germinating mix recommendation

jamserg · April 23, 2015

I'm switching from fafard germinating mix (not happy with it lately) and I would appreciate recommendations of a good germinating (seed starting ) mix. tia

Dutch · April 23, 2015

I used Fox Farms "Light Warrior" this year and it worked great for me. I topped the cells with DE once the seedlings started to emerge. I had used Fafard germinating mix for many years with great results, but Fafard germinating mix doesn't not perform as well as it had in the past.

Dutch

Gardeneer · April 24, 2015

@ Dutch, ... you link did not worked.

Here is what I have been using. PINE BARK FINE + DE + PERLITE + DOLOMITIC LIME

As I use / make my own 5-1-1, I always have pine barks and DE (Floor Dry).
I sieve pine barks to get particle size from dust to <= 1/4".

for potting I use the same except pine barks up to 1/2".

Since none of those items has nutrients , I start light feeding (after appearance of true leaves) with 1/3 strength liquid fertilizer, supplemented with calcium.

Gardenee

Dutch · April 24, 2015

"Dutch, ... you link did not worked."

Thanks Gardeneer. I will edit my post.

habitat_gardener · April 24, 2015

I use Happy Frog, also made by Fox Farms.

decherdt · April 24, 2015

Sifted (or not) MG Seed Starter for tomatoes.
Coir + perlite +vermiculite, watered with kelp, for hot peppers,
Cinnamon to taste

Vacaville · April 25, 2015

100% perlite. Works great!

Cole_Robbie · April 25, 2015

Light Warrior is good stuff, but expensive.

This year, I put a peat-based promix in the bottom of the cell, and the top half got straight vermiculite. I have used 100% vermiculite before. It doesn't crust over on top when it dries out. My pro mix dries to a crust that sprouts can't break through.

Aerated compost tea makes a great initial drench. I get faster germination and growth with that method.

rhines81 · April 25, 2015

For germination, just about anything that can retain moisture and doesn't compact will do. Get the cheapest stuff you can find... or just dampen up a coffee filter lay your seeds in it, fold and place it in a baggie. Both ways germinate equally well.
For growing you should be more selective in your soil, but not for germination.

lexusnexus · April 25, 2015

I've had great success with Pro-Mix HP. I also have a bale of Pro-Mix BX.

Dan

Vespertino · April 25, 2015

Lady Bug Germinator is what I've been using for the past 3 years. Love it!

shelleybean · April 25, 2015

I, too, used Fafard, until my local garden center replaced it with Black Gold, which I like better. Nicer texture.

kath · April 25, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by shelleybean

I, too, used Fafard, until my local garden center replaced it with Black Gold, which I like better. Nicer texture.

I've been going through bags of everything available locally that doesn't have "moisture control" ingredients. So far my favorite is Black Gold.

April 23, 2015	#1
jamserg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Tulsa, OK Posts: 105	germinating mix recommendation I'm switching from fafard germinating mix (not happy with it lately) and I would appreciate recommendations of a good germinating (seed starting ) mix. tia

April 23, 2015	#2
Dutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: S.E. Wisconsin Zone 5b Posts: 1,831	I used Fox Farms "Light Warrior" this year and it worked great for me. I topped the cells with DE once the seedlings started to emerge. I had used Fafard germinating mix for many years with great results, but Fafard germinating mix doesn't not perform as well as it had in the past. Dutch __________________ "Discretion is the better part of valor" Charles Churchill The intuitive mind is a gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. But we have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. (paraphrased) Albert Einstein I come from a long line of sod busters, spanning back several centuries. Last edited by Dutch; April 24, 2015 at 04:07 AM. Reason: Removed Link

April 24, 2015	#4
Dutch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: S.E. Wisconsin Zone 5b Posts: 1,831	"Dutch, ... you link did not worked." Thanks Gardeneer. I will edit my post. __________________ "Discretion is the better part of valor" Charles Churchill The intuitive mind is a gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. But we have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. (paraphrased) Albert Einstein I come from a long line of sod busters, spanning back several centuries.

April 24, 2015	#6
decherdt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 329	Sifted (or not) MG Seed Starter for tomatoes. Coir + perlite +vermiculite, watered with kelp, for hot peppers, Cinnamon to taste __________________ 500 sq ft of raised rows zone 8a

April 25, 2015	#10
lexusnexus Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MD Suburbs of DC, Zone 7a Posts: 500	I've had great success with Pro-Mix HP. I also have a bale of Pro-Mix BX. Dan __________________ Dan

April 24, 2015	#3
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	@ Dutch, ... you link did not worked. Here is what I have been using. PINE BARK FINE + DE + PERLITE + DOLOMITIC LIME As I use / make my own 5-1-1, I always have pine barks and DE (Floor Dry). I sieve pine barks to get particle size from dust to <= 1/4". for potting I use the same except pine barks up to 1/2". Since none of those items has nutrients , I start light feeding (after appearance of true leaves) with 1/3 strength liquid fertilizer, supplemented with calcium. Gardenee

April 24, 2015	#5
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	I use Happy Frog, also made by Fox Farms.

April 25, 2015	#7
Vacaville Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: California Posts: 4	100% perlite. Works great!

April 25, 2015	#8
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Light Warrior is good stuff, but expensive. This year, I put a peat-based promix in the bottom of the cell, and the top half got straight vermiculite. I have used 100% vermiculite before. It doesn't crust over on top when it dries out. My pro mix dries to a crust that sprouts can't break through. Aerated compost tea makes a great initial drench. I get faster germination and growth with that method.

April 25, 2015	#9
rhines81 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Zone 5A, Poconos Posts: 959	For germination, just about anything that can retain moisture and doesn't compact will do. Get the cheapest stuff you can find... or just dampen up a coffee filter lay your seeds in it, fold and place it in a baggie. Both ways germinate equally well. For growing you should be more selective in your soil, but not for germination.

April 25, 2015	#11
Vespertino Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Southlake, TX Posts: 743	Lady Bug Germinator is what I've been using for the past 3 years. Love it!

April 25, 2015	#12
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I, too, used Fafard, until my local garden center replaced it with Black Gold, which I like better. Nicer texture. __________________ Michele