When to leave the propagator

Swedboy

I've sown various seeds in a propagator indoors and they are growing fast. One plant is already to big for the propagator. So I wonder, when and how to move them out of the propagator. Can I just take them out and put on a windowsill or should I take off the lid and let them be? It's mainly the squash and fat babies who are outgrowing their space.

BobTheGardener

I only leave plants in a propagator until they have germinated, then they come out and go on windowsills or in the conservatory.  Things tend to grow too fast and become 'leggy' if left in too long.

Swedboy

Thanks. I think I have to do that. 

GemmaJF

If you have movable vents, you can open them progressively over a few days, to help the plants get use to life outside the propagator. It's a real 'depends' situation. I have stuff in there for months over the winter, but with veg seeds it's much more a case of the artificial heat aids germination, I then want them out and the next ones in as soon as possible.

Dovefromabove

When mine have germinated in our little windowsill propagator I take the lids off in the daytime and put them back at night, just for a couple of days, before they are moved out of the propagator full time.  Otherwise as has been said, they get too leggy and soft. 

Swedboy

Thanks. Main problem is that some of them are too big to stay in there. I think the squashes and fat baby will have to move out. The vents are open or else everything gets mouldy 

GemmaJF

Lid off for a couple of days then, then out they go.