6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed
I don't fertilize the seedlings I start in soiless mix. For one thing, depending on what you buy, the mix may contain all you need to get them through transplantation. For another, I've found that generally "less is more" when it comes to the question of what and whether to add things to my seed starts. Knock wood, I have very good, consistent results with healthy plants.
mandolls, sorry I misread your question earlier. The reason people use fish/seaweed fertilizer on soilless mix is probably because it still works. The breakdown is going to take some time but not that long.
The soil is relatively sterile but not perfectly sterile, but you always have something in the air. If you imagine putting a little piece of fish or moist seaweed on your soilless mix, it is not likely that the fish/seaweed will not spoil because the medium is sterile. It is going to breakdown and pretty fast too.
So all you have is a slightly delayed fertilizing. I would say if you happen to have chemical fertilizer, use them (diluted) for your seedlings; if not the organic should work too....
I am using both peat pots and a biodegradable egg carton...no mold on the peat pots, but the egg cartons have a spider-like white mold forming around the edges...I tried the 10-1 hp solution, so will see how that works. Thanks for all the good advice, also.
You can upload a photo here--you just need to upload it to a photo sharing website first to get the html code. Once you have the html code, there's some text that has to be added at the beginning and end in order for the photo to display.
From your description, my guess would be Hibiscus syriacus/rose of Sharon. There are varieties with pink flowers--I've got one--as well as blue, white and white w/maroon eye zone. Are the seeds fuzzy/hairy around the edges? I have rose of Sharon seeds from my shrubs and am wondering if that could be what you've got. I don't have a picture of the seeds but here's one of the flower:
If you go to the FAQ of this Forum, you will find detailed instructions for the laundry basket method. I've never used it but it seems much easier than the usual in and out method. Here's a link:
http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/seed/2003045235010103.html
I use the laundry basket when I pot up seedlings from starter trays to plastic cups, run out of space under the lights on my growing bench/table, and move them to my greenhouse. After several days, I remove the basket, and they have adjusted to the sunlight of the greenhouse.
When it gets warm enough for them to spend nights outside, I move them to a screen covered shelter I built from storm doors and a sliding patio door screen. They have always made the transition from the greenhouse to this shelter, and from the shelter to my garden without apparent stress.
Here's a link to the Seed Exchange for you.
Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Web Seed Exchange
Just wanted to share my excitement of discovering that I am now growing a quince plant! Last December I managed to find quinces at the farmer's market and later tried saving and planting the seeds. Unfortunately, I really didn't do my research beforehand about properly saving the seeds, and they got moldy. The seeds I planted never sprouted, and I figured I did something wrong.
HOWEVER, despite my poor gardening skills one quince seed has managed to sprout! I completely forgot about it until the leaves popped up. Nature finds its own way. I am going to be hovering over that thing for the next six months, watching it grow.
And this may be my imagination, but I can almost swear that the little seedling has a faint, sweet quince fragrance.
Northerner, I'm in Oklahoma, and my Baptistas are pretty late getting started. They are coming up now, stalks that look rather like asparagus, one has a flower bud. I moved them year before last, and they do not like being moved, so went black & dormant - so I was happy they came back at all, then they were completely eaten by caterpillars, so once again, I'm happy they survived. I did nothing to protect them for winter, which got pretty cold this year.
If it gives you a clue timing-wise, I planted tomatoes today, although I usually wait until the 15th.
Thank you for the timing info, Betty. If yours are now coming up in Zone 7 USA, it's probably too early for me to expect any visible activity from mine (Zone 5A Canada). You planted tomatoes today, and I started tomatoes under lights today, so I will give them a bit more time and use that as a benchmark. Enjoy your tomatoes!!
You are unsuccessful because you are worried about Bio-domes and all these money wasting schemes. I am very successful in growing seeds. My only problem is my plants are getting too big and still cold outside. I have Tomatov plants from one foot to 1/12 foot. I have squash, Cucumber, Honey dew, Cantaloupe, Okra, Pepper, Egg plant and all kinds of glowers. I have some old beaten up pots I keep them from year to year. I spent a little money on potting soil and heating Mat that all. Last year We had to replace our leaky bath-top. The workers wanted to throw away the old top I stopped them, digged a hole in the back-yard. made few holes in the bottom of the top filled it with good top soil with compost. Now it is a raised bed which produces 100s of pounds of tomatoes which my family enjoys and I give the rest to the soup kitchen. I keep it simple I enjoy it more.
Dear foolishpleasure
Thanks for your input
I am a super bad seed starter. No matter how close I have them to the grow light they are always leggy. I plan on germinating my seeds inside then putting out to the sun. With the biodome i'm hoping that the seedlings will grow uniformally (is that a word?) leaving very little to chance...hoping this season will be a better one!
Thanks again!
Dale
Check out this older post, it may be helpful (link below).
Here is a link that might be useful: Purple pepper leaves
The people at Pro-Mix actually responded to my question as follows:
"Due to the age of the product, it would be fine to mix it into the garden versus using it for starting seeds. As this product ages certain chemical additives breakdown and are no longer effective; i.e. wetting agent (now product is hard to wet), fertilizer charge (no longer present) and possibily the limestone has been activated (reducing it's effect on pH). Therefore, mixing it into soil is the best alternative. The peat moss, perlite and vermiculite in the product will help the soil be more porous and allow better drainage. "
So I guess I'll have to buy new...unless anyone actually has experience with 5 year old BX.
Thanks for any help!
I had sone 9 month old Pro-Mix BX with Biofungicide and it had lost its anti-fungus properties after that time, and I could see mold growing on the surface of my seed starting mix, whereas with a new bale of the same stuff I see no mold and never get any damping off problems.
I am guessing after a year one of the other kinds they sell, Pro-Mix BX with Mycorize, the beneficial fungi would probably be dead
So lesson learned, don't buy more Pro-Mix than you can immediately use in the next few months, and be careful how you store it.
I water my tomatoes and peppers overhead, keep them in an unheated workshop, use plain old potting soil and I've never had damping off. But while we get foggy mornings, California isn't typically as humid as states east of the Rockies, so maybe it's the natural climate here that is helping me out, or something I'm unwittingly doing that is offsetting nasty habits.
I do find it funny that some people do things other people swear against and come up with the same results. The more time I spend on these forums, the less I'm finding myself using terms like "must". Not to say there isn't a ton of experience to learn from on these forums. There most definitely is.
Here is a link that might be useful: my blog
I never have a problem with damping off. Here's what I do. YMMV. First, I plant in plastic (6-pack) cells. I fill the cells with a good quality soiless mix (no particular brand - but labeled for germination). I water the mix (in the trays) with boiling water. When they are thoroughly wet, I put them aside overnight before planting. This allows the mix to become uniformly moist. If there is any water left in the tray, I dump it out (rarely happens). The next day I plant. I cover the seeds with bird gravel and lightly water. I cover the trays with a humidity dome, propped open and put them on an unlit shelf until germination (except for those that need light to germinate). It is usually a few days before I need to water them again, but I check thm daily. Make sure the humidity domes are propped open to allow for good air circulation.