soil for seedling starts question

luke · February 12, 2012

Will move my seedlings to their solo cups in a few days. I've just about used all of my Jiffy seed starting soil, and wondering if it would be best to buy some more, use a bag of worm castings or some other planting medium. Any suggestions?

SEAMSFASTER · February 12, 2012

For transplanting up to bigger pots, I had very good success last year with Sunshine Organic Blend (went through 26 bales total, if I recall), some Sustane 4-6-4 slow release organic fertilizer and a little bone meal. Worm castings would be an excellent addition to this mix.

I used 16-oz. plastic Solo cups for years because they were so cheap. I even washed and reused them. But now that I've started a little business (1 year anniversary last week!), I won't use those cups again. They just fall over too easily, especially when I'm trying to load up a small box for customers.

I've given in and gone with the high quality 3-1/2 in., 18 pots per 10-20 tray. I give customers a 10¢ return/credit on these pots. I just washed and reused dozens of them today which were returned last year. I'm guessing these could last for several years if cared for properly.

dice · February 13, 2012

I am using 5 parts coir, 2 parts earthworm castings, 1 part perlite for
potting up sprouted seedlings into 3" pots. 3 parts potting mix that has
some perlite in it for drainage and air space and 1 part earthworm
castings also works. No other fertilizer needed until after they are
transplanted into the garden or larger containers.

I used this brand of coir, pH was right in there at 6.5-6.7 (did not need
to be adjusted): http://www.groworganic.com/beats-pea...-ft-brick.html
It takes a while to soak up water and expand. Worked better when I cut up
the compressed coir bricks with a jigsaw first.

If you prefer to use pre-mixed container mix, these are all good products
to look for (shipping from here would probably double the price):
http://homeharvest.com/pottingmixes.htm
Some of them already have a starter nutrient charge and so do not need
the earthworm castings.

Some growers consider Happy Frog the best of these, although I have not
used it: http://foxfarmfertilizer.com/products_soils2.html
Another one from the same company:
http://foxfarmfertilizer.com/products_soils1.html

Some vendors also make up their own custom mix, like this one from
Peaceful Valley: http://www.groworganic.com/pvfs-orga...cu-ft-bag.html

I have also used ad hoc mixes like sand from the edge of a creek or
river, sand-blasting grit, half-decayed birch leaves with fish emulsion,
and so on, but those experiments are always hit-and-miss, while the
potting mixes above and the coir-perlite-castings mix are more
predictable and reliable.

February 12, 2012	#1
luke Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Mississippi Posts: 177	soil for seedling starts question Will move my seedlings to their solo cups in a few days. I've just about used all of my Jiffy seed starting soil, and wondering if it would be best to buy some more, use a bag of worm castings or some other planting medium. Any suggestions?

February 13, 2012	#3
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	I am using 5 parts coir, 2 parts earthworm castings, 1 part perlite for potting up sprouted seedlings into 3" pots. 3 parts potting mix that has some perlite in it for drainage and air space and 1 part earthworm castings also works. No other fertilizer needed until after they are transplanted into the garden or larger containers. I used this brand of coir, pH was right in there at 6.5-6.7 (did not need to be adjusted): http://www.groworganic.com/beats-pea...-ft-brick.html It takes a while to soak up water and expand. Worked better when I cut up the compressed coir bricks with a jigsaw first. If you prefer to use pre-mixed container mix, these are all good products to look for (shipping from here would probably double the price): http://homeharvest.com/pottingmixes.htm Some of them already have a starter nutrient charge and so do not need the earthworm castings. Some growers consider Happy Frog the best of these, although I have not used it: http://foxfarmfertilizer.com/products_soils2.html Another one from the same company: http://foxfarmfertilizer.com/products_soils1.html Some vendors also make up their own custom mix, like this one from Peaceful Valley: http://www.groworganic.com/pvfs-orga...cu-ft-bag.html I have also used ad hoc mixes like sand from the edge of a creek or river, sand-blasting grit, half-decayed birch leaves with fish emulsion, and so on, but those experiments are always hit-and-miss, while the potting mixes above and the coir-perlite-castings mix are more predictable and reliable. __________________ -- alias

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February 12, 2012	#2
SEAMSFASTER Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: American Fork, Utah Posts: 160	For transplanting up to bigger pots, I had very good success last year with Sunshine Organic Blend (went through 26 bales total, if I recall), some Sustane 4-6-4 slow release organic fertilizer and a little bone meal. Worm castings would be an excellent addition to this mix. I used 16-oz. plastic Solo cups for years because they were so cheap. I even washed and reused them. But now that I've started a little business (1 year anniversary last week!), I won't use those cups again. They just fall over too easily, especially when I'm trying to load up a small box for customers. I've given in and gone with the high quality 3-1/2 in., 18 pots per 10-20 tray. I give customers a 10¢ return/credit on these pots. I just washed and reused dozens of them today which were returned last year. I'm guessing these could last for several years if cared for properly.