Scott's Potting Soil for seed starting and Jiffy Mix

Tomatovator · January 12, 2007

You experienced growers out there probably know this already but I'm just finding it out for myself. HD in my area carries each of these products and they are like night and day. The Scott's product is much easier to get wet and has some nutrients in it for root development. The Jiffy Mix I got repels water and must not have many (if any) nutrients in it as everything I've tried so far takes 2 or 3 times longer in the Jiffy Mix compaired to the Scott's. I've been trying everything I can with seeds for the last few months. I want to have the routine down by March/April when I have to grow seeds "for real". From what I've tried so far the Scott's has been easier to work with and takes a lot less time than the Jiffy Mix. I've gotten faster germination (3 to5 days instead of 7 to 9), faster leaf development and faster growth after the first potting up. The time difference is significant enough that it would change when I plant seeds by 2 or 3 weeks depending on what product I used.

feldon30 · January 12, 2007

Last year I used Scott's and things germinated VERY well (maybe 80%), it wetted very well, and everything just took off.

I made my own potting up mix which I had major wetting problems with.

This year, I started seeds with my own potting mix and germination is slower, a much lower percentage (maybe 40%), and plants are growing much slower despite frequent spritzing with fish emulsion. I did solve the wetting problem with Mischka's advice of adding few drops of Palmolive dishwashing soap to the warm water you add to the soil. Then it behaves exactly like the premium potting mixes in a bag.

In June when I do seedlings for the fall, I will definitely buy a bag of Scott's for the initial starting.

TomatoDon · January 17, 2007

I have seen Scott's a few times and probably need to get some. No luck with Craig's Metro-Mix or Fafard (sp?) yet. Another trusted source recommended ProMix, and I've found plenty of it. Tonight I saw Miracle Grow Organic potting soil. I assume it's ok.

Interestingly, I've picked up a couple of bags of Jiffy Mix. I saw it at Wal-Mart in another town for nearly $10. Then I saw it at a farm supply, same size (Ten Dry Quarts), for less than $5. Today I saw it at a different Wal-Mart for a little over $3.

Being a first-timer to starting seeds like you're supposed to, and having the stuff to do it with, I don't expect a high germination while I'm learning. I'm planning to plant some of my favorites in about a month, which is a little early. But, I will have a ready supply of seedlings to get started with, and will have started early enough to re-plant what I need to. I'll probably do no more than 250 seedlings, plant around 60-75 (latest guess), and have plenty to give away. I want to be the Johnny Appleseed of the tomato world.

More later!

Don

TomatoDon · January 17, 2007

I think of my most favorite seedling story every time I think of all this scientific care I'm planning to indulge my seeds/seedlings in this year.

A few years ago a friend gave me a watermelon. After eating, I threw the rinds out toward the lake for the Asian carp to nibble on. Some of the rinds splattered on the concrete boat ramp and rolled on into the water.

That same year I had planted a few hills of watermelons and none of them produced a thing, and half didn't come up to start with. The next season, after tossing the rinds where I did, I noticed a vine growing. Lo and behold one of the watermelon seeds had stuck in a 1/4" crack in the concrete off to the side, stayed all winter, sprouted the next year, survived the ramp traffic, had no room to grow, no fertilizer, survived blazing hot temps from the concrete, and produced a watermelon. Seeds and nature are gonna do what they wanna do.

Don
Edited Version!

Tomatovator · January 17, 2007

Don
Both of these mixes are working fine for me. The Scott's just seems to make things happen faster. I still don't know which one I like better.

feldon30 · January 17, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by don06

Lo and behold one of the tomato seeds had stuck in a 1/4" crack in the concrete off to the side, stayed all winter, sprouted the next year, survived the ramp traffic, had no room to grow, no fertilizer, survived blazing hot temps from the concrete, and produced a watermelon.

A tomato seed produced a watermelon?

Wow, that IS amazing!

TomatoDon · January 17, 2007

I told you it was my favorite story!

Dagnabbit, I mis-typed it. And now it's too late to edit.

For the record, the Watermelon seed stuck in the crack and produced a Watermelon. Although I do admit the way I originally typo'd it is a much better story.

Thanks!

Don

Did I tell you about the tomato seeds that volunteered up in the gravel? Or the time the Purple Martins came up from south America a few years ago and "dropped" Brazilian (sp) heirmloom tomato seeds all over town? The bi-colors that got to four pounds? We thought Grit magazine was going to do a story on it.
KIDDING!

hunter · January 18, 2007

Just for the record, this is Scott's Potting Soil and not a soil-less seed starting mix? I just want to make sure since I have seen this product all-over town and it is at a better price-point than MetroMix.

Suze · January 18, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunter

Just for the record, this is Scott's Potting Soil and not a soil-less seed starting mix? I just want to make sure since I have seen this product all-over town and it is at a better price-point than MetroMix.

Scotts® Potting Soil For Seed Starting is a soilless mix (mainly peat moss and perlite), but the name is a bit confusing.

http://www.scotts.com/index.cfm/even...5eac395d73e225

dcarch · January 18, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by feldon27

Quote:

Originally Posted by don06

Lo and behold one of the tomato seeds had stuck in a 1/4" crack in the concrete off to the side, stayed all winter, sprouted the next year, survived the ramp traffic, had no room to grow, no fertilizer, survived blazing hot temps from the concrete, and produced a watermelon.

A tomato seed produced a watermelon?

Wow, that IS amazing!

Now wait a minute, I did grow Watermelon Beefsteak tomato, Pink, nice taste, few seeds.

dcarch

:wink:

shelleybean · January 18, 2007

I have not tried the Scott's but my experience with the Jiffy Mix was the same. It's like it actually repels water. People have told me that you MUST mix it with your hands but I haven't done that for years. I love the Fafard Seed Starter formula. I fill the pots with the dry mix, place them in a tray with a dome, pour water into the bottom of the tray and let the mix wick the water up for about 24 hours. The next day, I plant my seeds, cover with a bit more of the Farfard stuff and mist with a spray bottle to get good contact. Place the dome back on top and no problems. I've done it this way for years. I used to use Hoffman's but I like this much better. I still used the same process with the Hoffman's. It just took about a day longer. But you'll find people here who swear by the Jiffy Mix. To each his own, yes?

hunter · January 19, 2007

Suze- Thanks for the link!

feldon30 · January 19, 2007

The pitiful results of my make-your-own mix forced me to do a second planting with MG soilless seed starting mix (couldn't find Scotts when I needed it).

I did pot up a dozen pitifully small seedlings into 4" pots full of the store-bought seed starting mix and they seem to have taken to it like a duck to water.

TomatoDon · January 19, 2007

Ah, a true man speaks up. The truth I learned long ago. There ARE some store bought things that are better than what even I can make.

I've wasted a lot of time and money trying to home-make stuff to save time and money. If it's close at all in quality, I've learned to leave the fancy crafting alone. You should have seen the plan for the seedling contraption I was devising a few weeks ago. Then, I saw all the better ways it could be put together from items from our loyal trio here -- Wal Mart, Home Depot, and Lowe's. Thank goodness for them.

I've located all my soil sources for Scott's, Fafard (finally), and ProMix. When I saw y'all mixing this stuff up, I knew I'd do better with the ready made. I'm going to chart how each does. But if a watermelon seed can grow in concrete, surely some of my tomato seeds can grow in whatever I use to pot with.

Don

Rena · January 19, 2007

Fafard. Call your high end nurseries. YOU CAN"T beat it. I have tried others. -Rena

January 12, 2007	#1
Tomatovator Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Zone 6 Posts: 461	Scott's Potting Soil for seed starting and Jiffy Mix You experienced growers out there probably know this already but I'm just finding it out for myself. HD in my area carries each of these products and they are like night and day. The Scott's product is much easier to get wet and has some nutrients in it for root development. The Jiffy Mix I got repels water and must not have many (if any) nutrients in it as everything I've tried so far takes 2 or 3 times longer in the Jiffy Mix compaired to the Scott's. I've been trying everything I can with seeds for the last few months. I want to have the routine down by March/April when I have to grow seeds "for real". From what I've tried so far the Scott's has been easier to work with and takes a lot less time than the Jiffy Mix. I've gotten faster germination (3 to5 days instead of 7 to 9), faster leaf development and faster growth after the first potting up. The time difference is significant enough that it would change when I plant seeds by 2 or 3 weeks depending on what product I used.

January 12, 2007	#2
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Last year I used Scott's and things germinated VERY well (maybe 80%), it wetted very well, and everything just took off. I made my own potting up mix which I had major wetting problems with. This year, I started seeds with my own potting mix and germination is slower, a much lower percentage (maybe 40%), and plants are growing much slower despite frequent spritzing with fish emulsion. I did solve the wetting problem with Mischka's advice of adding few drops of Palmolive dishwashing soap to the warm water you add to the soil. Then it behaves exactly like the premium potting mixes in a bag. In June when I do seedlings for the fall, I will definitely buy a bag of Scott's for the initial starting. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

January 17, 2007	#3
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	I have seen Scott's a few times and probably need to get some. No luck with Craig's Metro-Mix or Fafard (sp?) yet. Another trusted source recommended ProMix, and I've found plenty of it. Tonight I saw Miracle Grow Organic potting soil. I assume it's ok. Interestingly, I've picked up a couple of bags of Jiffy Mix. I saw it at Wal-Mart in another town for nearly $10. Then I saw it at a farm supply, same size (Ten Dry Quarts), for less than $5. Today I saw it at a different Wal-Mart for a little over $3. Being a first-timer to starting seeds like you're supposed to, and having the stuff to do it with, I don't expect a high germination while I'm learning. I'm planning to plant some of my favorites in about a month, which is a little early. But, I will have a ready supply of seedlings to get started with, and will have started early enough to re-plant what I need to. I'll probably do no more than 250 seedlings, plant around 60-75 (latest guess), and have plenty to give away. I want to be the Johnny Appleseed of the tomato world. More later! Don __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

January 17, 2007	#4
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	I think of my most favorite seedling story every time I think of all this scientific care I'm planning to indulge my seeds/seedlings in this year. A few years ago a friend gave me a watermelon. After eating, I threw the rinds out toward the lake for the Asian carp to nibble on. Some of the rinds splattered on the concrete boat ramp and rolled on into the water. That same year I had planted a few hills of watermelons and none of them produced a thing, and half didn't come up to start with. The next season, after tossing the rinds where I did, I noticed a vine growing. Lo and behold one of the watermelon seeds had stuck in a 1/4" crack in the concrete off to the side, stayed all winter, sprouted the next year, survived the ramp traffic, had no room to grow, no fertilizer, survived blazing hot temps from the concrete, and produced a watermelon. Seeds and nature are gonna do what they wanna do. Don Edited Version! __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

January 17, 2007	#7
TomatoDon Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MS Posts: 1,523	I told you it was my favorite story! Dagnabbit, I mis-typed it. And now it's too late to edit. For the record, the Watermelon seed stuck in the crack and produced a Watermelon. Although I do admit the way I originally typo'd it is a much better story. Thanks! Don Did I tell you about the tomato seeds that volunteered up in the gravel? Or the time the Purple Martins came up from south America a few years ago and "dropped" Brazilian (sp) heirmloom tomato seeds all over town? The bi-colors that got to four pounds? We thought Grit magazine was going to do a story on it. KIDDING! __________________ Zone 7B, N. MS

January 18, 2007	#8
hunter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 213	Just for the record, this is Scott's Potting Soil and not a soil-less seed starting mix? I just want to make sure since I have seen this product all-over town and it is at a better price-point than MetroMix.

January 18, 2007	#11
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I have not tried the Scott's but my experience with the Jiffy Mix was the same. It's like it actually repels water. People have told me that you MUST mix it with your hands but I haven't done that for years. I love the Fafard Seed Starter formula. I fill the pots with the dry mix, place them in a tray with a dome, pour water into the bottom of the tray and let the mix wick the water up for about 24 hours. The next day, I plant my seeds, cover with a bit more of the Farfard stuff and mist with a spray bottle to get good contact. Place the dome back on top and no problems. I've done it this way for years. I used to use Hoffman's but I like this much better. I still used the same process with the Hoffman's. It just took about a day longer. But you'll find people here who swear by the Jiffy Mix. To each his own, yes? __________________ Michele

January 19, 2007	#12
hunter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 213	Suze- Thanks for the link!

January 19, 2007	#15
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	Fafard. Call your high end nurseries. YOU CAN"T beat it. I have tried others. -Rena