Best choice of pot to plant my seedling

Just about ready to start the seeds indoor, probably tomorrow.

I have been reading and rereading post on the best pot to plant my seedling once it germinates.

I can see that it is really a personal choice, so lots of options.

Here is what I am hoping for and maybe someone can guide me to what I want.

1.  I want something that I can move directly from the house and plant into my new SFG(after cold hardening)

2.  I have bought 3" peat pots because I like the size and will give the roots some room to grow.   But some of what I have read tells me that the peat does not always easily decompose.   I was think of placing them in a large flat tray, similar to a under the bed plastic storage.  That way I could always keep the bottom moist.  Is that a good idea?

3.  Cow pots cost too much, especially since this is my first garden and start up was costly

4.  I don't think the Jiffy trays that are black plastic and have a bunch of holes for dirt have much room for roots, am I wrong?

5. Lights - I will have 2" above the plants.  Will I move the light up as the plant grows?  How will my plant get a little "bushy".   Prior to SFG, I would always plant in the Jiffy 36 count black plastic tray.  I did not know it light had to be so close.  It was a disaster, always.  Long, tall, skinny plants

6.  Lastly one more Mel's Mix question please if you don't mind.  Peat.  I plan to fluff or sift through the hardware cloth I used for the compost.  When I measure my 5-gallon bucket of peat,  do I measure "fluffy" or do I "compress" a bit?  I plan to mix equal numbers of the three components in a very large container that I have, mix thoroughly, and place in the garden box.  about four buckets of each compost, peat and vermiculite at a time.   When do I add water?

I am sure that all of this info is somewhere on the SFG forum but I cannot find specific answers to my questions.  Plus, I keep getting sidetracked when I look, since I will see a topic that interests me, click on it, and loose my original search.  The joys of a ADHD gardener, but I do have a lot of energy at 70+

Dani from Burr Ridge

You're the best

Dani, I start seedlings in individual plastic cups (2 1/4" xx 2 1/4" x 3 1/4") so I don't have to up pot.  They go directly into the beds as soon as the weather cooperates.  I've been using the same cups since March 2013, just washing and drying for storage, so the investment was worth it.  I also use a few repurposed 6-packs for identical seedlings like 6 cucumbers.  The whole 6-pack is gently emptied for planting in a bed.

As far as leggedness, I find having the light 2" above the new sprout is the best way to prevent it.  I've never used a fan, but on normal years, I carry the trays outside every day the weather is 60*F or more.  This year, my arm is interfering with everything and my husband has to do anything heavy or complicated.

Photo from Saturday - their first and only day outside due to cold/rain this March.  Not that I'm complaining because California needs the water.  Some plants are nice and compact and a few later ones are leggy.  It is what it is this year.



Older photo showing staging for major seedling.  The cups are in seed trays for watering and carrying outdoors and indoors weather allowing.  I use MM as seed mix.  I steam bake pans of MM. Every single cup is labeled and 6 packs are identical plants so only 1 plastic label is needed. I wash and dry for storage and put them into the seed packs for the next year. I use a #2 pencil and mechanical eraser so I can change labels when I change varieties.

markqz wrote:. . . I'm still using yogurt cups with slits cut in the bottom but might eventually have to trade-up to something else since yogurt cups have been harder to come by. Once you've used a cup 6 or more times they start cracking.

6 times! We must be related.