DIY cheap hot bed for propagation

Hi.. I live in Zone 9 Tasmania, Australia with a very short growing season. Seedlings do well in my garden but seeds just rot.. too wet. So after months of looking at expensive propagation systems.. I went cheap cheap cheap.. and it works!

I used a 6ft VEGEPOD (a raised bed) with a hoop cover. But any flat bed with a sides of 6to 8inches will do.

I filled the bed with builders sand (any sand will do) leaving two inches from the top.

I placed a old Christmas rope light (sealed) as a heat source.. and wiggled all 15meters into my 6 ft bed .. then connected it to my only expense of $50 of a hydroponic thermostat plugged into the electric. (i keep it at 23 deg C) Then covered all the rope light with two more inches of sand.

Then I double bagged the whole bed in thick plastic and duct taped it down.. I didn’t want water getting into the bed.

Then I placed my trays of damp seeds on the top (i double tray mine so no water leaks) and shut the lid.. (watered as necessary)  TEN days later I have seeds I can transplant!  It has saved me a fortune!!

When the plants get to two leaves -  I move them to a diy cold frame so the plants can toughen up.. then when I have  a plant about 3 to 4 inch high.. i plant them out.

With a 100% survival rate.

What a great method, well done.