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#121 |
Tomatoville® Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7
Posts: 10,385
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Nope! And that is the risk not having a greenhouse. I don't start transplanting until there is a very low risk of frost - they are into the driveway once they go into the 4 inchers. The last two years I've done the Reemay dance several times...but haven't lost any, fortunately (moving a few thousand 4 inch pots into the garage is no fun...but I have had to do it when things get a bit too dicey with the low temps!)
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Craig |
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#122 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Edina, MN (Zone 4)
Posts: 945
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Do you transplant once or twice prior to planting? Just wondering if the 4 inch pot is large enough or would hinder root growth.
A) Do you go from the seedling to 4 inch pot to planting in the ground? Or B) Do you go from seedling to 4 inch pot to larger pot to planting in the ground? |
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#123 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 64
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I've started onions this way for what seems like eons.
I plan to try my hand at it with tomatoes, peppers and eggplant this year. Does anyone know of other plants that don't object to dense planting and being pulled apart? Thanks! <Woodchuck> |
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#124 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Alexandria, LA
Posts: 1
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nctomatoman - thanks for the info. I'm planning on using this method for my seeds. I'm a little late, but still crossing my finger, have a new baby, so the garden got put on the back burner. What type of grow light would you suggest? Also, I was looking for a recommendation for mulching around my tomato plants, if so and what kind??
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Wendi Alexandria, LA |
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#125 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: So. California
Posts: 6
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nc- where do you find your MetroMix 360?? I am having a very hard time tracking it down. Also, do you have any thoughts on using the 4" peat pots from the start for a home grower who is only growing like 20 plants??? Thanks for this fabulous post!
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#126 |
Tomatoville® Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7
Posts: 10,385
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Wendi, I just use inexpensive shop lights with 48 inch fluorescent tubes. I try to minimize the time they are under light and move them into the sun as soon as the weather allows, a little at a time of course. For mulch, I use grass clippings -we don't treat our lawn.
arwmommy, I get it from a local farm supply - the company that makes it is Sungrow - you can Google to find out if they sell it near you. I've never used peat pots, so others can probably chime in on pros and cons of them from their experience.
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Craig |
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#127 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: So. California
Posts: 6
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OK NC-
I just got off the phone with Sun Gro, and there is no one within 200 miles who sells it, and no one online. It is a "professional mix" so it is not carried anywhere near me. ![]() Do you have another medium that you would strongly recommend???? |
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#128 |
Tomatoville® Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7
Posts: 10,385
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I've heard that Jiffy Mix works - or you can make your own - there are lots of threads here and there at Tville about people making their own mix, or play around with Google and Seed Starting Mix and see what you come up with!
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Craig |
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#129 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2007
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 610
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Look for a seed starter mix from Premier, Pro-Mix, or Pro-Mix BX.
http://www.premierhort.com/eProMix/index.htm |
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#130 | |
Tomatoville® Administrator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: The Bay State
Posts: 3,207
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![]() To me they are more trouble than they are worth. Ditto for those expand-in-water Jiffy Peat Pellets. ![]()
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Mischka One last word of farewell, Dear Master and Mistress. Whenever you visit my grave, say to yourselves with regret but also with happiness in your hearts at the remembrance of my long happy life with you: "Here lies one who loved us and whom we loved." No matter how deep my sleep I shall hear you, and not all the power of death can keep my spirit from wagging a grateful tail. |
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#131 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: So. California
Posts: 6
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Thanks! I was actually going to probably use CowPots, but didn't realize they were about a dollar a piece + shipping. Yikes. I will probably try to pawn some 4" pots off my local nursery.... maybe they will sell some to me.
Sorry to hijack! |
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#132 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,542
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What a terrific thread!
Craig, how important is the very warm water at the beginning? Did you start out using cold water and found the seeds germinated sooner or better with warm water? Or is the warm water in lieu of a heating mat? Or is it just more pleasant to work with? This method makes so much sense. I got one-inch plugs of a couple native plants at a garden tour a few years ago, and eventually ended up with 50 plants of one variety and 20 of the other, so I know it's easier than it seems to transplant tiny seedlings from a dense clump. I've also done this with onions, but instead of pulling them apart, I swish the clump in water, which makes them a lot easier to separate. |
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#133 |
Tomatoville® Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7
Posts: 10,385
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No, warm water at the beginning is to allow it to seep into the Metro Mix more quickly. The temp isn't important aside from that.
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Craig |
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#134 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Kansas CIty
Posts: 560
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nctomatoman...I can't thank you enough for this thread! I used it mid-way through my planting last year. This year I used this method almost exclusiely. I was AMAZED at how much room I saved, the high germination and success rate, and the ease of separating and re-potting. This has saved me a ton of time and a lot of work!
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Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a ![]() |
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#135 |
Tomatoville® Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7
Posts: 10,385
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Great - love to hear people succeeding with this method!
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Craig |
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