Seed starting mix comparison (pics)

14 years ago

Until this year I started everything in Planter's Pride pellets. They worked fine for me, but this year I decided to try seed starting mix in pots.

Based on reading GardenWeb I got Jiffy and Miracle-Gro seed starting mixes (have not found ProMix around here).

Just for fun I did a few side-by-side plantings. I planted the same seeds at the same time, one set in Jiffy mix and one set in Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix.

The germination and growth differences were pretty interesting. All the seeds in Jiffy mix germinated much slower and grew less vigorously.

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Husky red cherry tomato (Jiffy left, Miracle-Gro right)

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Litchi tomato (Morelle de Balbis) (Jiffy left, Miracle-Gro right)

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Green tomatillo (Jiffy left, Miracle-Gro right)

A couple of days ago I received my order of Natural Beginnings seed starting mix from Gardens Alive. I have another side-by-side started with Miracle-Gro and Natural Beginnings, will report back when that has grown out.

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Comments (8)

keriann_lakegeneva
14 years ago
I love experiments!

Thank you for sharing : )

Keep us posted

Keriann~
sleepy33
14 years ago
I do too, and it looks like you can't argue with the evidence here that the MG seedlings are much bigger and healthier looking!
sunsi
14 years ago
hmm, just started mine in Jiffy, darn. Lemme know how that other stuff works, interesting indeed.
brownthumb65
14 years ago
PLEASE,PLEASE tell me how do you post the pictures directly in the forum?
I can't figure it out (deadhead). The only way I know is to post a link to my photo bucket account, but I would like to directly post on the forum!

THANKS! Sorry :-)
sleepy33
14 years ago
On photobucket, copy the HTML code line under your photo. Paste it in your message. Voila!
queenofthemountain
Original Author
13 years ago
My next comparison was Miracle-Gro vs. Natural Beginnings seed starting mix from Gardens Alive.

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Chichiquelite Huckleberry - Gardens Alive left, Miracle-Gro right

Chichiquelite Huckleberry germination:
3/3 MG
1/3 GA

Ground Cherry germination:
4/6 MG
6/6 GA

No clear winner on germination, but long-term growth was better in the Gardens Alive mix. While results were pretty clear comparing Jiffy vs. Miracle-Gro, I will do some more comparison plantings between Miracle-Gro and Gardens Alive.

Obviously this is a very limited survey, your mileage may vary.
ateinthehead
13 years ago
This is wonderful! Thanks for posting your experiments! I was just shopping for a new starter soil and was researching the GA mix. Definitely going the GA route. Thanks again for doing the "dirty" work :)
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
13 years ago
For those of us doing the slower growers how about starting some slow ones like Pentas? Al