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I use heat mats every year starting my seeds. Lots of seeds require different temperature to germinate at. That is where the temperature control comes in handy. You can get away with some seeds without the temperature control, but seeds like dahlias and geraniums and many more require a certain temperature to germinate at.
The big box stores (like Home Depot and Lowes) often carry a few this time of year, close to their seeds. But they do go quickly! They usually run around $25 or so.
I've got a little 'jiffy7 heated greenhouse' the size of a flat. Little heat mat in a plastic tray with a plastic tray and clear dome cover. Keeps nicely on the counter in the main floor bathroom. lol
So far this year, I'm on the third 'round' of seed starting, starting with a full flat (about 72) strawberry seeds, then half a flat of asparagus, the other half of red romaine lettuce. These have now been potted up and take up 3 flats in my light garden. the little strawberries popped up within a week (according to the pkg, germination time was 20-30 days...) delightful surprize!
The heated greenhouse is now poppin' up the 24 peppers, and the rest of the 48 tomatoes I put in on Sunday...
OH, the joy of little green sprouts...
Another couple of weeks and the outside greenhouse should be up and running...
If you need to get varying temps on a heat mat, you might need more than one mat, I lay a larger seed tray on top of my mat, fill it with horticulture sand, and then lay my smaller trays, pots etc onto the sand inside the larger try, the cooler germination seeds get placed away from the hotter part and the hotter seeds go directly over the heated mid part of the sand tray, it works well and it is easier to water the seeds from below rather than onto the seeds/foliage which can cause damping off trouble. you need a large tray that has no holes in it or you will loose the sand and water. you can also lay newspaper or glass over the tray if it is required for shade or extra heat as the sand holds the heat and spreads it as well. good luck. WeeNel.
