Questions starting from seed for first time

[elight]

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!

[KarenO]

Tomato seed is very easy to start so no fancy equipment or heating mats required if you are just starting a few tomatoes for your balcony. I use jiffy pellets, soaked in warm water and then plant one seed each about 1/4 inch deep. Fresh commercial seed such as you ordered should have a very high germination rate so don't waste seed overplanting (keep it to trade ... your seedlings should appear within a week or so. you can grow the seedlings in bright light to the stage where they are getting their second true leaves and then transplant to a larger, say 4 inch pot filled with good commercial seedling mix to grow on and then harden them off before planting out to the final outdoor location.
Bright light is the key to healthy, stocky tomato transplants indoors so if you can supplement window light with cool fluorescent that will go a long way to getting them off to a good start. you can use a cheap gooseneck desk lamp with a 100 watt equivalent fluorescent bulb if you don't have the set up or room for large shop lights. This would work fine with a small group of seedlings and would not cost much.
Enjoy, it's fun to start your own seeds and gives a sense of accomplishment watching them grow . happy new year
KarenO

[ginger2778]

I will just chime in on agreeing with Karen, in Florida, especially this year, no heat mat needed. I'm a little south of you, but I don't own a heat mat. I have used the jiffy pellets and I think that is a fine way to do it, just as Karen described.
I have also used these, and filled them with seed starter mix, dampened it, sprinkled a few seeds on top, then placed a dusting to just barely cover the seeds on them with dry mix.Just grabbed a pinch and dusted the seed tops. Then sprayed the dusting with a spray bottle until moistened. Trick is don't drown the seeds, and don't sow too deeply.
Then follow Karen's hardening off directions.

Marsha

[elight]

Thank you, Karen and Marsha! That is very helpful. I also found the following guide linked in another thread (I think it should be stickied prominently!): http://www.selectedplants.com/seedlings.htm

I think jiffy pellets are probably the way for me to go this year, to keep things simple. Is there anything in particular I should put the pellets in/on - a plastic tray of some sort? Also, for watering, should I mist them with a sprayer, or put water in the tray to be absorbed (and how often)?

I should note that I ordered seeds from the dwarf tomato project (via Tatiana's), so germination rates probably aren't quite as good as the real commercial varieties. But any extras will be taken to be planted in the raised beds at the community center where I work, which I am planning on refurbishing next month.

Desk lamp is a great idea - since hanging a shop light in my 1-bedroom apartment isn't realistic. =)

Thanks again!

[tlintx]

I think you will find any seeds purchased from Tatiana's will have easily the germination rates of store-bought seeds, if not better -- the conditions for the seed packets in the store aren't usually all that great. Or by commercial do you mean hybrid? I've never tried to germinate hybrids seeds but I haven't heard any differences between those and OP?

When I used the pellets, I just put them in whatever was handy - jelly roll tray, old takeout container, plastic tupperware. I found once of the nicest things was you could definitely tell by the color that they were drying out and add a little water to the bottom of the tray.

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by elight

Thank you, Karen and Marsha! That is very helpful. I also found the following guide linked in another thread (I think it should be stickied prominently!): http://www.selectedplants.com/seedlings.htm

I think jiffy pellets are probably the way for me to go this year, to keep things simple. Is there anything in particular I should put the pellets in/on - a plastic tray of some sort? Also, for watering, should I mist them with a sprayer, or put water in the tray to be absorbed (and how often)?

I should note that I ordered seeds from the dwarf tomato project (via Tatiana's), so germination rates probably aren't quite as good as the real commercial varieties. But any extras will be taken to be planted in the raised beds at the community center where I work, which I am planning on refurbishing next month.

Desk lamp is a great idea - since hanging a shop light in my 1-bedroom apartment isn't realistic. =)

Thanks again!

The jiffys most often come in a " mini greenhouse" which has the tray under them. You would water from under the pellets, spray bottle was only to moisten the mix over the seeds if you were to use the alternative method I described.
Oh also, I transplant after they get the first set of true leaves well formed, to 4" pots which I fill with Promix BX, then they immediately go out in full sun, i find that they don't really need to be " hardened off " that way, they just do it as they grow. I started these Dec. 5th, they will be ready for final transplant around Jan. 19.

Marsha

[elight]

Thanks again, Marsha. I know we don't live in the same area, but do you have any recommendations for regional retailers that might carry Pro-Mix? If not, then local places in your area (I'll be down there at some point in the next two months)?

[KarenO]

agree that any seed you got from Tania will be as good or better than store-bought seed. Her seed is excellent.
For a few 4" pots you can buy a bag of seedling mix in any houseplant area of wallmart or home depot. Schultz or miracle grow both make a good seedling mix. Up here at least promix only comes in great big bags. perhaps it's different in your area.
KO

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by KarenO

agree that any seed you got from Tania will be as good or better than store-bought seed. Her seed is excellent.
For a few 4" pots you can buy a bag of seedling mix in any houseplant area of wallmart or home depot. Schultz or miracle grow both make a good seedling mix. Up here at least promix only comes in great big bags. perhaps it's different in your area.
KO

Karen has a good point about the quantity. It comes in 3.8 cu ft bales. Are you also going to use it in your earthtainers like you did before?
I can get it in only 1 place that I know of around here. I'll give you the link to their website, but Promix wasn't mentioned on it last time I looked. It is always there though.
Here is their website, which has the address.http://universalsupplycorp.com
They charge $28 for a 3.8 cu ft bale, but it fluffs to about 7 cu ft.
Marsha

[elight]

Thanks! I'll call some more places in my area first, but my experience with Pro-Mix is that it's so far superior to Miracle-Gro that it's worth going out of my way to get it (I have family in Boca). And that price is reasonable.

I bought a 3.8 cu. ft. bale last year, and had about half of it left after filling two EarthTainers. I ended up tossing it before I moved - just wasn't worth the expense to move it. I would only buy more if I end up planting additional containers, although I think I'll mostly be focused on those raised beds this spring.

[NarnianGarden]

What is the shortest germination time people have experienced?
I have heard of even two, three days with tomato seeds, and that's why I keep on peaking in the cup where I planted a couple of dwarf seeds last Saturday. Hope they would show up some signs of life already! Last year, it took about a week to see the first leaves.
Yes, I know things cannot be rushed If I haven't seen any action in a week, I'll throw in a few more. The prob, I don't want to end up with too many seedlings of mini varieties this time of the year, I need my windowsill for further gardening...

[kath]

Originally Posted by NarnianGarden

What is the shortest germination time people have experienced?
I have heard of even two, three days with tomato seeds, and that's why I keep on peaking in the cup where I planted a couple of dwarf seeds last Saturday. Hope they would show up some signs of life already! Last year, it took about a week to see the first leaves.
Yes, I know things cannot be rushed If I haven't seen any action in a week, I'll throw in a few more. The prob, I don't want to end up with too many seedlings of mini varieties this time of the year, I need my windowsill for further gardening...

You should be seeing something soon. I think emergence times depends on the variety, age, quality & freshness of seeds, soil type, temperature and moisture content, depth of planting, etc. As a result of planting hundreds of tomato seeds at a time for the last several years, I've only seen a few germinate in 3 days but find that 5-9 days is much more common.

kath

[RJGlew]

Originally Posted by NarnianGarden

What is the shortest germination time people have experienced?

My 2013 Records for first appearance were:

1. During Day 3 - Sun Gold
2. During Day 4 - Sub Arctic Maxi, Sub Arctic Plenty, Siberian Red, Stupice
3. During Day 5 - Supersteak, Arctic Fire, Fourth of July, Sweet Baby Girl, Steak Sandwich, Supertasty, Big Beef, Kimberley
4. During Day 6 - Independence Day, Early Cascade
5. During Day 7 - Moskvich

All were planted 1/4" deep, on a heat mat.

[kath]

Originally Posted by RJGlew

My 2013 Records for first appearance were:

1. During Day 3 - Sun Gold
2. During Day 4 - Sub Arctic Maxi, Sub Arctic Plenty, Siberian Red, Stupice
3. During Day 5 - Supersteak, Arctic Fire, Fourth of July, Sweet Baby Girl, Steak Sandwich, Supertasty, Big Beef, Kimberley
4. During Day 6 - Independence Day, Early Cascade
5. During Day 7 - Moskvich

All were planted 1/4" deep, on a heat mat.

This was interesting to see since Sungolds are always the first to emerge for me.

Sorry for the off-topic comments, elight-

kath

[NarnianGarden]

That sounds reasonable - I am looking forward to see my Red Robin and Mohamed push forth their cotyledon leaves...
It was about a week for Black Krim last season - will be fun to compare the growth pattern of different varieties.
Sadly I have read of nasty little insects that bother indoor growers - there is an organic solution against those, but I rather not deal with them to begin with.