Diatomaceous Earth as a seed starting medium - Page 4

RayR · July 14, 2012

Here's the current state of some pepper plants in containers from the DE seed starting experiment. Very healthy and moving right along with fruit set and many flowers.

meadowyck · July 14, 2012

That are some really nice looking peppers. The company that I have an order with keeps putting me off for the 50lb bag says it is due in this day then I call first (thankgoodness) nope didn't come in yet. I'm giving them two more weeks to get their act together before I go looking somewhere else as they have horses there and I'm also hope to talk them out of some horse manure when I go....LOL

Levent · July 20, 2012

Solanum quitoense (Naranjilla) seedling in diatomite

nativeplanter · July 20, 2012

Do you guys find that smaller seeds get lost under such large particles?

RayR · July 20, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by nativeplanter

Do you guys find that smaller seeds get lost under such large particles?

No, not at all. I guess you have to work with DE first to get the feel of it. Even though there are large particles, there are small one's too. It's really no different than working with a regular seed starting mix. Your seeds won't get lost, they stay where you put them.

Let me get this straight, you are planning on using a food grade DE for seed starting? That is extremely finely powered, I haven't tried that. I don't know how that would work. I use it for insect control so know how dusty it is but it sounds to me that it would be difficult to work with compared to a granular DE.

meadowyck · July 20, 2012

wow.... I've still not gotten any as the company I found keeps telling me oh the delivery will be in next week, and so it goes, if there was another company that was close I would switch, but I've come to decide that should it not be in next week for me to pick up, then I'm going with my regular seed starter soil.

Alpinejs · March 24, 2014

I have been searching the thread and have likely just missed it, but am wondering about the approximate no. of days before one can expect germination of
tomato seeds. Any veteranos remember this salient fact?"

meadowyck · July 21, 2012

I'm going to shift out the finer parts, as he said he could get it not in complete powder, maybe that is why it is taking so long for it to come in.....

My main reason for it is for pest control fleas on my collies and in the yard, then to use for seeds, so we will see if it is too fine and turns to concrete.....

RayR · July 21, 2012

If it's "not in complete powder", what is it?. Do you know where it comes from and the intended purpose of the product?

meadowyck · July 21, 2012

it is food grade as they use it around their horse farm, even giving it to the horses, but mostly they use it in the manure to keep the flies down.

meadowyck · July 28, 2012

OK finally, finally got my DE today, so I'm a happy camper.

Starting tomorrow with seeds, hurrayyyyyyy I'm so excited..... Plus got lots of aged horse manure as well. Hard to think of life getting any better...LOL

jacksson · August 1, 2012

I just ran into this DE subject and am very interested in trying it. Being new in starting seeds for container gardening, I planted some seeds in Jiffy Mix over a week ago and there is no sign of plant life. I planted some Astia Zucchini seeds a week ago in my basic soil mixture for pots and they are already two inches tall. Thanks to all of you for the information regarding DE. I have some food grade DE available and will try that rather than JM in my next seeding. Not seeding right now, temperature outside was 107 a few hours ago; ice tea time.

meadowyck · August 2, 2012

jacksson, it is always sweet ice tea time here....LOL We have gone almost a week without rain,,, and that makes for hot that is rather uncomfortable..... but hopefully we will get some rain this weekend due to TD storm that is coming from the south, what would be good is if the storm could move inland to all the midwest areas that are in need of rain, even if the rain would be too late in the season.

jacksson · August 4, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by meadowyck

jacksson, it is always sweet ice tea time here....LOL We have gone almost a week without rain,,, and that makes for hot that is rather uncomfortable..... but hopefully we will get some rain this weekend due to TD storm that is coming from the south, what would be good is if the storm could move inland to all the midwest areas that are in need of rain, even if the rain would be too late in the season.

We haven't had any rain worth mentioning for over a month, maybe two. But, that is more or less normal in sunny California. But, I am drinking Chai tea.

meadowyck · August 5, 2012

jacksson I love your avatar, that owl is beautiful.

Well still now rain it stayed to the north of us, maybe tomorrow.

July 14, 2012	#2
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	That are some really nice looking peppers. The company that I have an order with keeps putting me off for the 50lb bag says it is due in this day then I call first (thankgoodness) nope didn't come in yet. I'm giving them two more weeks to get their act together before I go looking somewhere else as they have horses there and I'm also hope to talk them out of some horse manure when I go....LOL __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

July 20, 2012	#6
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	wow.... I've still not gotten any as the company I found keeps telling me oh the delivery will be in next week, and so it goes, if there was another company that was close I would switch, but I've come to decide that should it not be in next week for me to pick up, then I'm going with my regular seed starter soil. __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

July 21, 2012	#8
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	I'm going to shift out the finer parts, as he said he could get it not in complete powder, maybe that is why it is taking so long for it to come in..... My main reason for it is for pest control fleas on my collies and in the yard, then to use for seeds, so we will see if it is too fine and turns to concrete..... __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

July 21, 2012	#10
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	it is food grade as they use it around their horse farm, even giving it to the horses, but mostly they use it in the manure to keep the flies down. __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

July 28, 2012	#11
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	OK finally, finally got my DE today, so I'm a happy camper. Starting tomorrow with seeds, hurrayyyyyyy I'm so excited..... Plus got lots of aged horse manure as well. Hard to think of life getting any better...LOL __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

July 20, 2012	#4
nativeplanter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Hampton, VA Posts: 86	Do you guys find that smaller seeds get lost under such large particles?

March 24, 2014	#7
Alpinejs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Alpine, Calif. in winter. Sandpoint Lake, Ont. Canada summers Posts: 850	I have been searching the thread and have likely just missed it, but am wondering about the approximate no. of days before one can expect germination of tomato seeds. Any veteranos remember this salient fact?"

July 21, 2012	#9
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	If it's "not in complete powder", what is it?. Do you know where it comes from and the intended purpose of the product?

August 1, 2012	#12
jacksson Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Reedley, CA Posts: 13	I just ran into this DE subject and am very interested in trying it. Being new in starting seeds for container gardening, I planted some seeds in Jiffy Mix over a week ago and there is no sign of plant life. I planted some Astia Zucchini seeds a week ago in my basic soil mixture for pots and they are already two inches tall. Thanks to all of you for the information regarding DE. I have some food grade DE available and will try that rather than JM in my next seeding. Not seeding right now, temperature outside was 107 a few hours ago; ice tea time.

August 2, 2012	#13
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	jacksson, it is always sweet ice tea time here....LOL We have gone almost a week without rain,,, and that makes for hot that is rather uncomfortable..... but hopefully we will get some rain this weekend due to TD storm that is coming from the south, what would be good is if the storm could move inland to all the midwest areas that are in need of rain, even if the rain would be too late in the season. __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt

August 5, 2012	#15
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	jacksson I love your avatar, that owl is beautiful. Well still now rain it stayed to the north of us, maybe tomorrow. __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt