seed starting mix

better boy · March 12, 2014

for the past 5-6 years i have used Scotts seed starting mix, and have had so -so luck with it, i am wondering what others use and what sort of success they have ie: mold and water retention.

RootLoops · March 12, 2014

jiffy mix is my favorite, just make sure you wet it down before putting it in the little seed cells or it is a pain to get wet. once it's wet the first time it takes water pretty well. the jiffy pellets are nice too

matilda'skid · March 12, 2014

A local nursery sells a soil less potting mix that is pretty fine textured. If I have perlite I add some. This year I didn't have any perlite so I just used potting mix. Tomato seeds are not small compared to flower seeds like petunias. I get away with using potting mix every year. When I used Organic Jiffy Mix I had terrible luck. Someone with skill can use stuff like that I guess if you get the seedling out of it quickly. I either get that fine stuff too wet or too dry.

kevn357 · March 12, 2014

I use a Diatomaceous earth based mix now. I had great success with it last year, high germination rates, no damping off or mold that I used to get from the peat based seed starting mixes out there. Perfect ratio of water retention imo.
Lots of info here with an experiment started by RayR.
This is what I use. $5 for 15 pounds of it. Works great. I actually grew about 12-18 seedlings per tiny pot and didn't have to feed them until first true leaves with great results.

TightenUp · March 12, 2014

fox farms light warrior

Father'sDaughter · March 12, 2014

I used to use Miracle grow seed starting mix with decent results, but now use 100% Diatomaceous earth (same Autozone product mentioned above).

peebee · March 13, 2014

Will never use anything but Ultrasorb again--the oil absorbent, not Underpants

!
Germination is excellent, and the small particles make separating multiple seedlings a breeze. Totally recommend it. Another amazing tip from the amazing folks here at TVille. Thanks!

Alpinejs · March 13, 2014

Miracle Grow Seed Starting Mix should be sold by the cord!! Jiffy only has twigs.

OT Slivers. Don't ignore slivers. My son got one and ignored it. He just completed 8 days in
the hospital and five surgeries on his hand and they won't sew it up for fear of sealing in
the infection, so when it does heal, it will be one truly grotesque hand!!

topazgirl170 · March 13, 2014

I tried Gardener's Supply Organic Seed Starter and Germinating Mix last season. Both worked well, but they are pricey.

I bought some Espoma Organic Seed Starting mix and Pro Mix Organic Seed Starter for around $6 this season.

I've used Fox Farm's Light Warrior for transplanting last year and I liked it, I may try it for seed starting.

Cole_Robbie · March 15, 2014

Vermiculite. The product I buy is sold as insulation. It would be double or triple the price if they called it seed-starting mix. In tiny print on the back, the label says it is a product of a horticultural company. 100% vermiculite will start seeds just fine, or mix in a small amount of any peat-based promix. When I'm done starting seeds, the vermiculite then gets mixed into pro-mix again and reused.

Vermiculite has zero nutrients, so after the first set of leaves, the sprouts need to be either transplanted or fed a tiny bit.

March 12, 2014	#1
better boy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: massachusetts Posts: 14	seed starting mix for the past 5-6 years i have used Scotts seed starting mix, and have had so -so luck with it, i am wondering what others use and what sort of success they have ie: mold and water retention.

March 12, 2014	#5
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	fox farms light warrior __________________

March 13, 2014	#7
peebee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Southern CA Posts: 1,714	Will never use anything but Ultrasorb again--the oil absorbent, not Underpants! Germination is excellent, and the small particles make separating multiple seedlings a breeze. Totally recommend it. Another amazing tip from the amazing folks here at TVille. Thanks!

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March 12, 2014	#2
RootLoops Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: rienzi, ms Posts: 470	jiffy mix is my favorite, just make sure you wet it down before putting it in the little seed cells or it is a pain to get wet. once it's wet the first time it takes water pretty well. the jiffy pellets are nice too

March 12, 2014	#3
matilda'skid Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 309	A local nursery sells a soil less potting mix that is pretty fine textured. If I have perlite I add some. This year I didn't have any perlite so I just used potting mix. Tomato seeds are not small compared to flower seeds like petunias. I get away with using potting mix every year. When I used Organic Jiffy Mix I had terrible luck. Someone with skill can use stuff like that I guess if you get the seedling out of it quickly. I either get that fine stuff too wet or too dry.

March 12, 2014	#4
kevn357 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parma, OH Posts: 147	I use a Diatomaceous earth based mix now. I had great success with it last year, high germination rates, no damping off or mold that I used to get from the peat based seed starting mixes out there. Perfect ratio of water retention imo. Lots of info here with an experiment started by RayR. This is what I use. $5 for 15 pounds of it. Works great. I actually grew about 12-18 seedlings per tiny pot and didn't have to feed them until first true leaves with great results.

March 12, 2014	#6
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	I used to use Miracle grow seed starting mix with decent results, but now use 100% Diatomaceous earth (same Autozone product mentioned above).

March 13, 2014	#8
Alpinejs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Alpine, Calif. in winter. Sandpoint Lake, Ont. Canada summers Posts: 850	Miracle Grow Seed Starting Mix should be sold by the cord!! Jiffy only has twigs. OT Slivers. Don't ignore slivers. My son got one and ignored it. He just completed 8 days in the hospital and five surgeries on his hand and they won't sew it up for fear of sealing in the infection, so when it does heal, it will be one truly grotesque hand!!

March 13, 2014	#9
topazgirl170 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: 8A -Charlotte, NC Posts: 34	I tried Gardener's Supply Organic Seed Starter and Germinating Mix last season. Both worked well, but they are pricey. I bought some Espoma Organic Seed Starting mix and Pro Mix Organic Seed Starter for around $6 this season. I've used Fox Farm's Light Warrior for transplanting last year and I liked it, I may try it for seed starting.

March 15, 2014	#10
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Vermiculite. The product I buy is sold as insulation. It would be double or triple the price if they called it seed-starting mix. In tiny print on the back, the label says it is a product of a horticultural company. 100% vermiculite will start seeds just fine, or mix in a small amount of any peat-based promix. When I'm done starting seeds, the vermiculite then gets mixed into pro-mix again and reused. Vermiculite has zero nutrients, so after the first set of leaves, the sprouts need to be either transplanted or fed a tiny bit.