Your choice of starting mix - Page 2

Cole_Robbie · March 25, 2015

I started with Burpee's mix, but ran out.

I've been using peat-based pro mix on the bottom half of the cell of pot, and then vermiculite in the top half with the seed. I have always had good results with vermiculite.

Tania · March 25, 2015

It used to be Promix HP for me. Not anymore. It was a great mix for seed starting, but pepper seedlings will not thrive in it.

We now make a mix from 75% coco coir and 25% perlite. Works so much better for pepper seedlings! When potting up, we just add 50% compost.

Tatiana

luigiwu · March 25, 2015

I start dense sowing (see NCtomatoman's videos) using either Miracle Gro Seed Starting Mix or this year, Espoma Organic Seed Starting Mix. Last year was great and this year seems on track to do the same. When they get a couple sets, I pot them up using whatever commercially bagged potting MIX I can get at that time. Last year again was MG potting mix, this year I'm trying Espoma potting MIX.

habitat_gardener · March 26, 2015

Happy Frog. It's only $12 a bag at the local hydroponics store -- a great source for organic gardening supplies.

When I pot up, I use a mix of recycled soil and potting mix, with homemade compost.

Blk_Vegan · March 27, 2015

This is my second year using Vermont Compost's Fort Vee as my seed starting medium. Had amazing results last year with this mix and experiencing like results so far this season. Seedlings are vibrant and exhibit tremendous growth habit. It's pricey but worth it in my opinion.

Fort Vee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcktI2q_5mM

Emeoba69 · March 29, 2015

IM about to pot up my seedlings. Would mushroom compost be a decent medium for potting up if it was mixed 50/50 with other soils? I have some happy frog soil left over from last year as well as perlite and vermiculite. I need to pot up before I leave on a trip and I can't make it back to my hydroponic store before then. This stuff is dirt cheap at the big box stores...

Cole_Robbie · March 30, 2015

Some people do ok with compost in their media. I tend to get stem rot and damping off, especially in cold weather.

FISHBONE · March 30, 2015

jiffy bag of 12qt seeding mix and 72 cell hexagon cell tray.. soak mixed distilled water in a bucket and lightly filled cells .. used a pencil and dropped individual seeds in each cell lightly cover 1/8 to 1/4 inch depth. placed on a heat pad out of direct sunlight. less than 15.00 with a few burpee packs..rutgers and red brandywine ..plus last seasons seeds i purchased here from Renee.

SummerSky · March 31, 2015

I'm using Fox Farm's Light Warrior this year, and so far so good. Previously I've used Jiffy mix, and that worked just fine for me too. I give them a weak solution of fertilizer when they get their first true leaves.

I pot them up when they get their second set of true leaves (or sometimes third if I fall behind), into 3-4" pots with potting soil of some sort.

FISHBONE · March 31, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by SummerSky

I'm using Fox Farm's Light Warrior this year, and so far so good. Previously I've used Jiffy mix, and that worked just fine for me too. I give them a weak solution of fertilizer when they get their first true leaves.

I pot them up when they get their second set of true leaves (or sometimes third if I fall behind), into 3-4" pots with potting soil of some sort.

yes, i go with the dollar store party pinic plastic cups.. drill few 1/2 holes in the bottom also use quality potting soil

reniusa · April 20, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelleybean

I get the Black Gold from my local garden center. Not sure what you mean by "complete" but seed starting mix won't have any fertilizer in it. When I bump my seedlings up to the bigger pot, I use a regular potting mix and begin to feed them. That's about the time they get two sets of true leaves.

Thanks for a tip on when to transfer seedlings. I know it wasn't the intention, but I do appreciate it!

FISHBONE · April 20, 2015

I just repotted the seedlings into bigger 1 pint sized party cups.. i used a 1/4 drill bit and drill a hole center bottom about a half dozen stack cups at a time. also made a 50/50 mix of both the left over bag of jiffy starter seed mix which basically is fortified peat moss with miricle grow potting soil. I still want the peat because I think the seedlings root system grow much faster and bigger with enriched peat mixture, I shall find out soon enough.. I also started outside hardening process and so far they are looking great..24 plants potted so far.. going to pot the others next few days too. When i repot.. I use a sardine fork and gently lift from under each seedling in the jiffy 72 cell tray..using caution not to break both tray or the plants roots.. i also premix with water to half the party cup..easing the seedlingin the middle and gently back filling up the 3/4 full the party cup. plenty deep for these seedlings to grow well over a foot if need be before they can be put out after danger of last frost..probably end of May. I will be using miracle grow and milorgranite for in ground fertilizer and from there we shall see

mostly beef steak variety and fewer cherry plants this season

Mike723 · April 21, 2015

I used to use Promix HP but found it to be very clumpy. I like the texture of Light Warrior much more. Next season I'm going to try a mix I've been reading about: Double/triple ground hardwood bark mulch, my homemade compost and some pea gravel (or perlite).

Cole_Robbie · April 21, 2015

Does anyone use plain sand? It seems like that would work well, but I haven't tried it yet.

Mike723 · April 21, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by FISHBONE

I just repotted the seedlings into bigger 1 pint sized party cups.. i used a 1/4 drill bit and drill a hole center bottom about a half dozen stack cups at a time. also made a 50/50 mix of both the left over bag of jiffy starter seed mix which basically is fortified peat moss with miricle grow potting soil. I still want the peat because I think the seedlings root system grow much faster and bigger with enriched peat mixture, I shall find out soon enough.. I also started outside hardening process and so far they are looking great..24 plants potted so far.. going to pot the others next few days too. When i repot.. I use a sardine fork and gently lift from under each seedling in the jiffy 72 cell tray..using caution not to break both tray or the plants roots.. i also premix with water to half the party cup..easing the seedlingin the middle and gently back filling up the 3/4 full the party cup. plenty deep for these seedlings to grow well over a foot if need be before they can be put out after danger of last frost..probably end of May. I will be using miracle grow and milorgranite for in ground fertilizer and from there we shall see

mostly beef steak variety and fewer cherry plants this season

Fishbone, I certainly wouldn't use milorganite on edibles.. I use it occasionally on the lawn and bamboo but not on anything I'll be eatting. Sewage sludge and food I'll be eating just doesn't jive well with me lol.. There are many better alternatives.. To each their own of course.. =)

March 25, 2015	#17
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	It used to be Promix HP for me. Not anymore. It was a great mix for seed starting, but pepper seedlings will not thrive in it. We now make a mix from 75% coco coir and 25% perlite. Works so much better for pepper seedlings! When potting up, we just add 50% compost. Tatiana __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

March 25, 2015	#18
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	I start dense sowing (see NCtomatoman's videos) using either Miracle Gro Seed Starting Mix or this year, Espoma Organic Seed Starting Mix. Last year was great and this year seems on track to do the same. When they get a couple sets, I pot them up using whatever commercially bagged potting MIX I can get at that time. Last year again was MG potting mix, this year I'm trying Espoma potting MIX. __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

March 27, 2015	#20
Blk_Vegan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 131	This is my second year using Vermont Compost's Fort Vee as my seed starting medium. Had amazing results last year with this mix and experiencing like results so far this season. Seedlings are vibrant and exhibit tremendous growth habit. It's pricey but worth it in my opinion. Fort Vee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcktI2q_5mM __________________ Success in life is not guaranteed but a life with no purpose is guaranteed to fail.

April 20, 2015	#27
FISHBONE Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: the garden state Posts: 38	feed for seedlings I just repotted the seedlings into bigger 1 pint sized party cups.. i used a 1/4 drill bit and drill a hole center bottom about a half dozen stack cups at a time. also made a 50/50 mix of both the left over bag of jiffy starter seed mix which basically is fortified peat moss with miricle grow potting soil. I still want the peat because I think the seedlings root system grow much faster and bigger with enriched peat mixture, I shall find out soon enough.. I also started outside hardening process and so far they are looking great..24 plants potted so far.. going to pot the others next few days too. When i repot.. I use a sardine fork and gently lift from under each seedling in the jiffy 72 cell tray..using caution not to break both tray or the plants roots.. i also premix with water to half the party cup..easing the seedlingin the middle and gently back filling up the 3/4 full the party cup. plenty deep for these seedlings to grow well over a foot if need be before they can be put out after danger of last frost..probably end of May. I will be using miracle grow and milorgranite for in ground fertilizer and from there we shall see mostly beef steak variety and fewer cherry plants this season

March 25, 2015	#16
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I started with Burpee's mix, but ran out. I've been using peat-based pro mix on the bottom half of the cell of pot, and then vermiculite in the top half with the seed. I have always had good results with vermiculite.

March 26, 2015	#19
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	Happy Frog. It's only $12 a bag at the local hydroponics store -- a great source for organic gardening supplies. When I pot up, I use a mix of recycled soil and potting mix, with homemade compost.

March 29, 2015	#21
Emeoba69 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 37	IM about to pot up my seedlings. Would mushroom compost be a decent medium for potting up if it was mixed 50/50 with other soils? I have some happy frog soil left over from last year as well as perlite and vermiculite. I need to pot up before I leave on a trip and I can't make it back to my hydroponic store before then. This stuff is dirt cheap at the big box stores...

March 30, 2015	#22
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Some people do ok with compost in their media. I tend to get stem rot and damping off, especially in cold weather.

March 31, 2015	#24
SummerSky Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Michigan Posts: 126	I'm using Fox Farm's Light Warrior this year, and so far so good. Previously I've used Jiffy mix, and that worked just fine for me too. I give them a weak solution of fertilizer when they get their first true leaves. I pot them up when they get their second set of true leaves (or sometimes third if I fall behind), into 3-4" pots with potting soil of some sort.

April 21, 2015	#28
Mike723 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: CT Posts: 290	I used to use Promix HP but found it to be very clumpy. I like the texture of Light Warrior much more. Next season I'm going to try a mix I've been reading about: Double/triple ground hardwood bark mulch, my homemade compost and some pea gravel (or perlite).