seed-starting media - Page 2

clara · March 31, 2009

For this year, it's too late as all my seeds are in the trays or have even been transplanted into small cups, but for next year, I'm thinking about the following procedure: I fill half a cup with normal soil (the bottom part), then add seed starting soil to the top and put the seed into it. When the roots have developped, they should reach the "normal" soil. Doing this, I would avoid one transplantation. One cup, one seed. What do you think about this? Has anybody tried this yet?
clara

Barbee · March 31, 2009

I've always transplanted from the flats into 8 oz cups. Then again into larger 22 oz cups if needed. I usually had to pot up again, as the root system was pretty full in the 8 oz cups. This year, I went from flats directly to the 22 oz cups. But I used a mix of 1/2 seed starting mix, and half potting soil.
I am also experimenting with some perennials potting up into 1 gallon containers using half top soil from my outside pile and half MG potting soil.
I'll let you know how it turns out

feldon30 · March 31, 2009

The benefit of transplanting is burying the stem and having roots grow out of the stem. You are turning the root sytem from primarily a tap root into a fibrous, spread out root.

The tap root issue means your tomato plants will almost immediately grow down into your "real" soil and thus after only 1-2 weeks be exposed to soilborne diseases, bacteria, and fungus. You might get lucky and have no problems, or you might lose all your plants to damping off. I don't feel like taking that risk.

I start in 72 cell trays with sterile soilless seed starting mix and then transplant up into less expensive potting mix in 4 inch pots.

Adenn1 · April 14, 2009

Well...my go to nursery that has carried the Pro Mix Seed Starter the last few years decided not to bring it in this year. I was shocked and disappointed. They had some small bags (8qt) of some brand I had never heard of...but they wanted $10 for them.

I have half a large bag of Pro Mix left from last year. Going to buy some good peat moss and some Perlite and mix this up. This should get me through this season.

feldon30 · April 14, 2009

Yeah it's really driving me crazy about the Pro-Mix. It's the best soil mix money can't buy.

The best was the compressed bales of Pro-Mix. 4 cu ft of potting mix for $12 is a steal.

Adenn1 · April 15, 2009

I got lucky one year...late in the fall and found several bags of Pro Mix at Home Depot...they had it on clearance for $3 a bag.

No such luck like that as of late...

March 31, 2009	#17
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	I've always transplanted from the flats into 8 oz cups. Then again into larger 22 oz cups if needed. I usually had to pot up again, as the root system was pretty full in the 8 oz cups. This year, I went from flats directly to the 22 oz cups. But I used a mix of 1/2 seed starting mix, and half potting soil. I am also experimenting with some perennials potting up into 1 gallon containers using half top soil from my outside pile and half MG potting soil. I'll let you know how it turns out __________________ *Barbee*

March 31, 2009	#18
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	The benefit of transplanting is burying the stem and having roots grow out of the stem. You are turning the root sytem from primarily a tap root into a fibrous, spread out root. The tap root issue means your tomato plants will almost immediately grow down into your "real" soil and thus after only 1-2 weeks be exposed to soilborne diseases, bacteria, and fungus. You might get lucky and have no problems, or you might lose all your plants to damping off. I don't feel like taking that risk. I start in 72 cell trays with sterile soilless seed starting mix and then transplant up into less expensive potting mix in 4 inch pots. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

April 14, 2009	#19
Adenn1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 559	Well...my go to nursery that has carried the Pro Mix Seed Starter the last few years decided not to bring it in this year. I was shocked and disappointed. They had some small bags (8qt) of some brand I had never heard of...but they wanted $10 for them. I have half a large bag of Pro Mix left from last year. Going to buy some good peat moss and some Perlite and mix this up. This should get me through this season. __________________ Mark

April 14, 2009	#20
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Yeah it's really driving me crazy about the Pro-Mix. It's the best soil mix money can't buy. The best was the compressed bales of Pro-Mix. 4 cu ft of potting mix for $12 is a steal. __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

April 15, 2009	#21
Adenn1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Philly Posts: 559	I got lucky one year...late in the fall and found several bags of Pro Mix at Home Depot...they had it on clearance for $3 a bag. No such luck like that as of late... __________________ Mark

March 31, 2009	#16
clara Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 1,351	For this year, it's too late as all my seeds are in the trays or have even been transplanted into small cups, but for next year, I'm thinking about the following procedure: I fill half a cup with normal soil (the bottom part), then add seed starting soil to the top and put the seed into it. When the roots have developped, they should reach the "normal" soil. Doing this, I would avoid one transplantation. One cup, one seed. What do you think about this? Has anybody tried this yet? clara