Seed Starting for second crop

John3 · May 6, 2011

I would like to know sense tomato seeds can start in ground when the soil and weather is right can you start the seeds in flats or pots in black kow (cow mature) instead of the soil less mix when the weather is warm enough? Pros and cons.

Suze · May 6, 2011

John, I always sow my seeds in a seed starting mix (not potting soil or garden soil) regardless of whether it is spring or fall crop.

A potential con of sowing in soil or composted manure is the increased chance of damping off. I really don't see any pros to doing so, and I am even thinking the Black Kow might be a little too nutrient rich for seedlings. Edit/add - it also might not be light enough.

John3 · May 7, 2011

Thanks Sue for the info on damping off, nutrient rich and not light enough.

John3 · May 7, 2011

I found some info on black kow products
http://blackkow.com/_html/otherproducts.htm

b54red · May 16, 2011

I just sowed another batch of seeds Sunday afternoon by starting 66 varieties. The last batch had a bad bout of damping off and were outside when that herbicide drift hit and almost all of them died with no true leaves formed. That was a double whammy but I still have enough seedlings from my previous planting to fill the remaining tomato bed and fill the gaps caused by fusarium and TSWV in my other beds. If this batch does well it may be the last big batch of seeds I plant for the year other than a few more Big Beefs and Jetsetters for August planting.

From now til late September the fusarium loses tend to snowball. I have already planted a huge number of plants for my small garden but with the loses I will have over the next month or two my numbers will be down to a much more manageable level soon enough. I'm hoping these seed will give me enough seedlings to carry me well into July. My best fall plants usually are from plantings in late July or early August.

May 6, 2011	#1
John3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alabama 7.5 or 8 depends on who you ask Posts: 727	Seed Starting for second crop I would like to know sense tomato seeds can start in ground when the soil and weather is right can you start the seeds in flats or pots in black kow (cow mature) instead of the soil less mix when the weather is warm enough? Pros and cons.

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May 6, 2011	#2
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	John, I always sow my seeds in a seed starting mix (not potting soil or garden soil) regardless of whether it is spring or fall crop. A potential con of sowing in soil or composted manure is the increased chance of damping off. I really don't see any pros to doing so, and I am even thinking the Black Kow might be a little too nutrient rich for seedlings. Edit/add - it also might not be light enough.

May 7, 2011	#3
John3 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Alabama 7.5 or 8 depends on who you ask Posts: 727	Thanks Sue for the info on damping off, nutrient rich and not light enough.

May 16, 2011	#5
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I just sowed another batch of seeds Sunday afternoon by starting 66 varieties. The last batch had a bad bout of damping off and were outside when that herbicide drift hit and almost all of them died with no true leaves formed. That was a double whammy but I still have enough seedlings from my previous planting to fill the remaining tomato bed and fill the gaps caused by fusarium and TSWV in my other beds. If this batch does well it may be the last big batch of seeds I plant for the year other than a few more Big Beefs and Jetsetters for August planting. From now til late September the fusarium loses tend to snowball. I have already planted a huge number of plants for my small garden but with the loses I will have over the next month or two my numbers will be down to a much more manageable level soon enough. I'm hoping these seed will give me enough seedlings to carry me well into July. My best fall plants usually are from plantings in late July or early August.