For a propagator of this calibre and price, a keen gardener should expect a durable and fault-free product that is going to perform without problem for at least several years. Not only this, but as some seeds take months to germinate and require a constant temperature throughout this period, the propagator needs to be able to work continually under normal atmospheric conditions. In the unlikely event of a fault, all help-lines, including email and telephone, should be operating.

Believing that it would give me several years of trouble-free service, I bought the Stewart 52 cm Variable Control Propagator in June 2011 and brought it back to my home in southern Spain where I set it up carefully indoors, in a semi-shaded location where I could ensure that it would never be exposed to extremes of temperature. Unfortunately, after a little more than five months it ceased to function – and at a time of year that was especially critical for the germination of rare and unusual seeds. Apparently the promblem lay with the heating element which had completely stopped working, as the thermostat light still came on but only registered the ambient temperature of the room (which in the Andalucian mountains in winter means – “chilly”). When I attempted to contact Stewart via the email helpline, my email bounced back to me as Hotmail did not recognise it. At this point I decided to give up and buy a vivarium heat mat to warm my seedlings, at a fraction of the price…

While aware that this fault may not necessarily have been typical of this make of propagator, the fault plus the extreme unlikelihood of Stewart being able to provide an overseas repair or replacement service has made me unwilling to pursue the issue. This propagator is not without other faults, too: the ventilators in the lid are small,flimsy and become detached easily. Again, for the price I am sure that the manufacturer could construct a rather more durable ventilation system.

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