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Grandfield Oklahoma

Today I finished making a germination box for seeds, I call it my germinator.

I made it from scrap parts here at the house that can be gotten very easy.

I don't know if anyone is interested, it didnt cost me anything.

I checked the temperature today and set it at 85 degrees and it held within 1/2 degree, I think that is close enough.

The nice thing about this is I can dial in any temperature above room temperature, up to way more then I would ever want for seeds. I guess I could warm a burrito!

If anyone wants pictures of what I did and used, I will be more then happy to mail them to you.


Send me a e-mail and ask so I can have a return address to send it to.

I don't make money from anything and after I send them I will erase your e-mail so as not to be shared with advertisers.

Send it to [email protected]


Hope this might help someone get a good idea for their use.

12/16/2005 8:12:59 PM

Grandfield Oklahoma

Follow up!

I have now put some seeds in a pot inside the germinator.

I just picked up a pot that was out in the cold and brought it in and put some seeds in it

The seeds are old chillie peppers and some cantaloupe that may not be any good.

I figure if it is going to work well i will use the worst case senario.

The pot was cold from being outside, and it is now warming up already.

I am usin a Omega digital thermomter to check temperature.

That too was free because part of the readout is black

but it reads accurate.

I will keep updates on my post. Even if i have to use a good seed.

12/17/2005 4:57:44 PM

Grandfield Oklahoma

One last addition: I took a small paper cup added dirt from the garden, put in two purple bean seeds which are good, now to wait and watch.

My temperature is coming up in the dirt up to 68.3 degrees. I will keep posting.

12/17/2005 6:11:24 PM

Indiana

What did you use as a thermostat??

12/18/2005 11:51:03 AM

Grandfield Oklahoma

Today's temperature is 79 degrees after the whole night. I am raising it up a small amount.

I am measuring the temperature of the dirt in the pot not inside the container!

It seems to be working just fine now. I am going to raise the temperature slowly untill i hit 85 degrees and then just sit and watch.

I check the temperature about once every hour just to be sure. My theroy seems to be correct so far, a 15 watt light bulb doesn't put out a whole lot of heat, and controling it with the dimmer switch is working just fine.

Due to the fact that we are on a constant grid voltage and a frequencey of 60 cycles per second - the regulation should be more the sufficeint to do the job.

12/18/2005 3:02:04 PM

Grandfield Oklahoma

5:20 P.M. temp is at 82.3 degrees removed lid sprayed pots with water put lid bak, temp dropped to 82 degrees.

12/18/2005 6:26:06 PM

Grandfield Oklahoma

12/19/2005 5:p.m. temperature is settled at 86 degrees, that is the dirt temperature.

Looks like it's working ok!

12/19/2005 6:08:11 PM

Grandfield Oklahoma

lifted the lid tonite, my beans have sprouted, put in a pumpkin seed.

Hope it is a good seed not sure about it but time will tell

Temperature holding at 87 degrees. plus or minus 1/2 degree

That is dirt temperature.

sprayed pots put lid back on.

12/19/2005 10:27:55 PM

Grandfield Oklahoma

My cantaloupes have sprouted. That was 5 days and I didn't even think they were andy good.

Now I will wait and see how my chilie peppers do.

The Box is working as good as I thought it could.

I hope my exeperiment will help somone else come up with a idea improvment.

12/22/2005 11:52:17 AM