Potting up soil question

hunter · March 8, 2016

I'm trying to stay ahead of the curve this year.

If I recall, I used to pot up tomatoes with the same soil-less seed starting mix that I used to germinate them in trays.

In this year's case, I used Fox Farm Light Warrior. Would this be fine for potting up into Solo cups, or should I use potting soil or a blend of mix and soil?

Thanks!

Farmette · March 8, 2016

I would think that would be expensive. I use FF Light Warrior for seeding and then pot up into a soiless mix. Have used ProMix, Espoma and others. I don't use potting soil as the young roots seem to like a lighter, looser medium.

AlittleSalt · March 8, 2016

Fox Farm Light Warrior is a little costly. I used a Pennington brand this year and MG last year. I like the MG better for potting up. As warm as it has been this year in Texas, I'm starting to wonder if I could have just thrown the tomato seeds out on the ground

Cheryl2017 · March 8, 2016

Probably Salt. I have volunteers growing all over the place.

Worth1 · March 8, 2016

I didn't plan on growing Market More 76 cucumbers this year but I spread out a compost pile around a Fox tail fern and the seeds have started to sprout everywhere.

As for me I am very very happy with the MG Natures Care raised bed soil mixed with about 1/4 perlite to pot up seedlings.

Worth

brownrexx · March 8, 2016

Soil less seed starting mix does not contain nutrients so when the seedlings are ready to be potted up, I use an organic potting soil. If you don't use a soil with nutrients then you should be feeding them a dilute solution of fertilizer.

hunter · March 8, 2016

So there seems to be some differences of opinions between using potting soil and potting mix when potting up. Maybe I'll pot half in mix and the other half in potting soil following my hillbilly scientific method

Thanks!

Cole_Robbie · March 8, 2016

Light Warrior does have nutrients, because it has worm castings in it. Fox Farm has an uber-expensive potting mix that would be the next step after the Light Warrior. It's called Ocean Forest, $20 or so per bag.

I use a peat-based pro mix I buy from Menard's. It does not have nutrients. At that point, I start mixing a little miracle grow in the water I use.

My final potting up before selling plants is when they go from a 6-pack into a 4" pot. At that point, I will mix some Osmocote into the media.

Worth1 · March 8, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by hunter

So there seems to be some differences of opinions between using potting soil and potting mix when potting up. Maybe I'll pot half in mix and the other half in potting soil following my hillbilly scientific method

Thanks!

It might be just the use of words.
The bags of MG Natures Care Organic raised bed soil has no soil in it.
It is almost good enough to start tomato seeds in just a little too coarse.
I do start beans in it though.

hunter · March 8, 2016

Thanks for the recommendation! I checked out the ingredients on MG's website. Looks like good stuff!

Worth1 · March 8, 2016

Don't expect a lot of nutrients in it.
I tried the Kellogg's potting soil in a raised bed and it has a ton of sticks.
It was about $7 something for 2 cubic feet and the HG stuff was $9 something for 1.5 cubic feet.
Plus I added the perlite.

Worth

March 8, 2016	#1
hunter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 213	Potting up soil question I'm trying to stay ahead of the curve this year. If I recall, I used to pot up tomatoes with the same soil-less seed starting mix that I used to germinate them in trays. In this year's case, I used Fox Farm Light Warrior. Would this be fine for potting up into Solo cups, or should I use potting soil or a blend of mix and soil? Thanks!

March 8, 2016	#2
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	I would think that would be expensive. I use FF Light Warrior for seeding and then pot up into a soiless mix. Have used ProMix, Espoma and others. I don't use potting soil as the young roots seem to like a lighter, looser medium.

March 8, 2016	#3
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Fox Farm Light Warrior is a little costly. I used a Pennington brand this year and MG last year. I like the MG better for potting up. As warm as it has been this year in Texas, I'm starting to wonder if I could have just thrown the tomato seeds out on the ground

March 8, 2016	#4
Cheryl2017 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: san antonio, texas Posts: 173	Probably Salt. I have volunteers growing all over the place.

March 8, 2016	#5
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I didn't plan on growing Market More 76 cucumbers this year but I spread out a compost pile around a Fox tail fern and the seeds have started to sprout everywhere. As for me I am very very happy with the MG Natures Care raised bed soil mixed with about 1/4 perlite to pot up seedlings. Worth

March 8, 2016	#6
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Soil less seed starting mix does not contain nutrients so when the seedlings are ready to be potted up, I use an organic potting soil. If you don't use a soil with nutrients then you should be feeding them a dilute solution of fertilizer.

March 8, 2016	#8
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Light Warrior does have nutrients, because it has worm castings in it. Fox Farm has an uber-expensive potting mix that would be the next step after the Light Warrior. It's called Ocean Forest, $20 or so per bag. I use a peat-based pro mix I buy from Menard's. It does not have nutrients. At that point, I start mixing a little miracle grow in the water I use. My final potting up before selling plants is when they go from a 6-pack into a 4" pot. At that point, I will mix some Osmocote into the media.