Bad Luck with Jiffy Mix or Sandhill Preservation?

angelique · March 17, 2007

Hi All,

This year, I started about 25 varieties of tomatoes. All were started on either Feb. 11th or 13th. Most of the varieties were started in a seed starting mix from a local nursery (Dr. Earth???). All of those are very health with at least 2 sets of true leaves.

I ran out of the seed mix, so I picked up a bag of the Jiffy Mix from Walmart. I only used this mix for the seeds that I purchased from Sandhill. Those seeds arrived on Feb. 11th, so they were separated from the other varieties.

Anyhow here is a list of varieties that either did not sprout or just barely have their "first" leaf type. The ones that did come up look horrible.

epoch -didn't sprout
sophies choice (only 1 of 5 sprouted; the one that sprouted looks weak)
puck -didn't sprout
Anna's Russian
Kootenai
sutton
Forme de Couer
Yellow Out Red In -didn't sprout

Additionally, I used the Jiffy mix for a couple of pepper seeds. Those did not sprout. However, the rest of my peppers did.

For those that did not sprout, are they worth starting over in a new seed starting medium? Also, will the varieties that just sprouted with "first" leaves be ready for planting in ground or in HEB by April 15th(ish)? Most importantly, do you think the problem with the seeds is the source (Sandhill) or growing medium (Jiffy mix)?

March 17, 2007	#1
angelique Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Rocklin, California Posts: 501	Bad Luck with Jiffy Mix or Sandhill Preservation? Hi All, This year, I started about 25 varieties of tomatoes. All were started on either Feb. 11th or 13th. Most of the varieties were started in a seed starting mix from a local nursery (Dr. Earth???). All of those are very health with at least 2 sets of true leaves. I ran out of the seed mix, so I picked up a bag of the Jiffy Mix from Walmart. I only used this mix for the seeds that I purchased from Sandhill. Those seeds arrived on Feb. 11th, so they were separated from the other varieties. Anyhow here is a list of varieties that either did not sprout or just barely have their "first" leaf type. The ones that did come up look horrible. epoch -didn't sprout sophies choice (only 1 of 5 sprouted; the one that sprouted looks weak) puck -didn't sprout Anna's Russian Kootenai sutton Forme de Couer Yellow Out Red In -didn't sprout Additionally, I used the Jiffy mix for a couple of pepper seeds. Those did not sprout. However, the rest of my peppers did. For those that did not sprout, are they worth starting over in a new seed starting medium? Also, will the varieties that just sprouted with "first" leaves be ready for planting in ground or in HEB by April 15th(ish)? Most importantly, do you think the problem with the seeds is the source (Sandhill) or growing medium (Jiffy mix)?