Scott's Potting Soil for seed starting and Jiffy Mix

[feldon30]

Once the seedling is strong and has a good root system, the makeup of the potting mix seems to become less important. The "potting up mix" that I am having so many problems with for starting seeds was just fine to produce huge, healthy transplants.

I don't think I will ever start seeds except in pre-packaged starting mix again. I have received recommendations to get a block of Pro-Mix and just shave off and moisten what I need, that it's as good (and cheaper) than a bag of seed starting mix each season.

[Suze]

Originally Posted by feldon27

I don't think I will ever start seeds except in pre-packaged starting mix again. I have received recommendations to get a block of Pro-Mix and just shave off and moisten what I need, that it's as good (and cheaper) than a bag of seed starting mix each season.

Necessity is the mother of invention -- it was difficult to dependably find bagged soilless seed starting mix in NC Texas around Dec or Jan. Product placement/timing does seem to be a bit different further south, though. The compressed bales of ProMix have the proper ingredients in the correct proportions for seed starting, and are a lot less expensive, so I figure why change?

[feldon30]

I wonder who I got that advice from.

[tumbleweed]

[The Jiffy Mix I got repels water]

I have used Jiffy Mix with good results, and am using it again this year. Have used others equally well (Miracle Gro and ProMix). So far I don't have a preference, I just pick up whatever happens to be available at Walmart or HD or Lowe's. I find that I get best results when I use hot water and mix it thoroughly by hand in a small plastic tub. Absolutely necessary to get your hands dirty. I mean get in there with both hands and really mix it up, squeeze it, squish it, pretend you are making bread dough. This make take 10 minutes or so. Add the water a little at a time, don't get it too wet all at once. You can tell when its ready by the texture and how it feels.

[feldon30]

Or add a few drops of Palmolive dishwashing detergent which will act as a wetting agent and then the peat will almost instantly soak up the water.

[LoreD]

I read the thread on making your own soilstarter and was wondering which you would recommend, the Scott's seedstarter or making my own. Is the best germination with the Scott's? I think someone said that 50% peat + 50% perlite, vermiculate mixture only had a 40% germination rate while the Scott's had an 80%.

If this is true then I should pay the extra to get the pro seedstarter?

LoreD

[feldon30]

If you read the seed starter thread, you'll see that I am having major problems with seed starting mix that I made myself. Problems that I did not have last year with purchased soilless seed starting mix.

[LoreD]

Thank you, Feldon. I'll pay the extra and save myself some headaches.

LoreD

[carolyn137]

Jiffy Mix for seed starting comes in two different formulations, one with and one without micronutrients, since someone above asked about that.

I've used Jiffy Mix for so many years I can't remember when and sure it repels weater, most artificial mixes do, but I get right in their with my hands and mix it with added water and darn, if it doesn't feel good to do that.

My commercial friend Charlie uses Fafard and I have liked and used that as well.

I've also used Pro-Mix and am happy with that.

So experiement and see which you like best, but don't judge an artificial mixes in terms of germination, and compare them, unless you're sowing the exact same seeds of specific varieties, b'c that's a variable that can really skew the results.

[LoreD]

I use a lot of seedstarter and I'm in a suburban part of Chicago. There is Farm/Fleet or Fleet/Farm (I can never remember which), that is located about 30 min. from me.

All the garden centers sell those itty bitty bags of seedstarter. Would the farm centers or maybe landscaping centers sell larger bags of seedstarter at a lower price?

LoreD

[Dr_Redwine]

Carolyn said, "Jiffy Mix for seed starting comes in two different formulations, one with and one without micronutrients,..."

THAT explains why my seedlings acted so differently to the two different bags of Jiffy I used last year. I thought I was going to go crazy (short trip :wink: ) trying to figure what I had done differently from one to the other.

Thanks,
DrR

[TomatoDon]

I just got back from a week-end trip and found Fafard in 20 and 40 quart (I think that's how they list it) at a Memphis nursery. I picked up some Scott soilless seed starter at HD tonight for less than $4 for a small bag, not sure the volume or weight, but seemed reasonable enough. And the Jiffy Mix I keep mentioning was just seen at another Wal Mart here at around $6.50 a bag. I've seen it from $3.09 - $9.98, or something close to that, in different stores here.

How do you guys like the Ferry Morse seed starter I'm now seeing at HD? More and more kinds are starting to show up.

Little by little I'm picking up stuff here and there and have quite a few seeds now. I am a little confused, however, as to the differences between some of the brands, and if all varieties are true, regardless of brand (I'm sure they are not). Wal Mart has some brand of its own it looks like (American?) and then there's Burpee and Ferry Morse, and then the organic labeled seeds, and so on. I assume a Big Beef is a Big Beef with any of them. Most of the Brandywine seeds just say Brandywine, so I have no idea what strain or color, etc.

I've collected about all I can from our friends at Wal Mart, HD, and Lowe's. The next batch will be TGS I suppose and that will be about it. I have enough seed now to feed a small third world nation, especially with that new fangled corn I ordered. I'm thinking about putting in a couple of green houses and a refrigerated storage facility, sorta like you see at Kroger to handle it all. In the meantime, according to one estimate here, there are still 12,450 OP tomato varieties I haven't tried. This is getting serious.

Don "Counting Seeds" in Mississippi

[feldon30]

Originally Posted by don06

I picked up some Scott soilless seed starter at HD tonight for less than $4 for a small bag, not sure the volume or weight

10 quarts. Enough, I think, for a 72 cell flat. Wet it first, then drop it into the flats.

As I reported in some other threads, seed starting mix I mixed up myself was a fiasco. Poor germination and seedlings not thriving. I started seeds again in proper seed starting mix and the seeds are practically bursting from the soil. Maybe my peat moss is infected with some kind of fungus.

Originally Posted by don06

How do you guys like the Ferry Morse seed starter I'm now seeing at HD?

for $9, you get three standard 72 cell flats, clear plastic domes, and undertrays. I think it's a pretty good deal considering the alternative -- mail order. I was even happier to see undertrays by themselves for just $1 each. I snatched up 3 as I need something to carry my 4" pots around in.

Originally Posted by don06

Wal Mart has some brand of its own it looks like (American?) and then there's Burpee and Ferry Morse

Wal-Mart does not make their own seeds. They buy from seed distributors. Look at the back of the package for identifying info. I was surprised to see Lowe's have Burpee seeds with generic packaging that only says Burpee in tiny print on the back.

I like Ferry Morse because they offer Jet Star, Rutgers, Marglobe, Brandywine, etc. Burpee has Brandy Boy (you may have to look at several Home Depots to find it), Sweet 100, Big Boy, Big Beef, Little Brandywine/Bucks County/Red Brandywine (they keep renaming the same variety). I didn't see any varieties at Wal-Mart that I would consider growing, but I have picky taste buds.

Originally Posted by don06

and then the organic labeled seeds

I think it's still Ferry-Morse. Check the back. Note that there is argument over whether there is ANY benefit to organically produced seeds since seeds produced "normally" will not carry any residue of pesticide, herbicide, etc. either.

Originally Posted by don06

I assume a Big Beef is a Big Beef with any of them.

I think that is a safe assumption.

Note that some seeds from some vendors is "pelletized" meaning each seed has been dipped in a white or grey substance which will dissolve when exposed to water. I think pelletized seed is designed for those with low dexterity and eyesight or simply those who don't want to mess with tweezers!

Originally Posted by don06

Most of the Brandywine seeds just say Brandywine, so I have no idea what strain or color, etc.

They should all come out pink. But who knows what the flavor will be. There has been a lot of confusion (and apathy) involved in Brandywine seed distribution by major seed labels.

I would not leave Brandywine to chance. If you don't like the taste of it and report such, people will ask "Well, what seed source did you use?" I would order seeds from TomatoGrowers.com or another source of the Sudduth's strain of Brandywine (pink).