shed, but I may build a pull out bench to fit under the body of the unit to make transplanting from tray to tray easier.  It's all a bit of work in progress at the moment, but so far so good.