Search
Latest topics
» Need Garden Layout Feedbackby markqz Today at 10:33 am
» How best to keep a fallow SFG bed
by KiwiSFGnewbie Yesterday at 5:00 pm
» N & C Midwest: Nov. Dec. 2024
by Scorpio Rising 11/3/2024, 3:51 pm
» Spinning Compost Bin-need some ideas
by rtfm 11/2/2024, 7:49 pm
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by KiwiSFGnewbie 10/31/2024, 9:55 pm
» Growing fruit trees in Auckland
by OhioGardener 10/31/2024, 4:23 pm
» New SFG gardener in Auckland
by rtfm 10/31/2024, 4:03 pm
» Vermiculite -- shipping sale through 10/31/2024
by markqz 10/30/2024, 2:27 pm
» N & C Midwest: October 2024
by Scorpio Rising 10/30/2024, 10:38 am
» Mark's first SFG
by markqz 10/29/2024, 11:11 pm
» What are you eating from your garden today?
by Scorpio Rising 10/27/2024, 10:27 pm
» Old Mulch and Closing Beds for Winter
by sanderson 10/26/2024, 11:00 pm
» Ohio Gardener's Greenhouse
by OhioGardener 10/25/2024, 7:17 pm
» Hello from Land of Umpqua, Oregon Zone 8b
by sanderson 10/25/2024, 3:14 pm
» Hello everyone!
by SFGHQSTAFF 10/24/2024, 3:22 pm
» Senior Gardeners
by sanderson 10/23/2024, 6:09 pm
» Hello from South Florida
by markqz 10/23/2024, 10:30 am
» Happy Birthday!!
by sanderson 10/18/2024, 3:09 am
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 10/11/2024, 5:31 pm
» Confirm what this is
by sanderson 10/11/2024, 2:51 pm
» Harlequin Beetles?
by sanderson 10/7/2024, 3:08 pm
» Preserving A Bumper Tomato Harvest with Freezing vs Canning
by sanderson 10/7/2024, 3:05 pm
» Greetings from Southeastern Wisconsin
by OhioGardener 10/6/2024, 12:05 pm
» N & C Midwest: September 2024
by OhioGardener 9/30/2024, 4:13 pm
» The SFG Journey-Biowash
by OhioGardener 9/29/2024, 8:33 am
» Fall is For Garlic Planting
by Scorpio Rising 9/28/2024, 12:19 am
» source for chemical-free lanscape fabric
by Woodsong 9/19/2024, 10:51 am
» Hurricane
by sanderson 9/14/2024, 5:42 pm
» Pest Damage
by WBIowa 9/8/2024, 2:48 pm
» cabbage moth?
by jemm 9/8/2024, 9:15 am
Google
What to use: Seed Starting
5 posters
Page 1 of 1
What to use: Seed Starting
I know there are probably as many different answers as there are gardeners but what is best to start seeds in? I've been looking around here and can't find a "seed starting mix" and almost got an organic miracle grow potting soil but when looking at the content list it pretty much seemed like mels mix and fertilizer. Can you use straight vermiculite? straight peat? I thought about using dirt straight from one of my beds but realized weeds would be an issue (would baking or microwaving kill weed seed?). I'd like to stay with organic options but they are especially limited in my area. I plan to use egg shells, cardboard egg cartons, and newspaper pots as my containers.
bonnie0128- Posts : 109
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 48
Location : Lake Milton, OH (zone 6A)
Re: What to use: Seed Starting
Just to keep life simple, I use MM. I figure that since I direct seed in it outside, I can start seeds in it inside. I use 3 inch square pots to start seeds in, and I've had no problems using MM.
For starting seeds in smaller containers as you are planning, starting them in vermiculite might be the easiest way to go.
For starting seeds in smaller containers as you are planning, starting them in vermiculite might be the easiest way to go.
Re: What to use: Seed Starting
One uses a commercial seed starting mix so they don't bring any diseases into their plants nor use soil too heavy that might slow down the germination process.
I've tried the dollar bags from places like Family Dollar and such and they have large chunks of wood in them and don't look too appetizing.
This year I found Ferry Morse organic starting mix at Walmart. Terrific. Nice soil, light and fluffy and no big chunks anywhere. Four qts for two dollars in my neck of the woods. I tried to remember how much it took to fill 72 cellpacks but I've forgotten. I think it was about 6 qts (a bag and a half).
I went out yesterday to buy 4 more bags of it and their last 72-cellpack that I prefer. I don't like the Jiffy pots nor the peat pots. The 72 cellpack that can be separated easily into 6-packs is my preference. With a small garden, I don't sow 72 cells of any one thing.
There's all kinds of mixes out there and many aren't worth half their cost so shop wisely.
I've tried the dollar bags from places like Family Dollar and such and they have large chunks of wood in them and don't look too appetizing.
This year I found Ferry Morse organic starting mix at Walmart. Terrific. Nice soil, light and fluffy and no big chunks anywhere. Four qts for two dollars in my neck of the woods. I tried to remember how much it took to fill 72 cellpacks but I've forgotten. I think it was about 6 qts (a bag and a half).
I went out yesterday to buy 4 more bags of it and their last 72-cellpack that I prefer. I don't like the Jiffy pots nor the peat pots. The 72 cellpack that can be separated easily into 6-packs is my preference. With a small garden, I don't sow 72 cells of any one thing.
There's all kinds of mixes out there and many aren't worth half their cost so shop wisely.
quiltbea- Posts : 4707
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 82
Location : Southwestern Maine Zone 5A
Re: What to use: Seed Starting
I use used MM right out of the SFG. I figure that seeds supply their own nourishment for the first few weeks so if the MM is depleted, that's OK. Once they need a bit of food I add some to the water that I bottom water with. What I add depends on the crop.
I usually start seeds in 6-cell packs but this year I'm trying this 200 cell pack thing:
The used MM worked fine. Not crazy about the 'new' cell pack though...everything is getting tangled but I probably should have up potted ages ago.
CC
I usually start seeds in 6-cell packs but this year I'm trying this 200 cell pack thing:
The used MM worked fine. Not crazy about the 'new' cell pack though...everything is getting tangled but I probably should have up potted ages ago.
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6811
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: What to use: Seed Starting
I got the small Jiffy peat pots. But I'm finding they're a bit of a hassle - things pop up and root very quickly and you have to take the netting off before planting, which means you could break some of the roots.... Sigh....
I'll probably just go forward w/ MM.
I'll probably just go forward w/ MM.
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum