Burpee Seed Starting Mix

Cole_Robbie · March 10, 2015

$3.49 a bag at Menards:
http://www.menards.com/main/p-2222920-c-10125.htm

I started using this mix this year, and I wanted to post a thread here to say that I like it a lot. I have a hard time using my peat-based pro mix to start seeds, because the top of the container will crust over and the sprouts have a difficult time breaking through. The Burpee mix is mostly coco-peat, and it does not seem to have the crusting over problem at all. Everything has been going great. I have nice-looking seedlings.

It's also cheap. Last year I bought a $20 bag of Fox Farm Light Warrior seed-starting mix. It's great stuff, but the price is ridiculous.

kath · March 10, 2015

Thanks for the tip- I'll have to look for it. Gave up on Pro-Mix, too, and so far this season just got a couple bags of Organic Miracle Grow. So far, so good...

kath

PhilaGardener · March 10, 2015

Great price - unfortunately, Menards isn't in my state (PA). Anyone see similar pricing at other large chains? Shipping is so expensive on mixes.

BigVanVader · March 11, 2015

If you have a local wholesale greenhouse supplier in your region you can always find things like potting mix much cheaper. Even if you don't have an actual business they will often sell to small/backyard growers. I just called and ask them. Some things they only sell in bulk or by the case but I get Metro Mix 360 for 10$ a bag from the one here. It works great and being a 79 liter bag it is very economical.

greenthumbomaha · March 15, 2015

No need to fret over not having access to Menards, The size of the Burpee bag is about the same as any starter mix in the big box stores.

I'm fox farm fan for its ease of use but agree it is too costly for this short term use and this will be my last bag. I love the espoma product but that is hard to find on my area. Great idea to buy from the local nursery. 3 cubic feet and dense planting, that will last for a few years! My local nursery uses Berger products.

If you use the dense planting method do you have any difficulty separating the roots in a coir medium?

- Lisa

topazgirl170 · March 15, 2015

I've never tried the Burpee's SS mix. What I've used the past two years is the following:

Black Gold Seedling Mix - $4 to 5- Bought at my local nurservy. I thought it was okay.
Espoma Organic SS Mix - $6 at my local garden store. Worked very well.
Promix ultimate organic seed starting mix - So far so good. My first year using it.
Gardener's Supply Germinating Mix - $7 for 9qt. bag. Fantastic stuff(not organic) but very finely milled. Retains water well. Ordered online from the Gardener's Supply website. They run sales periodically, US company and they have a stores in Vermont.
Gardener's Supply Organic SS Mix - My favorite SS mix. $10 6 qts. Because it contains compost, large pieces of bark and twigs must be picked out. Seedlings germinate fast, growing strong and healthy.

Cole_Robbie · March 20, 2015

I've been mixing in vermiculite with the Burpee mix to make it go farther. Menards sells it as insulation: http://www.menards.com/main/building...908-c-5777.htm

Cole_Robbie · February 15, 2016

The Burpee Mix was ok, but I'm not going to go out of my way to buy it again.

It's almost one year later, and I am starting this year's seeds. I have about 2/3 of a bag of Light Warrior left from last year, some pro mix from last year, and some leftover vermiculite.

My current recipe is to fill the bottom half or so of the cells with pro-mix:
http://www.menards.com/main/outdoors...02568123233868

It's mostly peat, and good for retaining water. But it is horrible by itself as seed starting mix, because the top crusts over and prevents the sprouts from breaking through. It's cheap, though, and works on the bottom.

The next layer, around the seed itself, gets my expensive stuff, the Fox Farm Light Warrior. I'm hoping to get two years out of my $20 bag.

I don't use a humidity dome, and I keep my seed-sprouting room very warm, so keeping the top from drying out is a challenge. Vermiculite is the best at holding moisture without crusting over. It dries into sand. Even the Light Warrior has a little bit of a top crust due to the peat in it. Vermiculite is also easy to tell by sight when it is drying out.

kath · February 15, 2016

I was never able to find the Burpee organic, and wasn't thrilled with the organic Miracle Grow, so I resorted to the Pro-Mix because of the ease of availability and cheap price for the big bale. Today I just picked up a bag of Burpee Seed Starting mix which is 60-70% peat along with some vermiculite, coir pith and lime. At least it's a fresh unopened bag, unlike last year's leftover ProMix. Like your idea of putting PM on the bottom.

I use a dome but prop the ends up, fan it a bit when I remember and spray it every day with diluted H2O2/water until the first sprouts are up and it seems to prevent fuzzies and damping off.

My Foot Smells · February 22, 2016

when I poke your link, it says on sale until 2-28-16 for 2.88. I like the burpee mix, works like a charm. I only grow about 100 seedlings of various things, so don't need a truck load. very fluffy.

March 10, 2015	#1
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Burpee Seed Starting Mix $3.49 a bag at Menards: http://www.menards.com/main/p-2222920-c-10125.htm I started using this mix this year, and I wanted to post a thread here to say that I like it a lot. I have a hard time using my peat-based pro mix to start seeds, because the top of the container will crust over and the sprouts have a difficult time breaking through. The Burpee mix is mostly coco-peat, and it does not seem to have the crusting over problem at all. Everything has been going great. I have nice-looking seedlings. It's also cheap. Last year I bought a $20 bag of Fox Farm Light Warrior seed-starting mix. It's great stuff, but the price is ridiculous.

March 15, 2015	#6
topazgirl170 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: 8A -Charlotte, NC Posts: 34	I've never tried the Burpee's SS mix. What I've used the past two years is the following: Black Gold Seedling Mix - $4 to 5- Bought at my local nurservy. I thought it was okay. Espoma Organic SS Mix - $6 at my local garden store. Worked very well. Promix ultimate organic seed starting mix - So far so good. My first year using it. Gardener's Supply Germinating Mix - $7 for 9qt. bag. Fantastic stuff(not organic) but very finely milled. Retains water well. Ordered online from the Gardener's Supply website. They run sales periodically, US company and they have a stores in Vermont. Gardener's Supply Organic SS Mix - My favorite SS mix. $10 6 qts. Because it contains compost, large pieces of bark and twigs must be picked out. Seedlings germinate fast, growing strong and healthy. Last edited by topazgirl170; March 15, 2015 at 10:34 PM.

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March 10, 2015	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Thanks for the tip- I'll have to look for it. Gave up on Pro-Mix, too, and so far this season just got a couple bags of Organic Miracle Grow. So far, so good... kath

March 10, 2015	#3
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Great price - unfortunately, Menards isn't in my state (PA). Anyone see similar pricing at other large chains? Shipping is so expensive on mixes.

March 11, 2015	#4
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	If you have a local wholesale greenhouse supplier in your region you can always find things like potting mix much cheaper. Even if you don't have an actual business they will often sell to small/backyard growers. I just called and ask them. Some things they only sell in bulk or by the case but I get Metro Mix 360 for 10$ a bag from the one here. It works great and being a 79 liter bag it is very economical.

March 15, 2015	#5
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	No need to fret over not having access to Menards, The size of the Burpee bag is about the same as any starter mix in the big box stores. I'm fox farm fan for its ease of use but agree it is too costly for this short term use and this will be my last bag. I love the espoma product but that is hard to find on my area. Great idea to buy from the local nursery. 3 cubic feet and dense planting, that will last for a few years! My local nursery uses Berger products. If you use the dense planting method do you have any difficulty separating the roots in a coir medium? - Lisa

March 20, 2015	#7
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I've been mixing in vermiculite with the Burpee mix to make it go farther. Menards sells it as insulation: http://www.menards.com/main/building...908-c-5777.htm

February 15, 2016	#8
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	The Burpee Mix was ok, but I'm not going to go out of my way to buy it again. It's almost one year later, and I am starting this year's seeds. I have about 2/3 of a bag of Light Warrior left from last year, some pro mix from last year, and some leftover vermiculite. My current recipe is to fill the bottom half or so of the cells with pro-mix: http://www.menards.com/main/outdoors...02568123233868 It's mostly peat, and good for retaining water. But it is horrible by itself as seed starting mix, because the top crusts over and prevents the sprouts from breaking through. It's cheap, though, and works on the bottom. The next layer, around the seed itself, gets my expensive stuff, the Fox Farm Light Warrior. I'm hoping to get two years out of my $20 bag. I don't use a humidity dome, and I keep my seed-sprouting room very warm, so keeping the top from drying out is a challenge. Vermiculite is the best at holding moisture without crusting over. It dries into sand. Even the Light Warrior has a little bit of a top crust due to the peat in it. Vermiculite is also easy to tell by sight when it is drying out.

February 22, 2016	#10
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	when I poke your link, it says on sale until 2-28-16 for 2.88. I like the burpee mix, works like a charm. I only grow about 100 seedlings of various things, so don't need a truck load. very fluffy.