You just reminded me - someone posted on the site last year that they use their incubator to start seed and said it only took a few days to see them sprouting. My hatcher isn't in use so, I think I will get some seeds this weekend and give it ago.
The incubator will speed up the process all right but make sure you check thier moisture EVERY day as that will also dry them out quicker. I'm not a big fan of peat pots either. They also tend to dry out quicker and form a nice layer of mold on the exterior of the pot.
It is definately not too late. I'd go ahead and start the eggplant and peppers now and wait until the first week of April to start the tomatoes. Also cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower can be started now as they like the cooler temps. I don't have a grow light but they do make for stronger, less "leggy" plants. I have a big south facing window and set up a table between my table and the window and turn them everyday. As stated before, I'd advise against peat pots. The egg cartons will work at first, but I'd think they aren't deep enough for the entire life of the plant before transplant. If you have a really, really dry seed starting medium and plant the seeds before you water, they will float to the top so use a spray bottle until all the dirt is moist and has a grip on those seeds, especially tomato seeds. It's lots of work but lots of fun and very rewarding when you are harvesting crops that you started yourself.
I don't think I have to worry about them drying out any time soon. There is so much condensation in the incubator right now that there are big water drops all over the windows. I had the humidity up to 75% before I put the seed tray in. I made sure all the peat disk were fully drenched before I planted the seeds. I have not used the peat pots before so, I thought I would give them a try. I have topsoil and my mom has old 4 plant tray to transplant the egg carton little plants to - when they come out of the incubator. My husband ask me what I am going to do with almost 100 plants when I take them out of the incubator. It will be awhile before they can go outside. I have two garage brooders and I may see if I can get a grow light to put in one of them? Maybe I could mount a grow light to the inside top so, I can make the brooder dual purpose? I don't have any big south window in my house that I can put the plants in front of until they can go outside. Who knows when warm enough weather will get here this Spring?The incubator will speed up the process all right but make sure you check their moisture EVERY day as that will also dry them out quicker. I'm not a big fan of peat pots either. They also tend to dry out quicker and form a nice layer of mold on the exterior of the pot.I have about 80 tomato plants in my dining room right now. Our last anticipated frost date is April 10th but we are under a winter storm advisory right now so who knows when I will get to put them out. I started these seeds on March 8th. I have a 288 cell starting tray I use and then transplant when they are getting their first set of real leaves. That tray is the size of a regular flat so I can plant alot of stuff and see what takes of as I harvest quite a few of my own seeds.
