Questions starting from seed for first time

elight · January 1, 2014

Hi all,

I just moved to Orlando, Florida (from the Northeast) in the past month, and am gearing up for spring planting toward the end of February. My my situation in an apartment and my experience growing on an apartment balcony last year, I have decided to only grow dwarf tomatoes in my EarthTainers this time around. I have ordered the seeds, and probably need to get them going very soon (6-8 weeks before transplant, right?). I've never started from seed before.

A few questions:
1. What equipment do I need to start from seed? Seed trays... heating pad (what kind?)... anything else? Should the seed trays have draining holes (and be on top of flats)?
2. What potting medium should I use in the seed trays? My EarthTainers are full of Ray's 3-2-1 mix (using Pro-Mix BX) from last season but I have yet to find a local retailed of Pro-Mix products. Is there something I should order, or something I should mix myself?
3. Is it necessary to "pot up" or can the seedlings go straight from the seed trays into the EarthTainers once they're ready?
4. One seed per tray, or multiple seeds and then thin them later?

Is there anything else I'm not thinking about? The stickied thread on effective germination was very helpful.

Thanks!

January 1, 2014	#1
elight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 349	Questions starting from seed for first time Hi all, I just moved to Orlando, Florida (from the Northeast) in the past month, and am gearing up for spring planting toward the end of February. My my situation in an apartment and my experience growing on an apartment balcony last year, I have decided to only grow dwarf tomatoes in my EarthTainers this time around. I have ordered the seeds, and probably need to get them going very soon (6-8 weeks before transplant, right?). I've never started from seed before. A few questions: 1. What equipment do I need to start from seed? Seed trays... heating pad (what kind?)... anything else? Should the seed trays have draining holes (and be on top of flats)? 2. What potting medium should I use in the seed trays? My EarthTainers are full of Ray's 3-2-1 mix (using Pro-Mix BX) from last season but I have yet to find a local retailed of Pro-Mix products. Is there something I should order, or something I should mix myself? 3. Is it necessary to "pot up" or can the seedlings go straight from the seed trays into the EarthTainers once they're ready? 4. One seed per tray, or multiple seeds and then thin them later? Is there anything else I'm not thinking about? The stickied thread on effective germination was very helpful. Thanks!