Seed starter or potting soil?

Boarhead · February 19, 2012

I did a trial run in Dec. with putting some tomato seeds in a ziploc bag with moist paper towel on top of my cable box and almost all seeds sprouted.

I will be starting this years crop the same way. Now, once the seeds have sprouted, should I transplant them into a seed starter mix ( FF light warrior) or into a potting mix (happy frog potting soil) or does it really matter? Thanks

kurt · February 19, 2012

I myself think it is all a marketing gimmick.I have the the chance to know one of the biggest tomatoe farmers down here in S Fla and all they do is use pro mix hp in deep plug trays and transplant into ground from there.I started with all the pellets,fancy mixes,and went to the farmers methods and never saw a difference.All that culling and handling is one more step I beleive you do not need.From one foot seedlings from plug trays to in ground is a guarantee 100% transplant ratio.Once you break up the roots during culling(the roots that are invisible to the eye)it slows down the plant growth.Those cardboard looking squares hinder the root growth never seem to biodegrade as promised.The plastic type net pellets will never biodegrade and do hinder root growth.

Fusion_power · February 19, 2012

Your underlying question is whether or not seed start mix and potting mix are interchangeable. The answer is NO. Always use seed start mix for starting seed. Seed start mix is sterilized, potting mix may not be. Seed start mix is light and holds moisture but does not stay soggy, potting mix can be the opposite.

DarJones

February 19, 2012	#1
Boarhead Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Nashville Posts: 34	Seed starter or potting soil? I did a trial run in Dec. with putting some tomato seeds in a ziploc bag with moist paper towel on top of my cable box and almost all seeds sprouted. I will be starting this years crop the same way. Now, once the seeds have sprouted, should I transplant them into a seed starter mix ( FF light warrior) or into a potting mix (happy frog potting soil) or does it really matter? Thanks

February 19, 2012	#2
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,498	I myself think it is all a marketing gimmick.I have the the chance to know one of the biggest tomatoe farmers down here in S Fla and all they do is use pro mix hp in deep plug trays and transplant into ground from there.I started with all the pellets,fancy mixes,and went to the farmers methods and never saw a difference.All that culling and handling is one more step I beleive you do not need.From one foot seedlings from plug trays to in ground is a guarantee 100% transplant ratio.Once you break up the roots during culling(the roots that are invisible to the eye)it slows down the plant growth.Those cardboard looking squares hinder the root growth never seem to biodegrade as promised.The plastic type net pellets will never biodegrade and do hinder root growth.

February 19, 2012	#3
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	Your underlying question is whether or not seed start mix and potting mix are interchangeable. The answer is NO. Always use seed start mix for starting seed. Seed start mix is sterilized, potting mix may not be. Seed start mix is light and holds moisture but does not stay soggy, potting mix can be the opposite. DarJones