Favorite seed starting mix

uno · January 17, 2019

Back in the 1990's it seemed that the only problem that I had was that my tomato plants grew too fast indoors.

But now my tomatoes look bad when I start them off. I need to work on it!

I have been using Pro-Mix BX, the peppers seem to do great in it but the tomatoes don't seem to like it.

Just wanted to see what others favorite seed starting mix is?

Thanks

Jim

greenthumbomaha · January 17, 2019

I use whatever is in stores, and it isn't an issue for tomatoes. Peppers I am quite particular about. Fertilome and Fafard are excellent for peppers. as is the ProMix- BX.These products contain bark fines whereas lower priced mixes are heavy on peat with no fines.
I'm just going to throw this out off the top of my head …. are you feeding your transplants?

I feed my peppers only two or three times at most during their stay indoors. Tomato seedlings get fed a low strength snack quite regularly. Perhaps it is a fertilizer issue.

- Lisa

uno · January 17, 2019

Thanks Lisa

Yes I feed them. Last year I used Espoma Start organic fertilizer.

Jim

greenthumbomaha · January 17, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by uno

Thanks Lisa

Yes I feed them. Last year I used Espoma Start organic fertilizer.

Jim

Some additional information as to their condition and at what stage could help define the problem. Perhaps one of the experts will weight in on water quality which is not a problem in my current area. My water used to smell like a swimming pool when I worked in Philly.

- Lisa

Just noticed you are in West PA, but curious anyway.

zipcode · January 18, 2019

Floraself Select line (with the red packaging). Most probably the best somewhat cheap mix in Germany. Certainly not as cheap as the ones in Aldi etc, but a lot better, and also a lot better than similarly priced stuff in stores specialized in transplants like Dehner.

PhilaGardener · January 18, 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

My water used to smell like a swimming pool when I worked in Philly. . . . Just noticed you are in West PA, but curious anyway.

+1, water around Philly has been hyperchlorinated lately

probably because of all the rain this year. Let tap water stand before use or using purified water is an excellent idea!

FarmerShawn · January 18, 2019

Vermont Compost's Fort Vee can't be beat, if you are in a location where you can get hold of it.

jtjmartin · January 18, 2019

I use whatever goes on clearance the previous fall. Usually Miracle Grow or Hyponex. This year I found Burpee Organic Potting Mix from a K-mart going out of business.

Greatgardens · January 20, 2019

I like Burpee's Organic Seed Starting Mix which is coco coir. I press the seeds lightly into the top of the mix and then cover with a thin layer of diatomaceous earth. With bottom heat at around 80 deg. F, I usually get germination in 4 or 5 days. If I use peat (only occasionally), then I screen the mix with a 1/2" hardware cloth sieve to remove lumps and stems.

chiefbeaz · January 26, 2019

There are two that I used. Pro mix BX and Jeffy seed starting mix. They both seem to do good . I always re pot into Pro mix BX after the seedling grow their second true set of leaves. Jeffy has a much finer growing media than Pro Mix,but you can stir up pro mix and it does as well. Just stay away from heavy potting mix, not designed for seed starting in my experience.

January 26, 2019

I’ve had good success using Coco Loco from Foxfarm.

Foose4string · March 13, 2019

I like regular ol MG potting soil. Biggest bag they got. Start seeds in it and transplant them in it.
I think I got over 95% germination after about 8-10 days. Most up within half that time. 13 varieties seen in this pic. Keep in mind some of this seed is 10+ years directly sown to “barks and sticks”.

Rajun Gardener · March 13, 2019

I tried Lambert's this year and love it for the price. Sign up at AM Leonard to receive emails, they offer free shipping a few times a year and that's a deal that's hard to beat.
This bale is 65 lbs and will last years depending on how many plants you start. I have 3/4 of the bag left and started and just repotted a few hundred seedlings.
https://www.amleo.com/lambert-germin...8-cf/p/LM18GM/

Ironwood · March 13, 2019

I like Lambert's as well.

1 part Lambert's
1 part perlite
1 part worm castings

Each watering I give a touch of Cal/Mag and Root n Grow, or compost tea.

I use this mix in 50 cell round flats.

Ozark · March 13, 2019

I start seeds the way Carolyn has always taught: Jiffy Mix Seed Starting Mix with no fertilizer until they grow a set of permanent leaves, then transplant into 3" cells filled with MG Potting Mix.

Those always work well for me, but I'm going to change my timing a bit this year. I always start seeds on Mar. 15 and plant out in the ground during the first week of May - that's because our average last killing frost date here is April 15 and, not liking frozen seedlings, I've played it safe.

However, my tomato seedlings are growing bigger than I want them AND other gardens around here are usually a couple of weeks ahead of me in getting ripe summer veggies. I'm going to get braver this year and, keeping an eye on the forecasts, try to get tomatoes and peppers in the ground as soon after April 15 as I can.

Hope I'm not out there after dark covering seedlings to try and keep them from freezing.

January 17, 2019	#1
uno Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: SW Pennsylvania, zone 6a Posts: 147	Favorite seed starting mix Back in the 1990's it seemed that the only problem that I had was that my tomato plants grew too fast indoors. But now my tomatoes look bad when I start them off. I need to work on it! I have been using Pro-Mix BX, the peppers seem to do great in it but the tomatoes don't seem to like it. Just wanted to see what others favorite seed starting mix is? Thanks Jim Last edited by uno; January 17, 2019 at 11:18 PM. Reason: mispelling

January 18, 2019	#7
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	Vermont Compost's Fort Vee can't be beat, if you are in a location where you can get hold of it. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

March 13, 2019	#13
Rajun Gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tomato Cornhole Posts: 2,550	I tried Lambert's this year and love it for the price. Sign up at AM Leonard to receive emails, they offer free shipping a few times a year and that's a deal that's hard to beat. This bale is 65 lbs and will last years depending on how many plants you start. I have 3/4 of the bag left and started and just repotted a few hundred seedlings. https://www.amleo.com/lambert-germin...8-cf/p/LM18GM/ __________________ Rob

January 17, 2019	#2
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	I use whatever is in stores, and it isn't an issue for tomatoes. Peppers I am quite particular about. Fertilome and Fafard are excellent for peppers. as is the ProMix- BX.These products contain bark fines whereas lower priced mixes are heavy on peat with no fines. I'm just going to throw this out off the top of my head …. are you feeding your transplants? I feed my peppers only two or three times at most during their stay indoors. Tomato seedlings get fed a low strength snack quite regularly. Perhaps it is a fertilizer issue. - Lisa

January 18, 2019	#5
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Floraself Select line (with the red packaging). Most probably the best somewhat cheap mix in Germany. Certainly not as cheap as the ones in Aldi etc, but a lot better, and also a lot better than similarly priced stuff in stores specialized in transplants like Dehner.

January 18, 2019	#8
jtjmartin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Williamsburg VA Zone 7b Posts: 1,110	I use whatever goes on clearance the previous fall. Usually Miracle Grow or Hyponex. This year I found Burpee Organic Potting Mix from a K-mart going out of business.

January 20, 2019	#9
Greatgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,124	I like Burpee's Organic Seed Starting Mix which is coco coir. I press the seeds lightly into the top of the mix and then cover with a thin layer of diatomaceous earth. With bottom heat at around 80 deg. F, I usually get germination in 4 or 5 days. If I use peat (only occasionally), then I screen the mix with a 1/2" hardware cloth sieve to remove lumps and stems.

January 26, 2019	#10
chiefbeaz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Middle, TN Posts: 271	There are two that I used. Pro mix BX and Jeffy seed starting mix. They both seem to do good . I always re pot into Pro mix BX after the seedling grow their second true set of leaves. Jeffy has a much finer growing media than Pro Mix,but you can stir up pro mix and it does as well. Just stay away from heavy potting mix, not designed for seed starting in my experience.

January 26, 2019	#11
PlainJane Guest Posts: n/a	I’ve had good success using Coco Loco from Foxfarm.

March 13, 2019	#14
Ironwood Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Upstate Ny Zone 5b Posts: 29	I like Lambert's as well. 1 part Lambert's 1 part perlite 1 part worm castings Each watering I give a touch of Cal/Mag and Root n Grow, or compost tea. I use this mix in 50 cell round flats.

March 13, 2019	#15
Ozark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ozark, Mo. Posts: 201	I start seeds the way Carolyn has always taught: Jiffy Mix Seed Starting Mix with no fertilizer until they grow a set of permanent leaves, then transplant into 3" cells filled with MG Potting Mix. Those always work well for me, but I'm going to change my timing a bit this year. I always start seeds on Mar. 15 and plant out in the ground during the first week of May - that's because our average last killing frost date here is April 15 and, not liking frozen seedlings, I've played it safe. However, my tomato seedlings are growing bigger than I want them AND other gardens around here are usually a couple of weeks ahead of me in getting ripe summer veggies. I'm going to get braver this year and, keeping an eye on the forecasts, try to get tomatoes and peppers in the ground as soon after April 15 as I can. Hope I'm not out there after dark covering seedlings to try and keep them from freezing.