Seed starting experiment...

Here is a little update on the experiment...

I have now put broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and carrots into the garden from the vermiculite cups. Everything was easy to transplant. And, so far, everything is doing fine after several days. No hardening off....just right into the MM.

I have a tray of lettuce started now, too. Very simple. Instead of cups, though, I am now using small baking pans. I punch holes in the bottom, lay a paper towel in the bottom (because the holes were a little larger than I wanted), and spread about an inch of vermiculite in the pan. Water thoroughly and sprinkle in the seeds. Cover with a thin layer of dry vermiculite. Wait. Once the seed ears are showing, give another day or so. Then, pull gently on the ears and possibly use a pencil to loosen the vermiculite, and plant directly in the garden. Done.



I can't wait to get tomatoes and peppers started this way. I will put them directly into 4 inch pots of potting soil, and when ready, they will go into the garden from there. Only one uppot move. Couldn't be simpler so far.

PS....I am also reusing the vermiculite. With no nutritional value to deplete, there is no reason to refresh my tray. A bag of this stuff will likely last forever.

BYBG, love the baking pan with popcicle stick dividers/tags

For your tomatoes, you might want to use a deeper container with a deeper layer of vermiculite. My tomato seedlings in vermiculite had 2 1/2 in roots by the time the seeds leaves opened to make ears.

Thanks for the tip. I noticed that with spinach, but didn't think anything of it.

Last year I used the Popsicle sticks, but they just did not work, the writing faded, and the stick got nasty and disintegrated. This year I am using old vinyl mini blinds for markers and grids-LOVE IT. I cut the grids 2" longer than the box, and stick the excess into the ground so I don't have to get u-steaks right away to hold them in place on windy days. I think I got the idea from Middlemamma. I'm also happy with the way the cut blinds for steaks are working out!

I tried the blinds last year and by the end of summer, I couldn't read them at all - the ink had faded. So this year I will try again, but will cover with clear nail polish, or perhaps will paint the names on them. What did you use to write the names of plants?

For now I am using regular sharpies. I was at the Dollar Store, and the keeper of the checkbook was with me, so regular sharpies was better than nothing. Model-A-Man (here on the forum) said he found some Industrial Sharpies and has had great success with them.