Re: Seed starting and spacing indoors?

Blackrose 1/12/2011, 5:27 pm

Odd Duck wrote:
Another quick note - there are very, very few organic fertilizers that total more than "10" if you add up all 3 of the NPK numbers. There are a few that have added urea (still considered organic by most), but even then, they will be like "12" or less added together - ie worm castings (considered the best organic supplement ever) is 0.5, 0.5, 0.5 - adds up to only 1.5 all together. You can actually mix in as much as 80% worm castings into a planting mix, but most recommend 20%. Most fertilizers are more than that, but if they add up to more than "10" all together, you're probably looking at a chemical fertilizer.

I am actually looking into either buying some worm castings and/or getting a worm chalet of my very own. Could I just add some worm castings to my existing starter mix in place of the greensand, phosphate rock and blood meal?

Odd Duck 1/12/2011, 6:43 pm

Yes, you can. The going recommend is that 20% is safe even for seedlings and the tiniest of transplants. I read somewhere on a "gourmet" strawberry website that's what he does and he reduced his damping off by about 15% if I remember right. Oh, wait, I think he also used aerated vermicompost tea, too.

They talk about it alot at "The Helpful Gardener" website and a little (I expected more) at vermicomposters.com. Let me go find those links, BRB.

Here's one:
http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/
and the other:
http://vermicomposters.ning.com/

Blackrose 1/12/2011, 7:31 pm

Thank you Odd Duck! Those are great links. I have a lot of reading to do. Wink

I think I will go this route. I was planning on adding Worm Castings to my Mel's Mix anyway. cheers

**camprn** 1/15/2011, 6:11 pm

From High Mowing Seeds blog seed starting work station.<~~~click What a Face

Blackrose 1/15/2011, 10:33 pm

camprn wrote:From High Mowing Seeds blog seed starting work station.<~~~click

That is an excellent tutorial. Looks simple. I may not have to wait for hubby to build it for me after all! Very Happy

**camprn** 2/4/2011, 10:20 pm

I'm being lazy and did not look through the whole thread to see if this link has been previously posted.Organic Gardening Seed Starting Chart

Blackrose 2/4/2011, 10:50 pm

camprn wrote:I'm being lazy and did not look through the whole thread to see if this link has been previously posted.Organic Gardening Seed Starting Chart

First I've seen it! Amazing! I have copied it into a spreadsheet to modify for my personal use.

thanks

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