what do you start your seeds in ?

[countryboy01974]

just wondering what ever body else used to start seeds in. do you mix your own or use something like the jiffy pellets just wondering

[SquashNut]

a mix of peat moss and pearlite in plasic pots.

[Marcia in MT]

Fisons Sunshine #5 in plastic plug flats of various sizes. We reuse plug flats by washing them with a very strong spray of plain water and then dipping them into a commercial disinfectant solution.

[Heritage]

I use a soil blocker and my own soil block recipe.

[wilderness1989]

I've been starting my seeds with just regular store bought potting soil for many years with wonderful success. This year I bought "Ferry Morse - Quick 'n Easy Seed Starter Mix" and had terrible results as in some seeds did not germinate at all and most of the ones that did were stunted and weird. I did not do anything different that when I started doing this in the early '70's. Had anybody else had luck like this? The seeds did not all come from the same source, I used new plastic pots like I usually do, and the same lighting as ever.

[MaineFarmMom]

Originally Posted by Heritage

I use a soil blocker and my own soil block recipe.

Do you have a suggestion on where to buy a soil blocker?

I buy premade starter by the bale and start seeds in 1020 trays. 1020's are 10" x 20".

[countryboy01974]

Originally Posted by wilderness1989

I've been starting my seeds with just regular store bought potting soil for many years with wonderful success. This year I bought "Ferry Morse - Quick 'n Easy Seed Starter Mix" and had terrible results as in some seeds did not germinate at all and most of the ones that did were stunted and weird. I did not do anything different that when I started doing this in the early '70's. Had anybody else had luck like this? The seeds did not all come from the same source, I used new plastic pots like I usually do, and the same lighting as ever.

I bought some from wal-mart there brand . it was really cheap but I won't ever buy it again I had about the same luck with it . after the fact my wife reminded me I done the same thing last year so this time I wrote it down luckily most of my seeds were started in jiffy pellets and one of those seed starters that takes the sponges.I did repot some of them into that junk they call potting soil though after you water it turns to concrete ain't nothing but sand and sticks in it bought some of the miracle grow potting soil after that it seems ok

[oberhaslikid]

I use Miracal grow potting soil,seems to work well for me.

[Charleen]

Seeds are started in yogurt cups filled with vermiculite. Then transplanted into Miracle Grow potting soil.

[sue currin]

Make my own dirt, but for starting seeds that need light i put them on a damp paper towel in a plastic container, then move the plants to pots

[hisenthlay]

Plant mine in potting soil in whatever little containers I have handy--plastic cups, deli trays, starter pots, whatever. Seems to work fine for me. Last year I got hit with a little damp off when I had seeds started in a covered tray that kept things really moist, but I haven't had any trouble with that this year so far (knock on wood)--I'm just not covering anything. I've got mine in the basement, which is a little humid anyway, and cool, but under fluorescent lights, with one incandescent lamp added for heat and extra light.

[mistletoad]

We use an organic potting mix - two different brands this year as our supplier ran out before we bought the second bale. We also use the 1020 flats with the 72 cell inserts.

[commomsense]

Originally Posted by countryboy01974

just wondering what ever body else used to start seeds in. do you mix your own or use something like the jiffy pellets just wondering

Peat pots, For soil I use compost.

[hengal]

I use Plantation soiless seed mix I get at Walmart. I've used it for several years. Seeds are started in recycled cell packs w/bottom trays - the 72 cell ones with plastic top. I bought the plain trays and the plastic top, but all my cell packs, 3" and 4" pots and gallon sized pots are from a landscaper that works outside my building. After I asked if I could have her empties, she and her co-workers put all they had in a couple of large trash bags for me and I've been washing and re-using the stuff ever since. That was a blessing.

[Hank - Narita]

We mix our own soil using composted mulch, peat moss and perlite or vermiculite.

[wy_white_wolf]

Peat pots and a mixture of 1/2 mirical grow potting soil and 1/2 compost

[Jennifer Brewer]

Originally Posted by wilderness1989

I've been starting my seeds with just regular store bought potting soil for many years with wonderful success. This year I bought "Ferry Morse - Quick 'n Easy Seed Starter Mix" and had terrible results as in some seeds did not germinate at all and most of the ones that did were stunted and weird. I did not do anything different that when I started doing this in the early '70's. Had anybody else had luck like this? The seeds did not all come from the same source, I used new plastic pots like I usually do, and the same lighting as ever.

How weird. I used this stuff for the first time and this is by far the best year i've ever had. I also use the jiffy pellets. and i put the starting mix inside jiffy pots.

i like to water the seadlings with fishtank water once they get their true leaves. i don't know if it makes a difference, but it makes since.

[amwitched]

The last several years I had used the peat pellets. This year I started my tomatoes in 4" paper towel / toilet paper cores and Organic potting soil mix. I had started a couple more tomatoes and my peppers in the 6-holed containers that you buy pregrown flowers/veggies in at the chain stores.

I did find that the ones that I started in the paper cores are not growing very fast. I still only have two or three permanent leaves on all of those plants, while the ones in the 6-holed containers are doing much better.

Oh well, I thought it would be easier to grow the seedlings in the cardboard core and then transplant into the ground as one unit, instead of trying to put the core over the top of an established plant ( to keep the stem chewers away).

Next year I will probably go back to the peat pellets.

[pondman]

We are now using a little sand, a little water and tupperware. The sand worked better than paper towel, the roots didn't get stuck together. Then we move them to potting soil. This year it was miracle grow. so far so good

[hisenthlay]

Originally Posted by amwitched

The last several years I had used the peat pellets. This year I started my tomatoes in 4" paper towel / toilet paper cores and Organic potting soil mix. I had started a couple more tomatoes and my peppers in the 6-holed containers that you buy pregrown flowers/veggies in at the chain stores.

I did find that the ones that I started in the paper cores are not growing very fast. I still only have two or three permanent leaves on all of those plants, while the ones in the 6-holed containers are doing much better.

Oh well, I thought it would be easier to grow the seedlings in the cardboard core and then transplant into the ground as one unit, instead of trying to put the core over the top of an established plant ( to keep the stem chewers away).

Next year I will probably go back to the peat pellets.

I use the paper towel roll method too, and it seems to work fine for me, as long as I can keep the soil moist. That's the hard part, but I find peat pellets are even worse at drying out quickly, so maybe that's not your problem. I don't know what good the paper towel rolls would be at preventing stem chewers, though--mine go right into the ground like a peat pellet, so they don't protect the stem, and even if they were taller, they're all soggy and ready to disintegrate at that point anyway.