seed starting pellets

[buckhunter]

anyone know a good buy on Burpee XL super seed starting pellets or what is a good substitute ?

[Pappi]

I was using those, they are what turned me onto coir. Now I just get a compressed brick of coco coir because it's is less expensive. For around your area you can try a garden center, nursery, or hydro store. If you want to get it from the comfort of your home Pinetree has coco bricks for a decent price. Just read the brick for how large it will expand. Then from there break off a chunk of the brick about the equivalent you will need when it expands. Has probably saved me at least $80 a year buying my own coir and filling plugs rather than the burpee coir pellets. That and if you have ever experienced an expanding pellet turning sideways inside a cell it's aggravating to say the least. Hope this helps you out and saves you some money.

Pappi

[Hermitian]

I germinate seeds in 6x12 plug trays (e.g., model PL-72). First, I pour SunGro #2 onto the tray and scrape it level with a board. Then I water the tray using a water-breaker hose attachment. After the soil has settled and most of the water has drained out, I put the seeds directly on top of the soil and cover them with vermiculite. I then put them in a translucent enclosure with an automatic misting system until they sprout.

[buckhunter]

ok thanks ......... how does coir compare to peat pellets such as Jiffy or Hydrofarm Jumpstart ?

[Pappi]

I like it a lot more than peat. It seems to only take up the water it needs without getting waterlogged. I've also noticed my roots have an easier time thriving and spreading in the coir and the media stays together better when transplanting. I've been quite happy with it but that might just be my experience. Hope that helps.

Pappi

[amideutch]

I've used the Hydrofarm Jumpstarts for the last 4 years and never had a problem with them. I transplant my seedlings to 4" CowPots and grow till ready for plant out. Then you plant the CowPot and it is a done deal. No transplant shock and the pot feeds the plant till it biodegrades and the aggregate takes over.

[ginger2778]

I have tried the coir and the peat pellets. I personally prefer the peat, my seedlings did way better for me with those. I only did the coir for one year's seedlings. The coir has no nutrients at all, so you better plant to a 3 or 4 inch potting mix based pot pretty soon( well established first true leaves) or the seedlings get stunted. I guess you could fertilize that soon if keeping in the coir. That's only my own experiences, so it may be very different for others.

Marsha

[amideutch]

The pictures in my previous post were taken 27 Apr 2013.
The next two were the 27 Apr plants transplanted into CowPots taken 08 May in the temp cold frame.
The third picture was taken 17 May of the same plants.

[buckhunter]

do you think Jiffy-7 pellets are comparable to Hydrofarm jumpstart? They are cheaper from the sources I have found .

[greenthumbomaha]

If you choose to use Jiffy , they make a larger pellet specific to tomatoes. Baby tomato plants grow fast and the small pellets dry out quickly indoors. Unless you live in a warm climate you will need to repot into a larger container within a few weeks until your soil warms sufficiently for outdoor planting.

If you can't devote a space to soil preparation and are growing a very small number of plants and keeping careful watch, the Jiffy for tomatoes will be more cost effective than starting with the smaller pellets and having to purchase larger pots. Otherwise, I second the above methods.

- Lisa

[amideutch]

I have used Jiffy 7's in the past and once I went to Jump Starts I never looked back. Right now you can get the 81 pellet unit that includes the plastic start tray with Dome for $17.33 at Amazon with free shipping. Here are a couple pics of the 81 pellet unit.

If cost is a factor and the Jiffy 7's are cheaper then go with the Jiffy's.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-Jump...farm+jumpstart

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by amideutch

I have used Jiffy 7's in the past and once I went to Jump Starts I never looked back. Right now you can get the 81 pellet unit that includes the plastic start tray with Dome for $17.33 at Amazon with free shipping. Here are a couple pics of the 81 pellet unit.

If cost is a factor and the Jiffy 7's are cheaper then go with the Jiffy's.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-Jump...farm+jumpstart

Is this the same thing? Its at Amazon for 11.80 and free shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-JS81...d_sim_sbs_lg_1

Marsha

[rnewste]

I am mixing a 50/50% blend of the Burpee XL coir pellets with Happy Frog. Seems to hold moisture pretty well, along with providing trace nutrients found in the Happy Frog which are just right for seed starting.

Raybo

[Greatgardens]

Your method? -- hydrate/expand the coir pellets then add the Happy Frog (potting soil?) and blend? Then refill the XL cells? Not to be critical, because it evidently works for you, but sounds messy and (assuming the above is correct) -- why not just take some high-quality bulk coir and blend with the Frog? Edit -- I see there was a "page two" that explained...

I'm thinking about something along the same line, only using about 50/50 Metro Mix + coir + some organic fertilizer. Maybe 75/25 Metro Mix + Perlite as a control. (I've had decent luck with that in the past.)

I have really good success with Tomatoes, Eggplant, and Peppers, but I've always had poorer results with Brassicas.

-GG

Originally Posted by rnewste

I am mixing a 50/50% blend of the Burpee XL coir pellets with Happy Frog. Seems to hold moisture pretty well, along with providing trace nutrients found in the Happy Frog which are just right for seed starting.

Raybo

[rnewste]

GG,

I put 3 of the XL pellets in a large coffee mug, then fill with hot water. Once the pellets have fully expanded, I dump this into a gallon container. Then I scoop the same amount of Happy Frog with the coffee mug and stir into the gallon container mixing it all together. Then spoon the combined mix out into each cell of the XL tray. Simple process.

Raybo