6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

OK. This is my first year starting from seed. I've wintersown around 100 varieties of seed. No idea how that will work out as I have no germination yet.

I've also started a dozen or so varieties of peppers and a dozen or so varieties of tomatoes from seed, along with a tray of broccoli, cauli and brussels sprouts and a few other herbs and a couple trays of flowers.

I've found that the coir pellets from Burpee work very well. Like the soil blocks, they help air prune the roots and don't let the coir/soil get too moist. I also used the coir pellets that expand into the little cell packs. Again, they have been quite successful. Nothing lost to damping off yet, knowck on wood. I think part of my luck has been the use of coir instead of peat as my seed starting medium. Apparently peat sometimes carries the bacteria/virus that causes damping off, while there is apparently no indication of coir doing so, though I could be wrong.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that at least 2/3 of my wintersown varieties will grow and survive/thrive for me.

Mark-

I'm sorry zengeos, there is nothing "like the soil blocks"!
Pellets are compressed at the factory and have lost most of there water absorbing qualities and microbiotic life. Pure junk!

Here is a link that might be useful: The World's authority on starting seeds in soil blocks.

I have never seen or used a planting stick, but perhaps one would help.

http://www.ihdi.uky.edu/kygrow/starting%20seeds.htm

"For those who have difficulty bending or getting up and down, planting sticks could be the answer. A planting stick is a plastic pipe cut waist or chest high with a funnel attached. Sharpen a dowel rod and tape it securely to the outside of the pipe allowing it to protrude 3 inches beyond the bottom of the pipe. Use the dowel to make a dibble of the proper depth for the seeds you are planting and drop the seed down the tube into the hole. Another variation for those who use a cane is to attach the tube to the cane instead of a dowel."

Some seeds will germinate nicely sprinkled on the surface of the soil. That is because they require light to germinate. I put a nice sheet of fluffy soil down, sprinkle the seeds and water them in.

Other seeds require darkness to germinate. A nice base of soil, seeds and then a covering is a great idea. For seeds that need to be put a little deeper into the earth, perhaps a planting stick can be investigated.

I looked around online for the Able Gardener catalog, and found a good one in the UK. They have all sorts of specialty tools. I don't see the planting stick though. The US catalog did not seem to have all of the garden. tools. They do sound like they are easy enough to make.

The planting stick sounds like the ideal answer for you. If you can't get one made right away, you might take a hoe and just make a thin row to plant in and drop your seed there and use the hoe to cover them lightly. I am not in a wheelchair but have difficulty bending over. This helps me.

I must admit I harden off way earlier than normal ,even if I lose some it's worth it.I start too many and I can't wait to get them out of the house. So far this year everything has gone well,even the Brugmansias are thriving.I would not recommend this to everyone,It does get extremely stressfull wondering if I am going to lose the lot from a late frosst,so far so good!

I have a covered, screened in porch with a half-wall all around. I put my plants out there all day. I just make sure they are in full shade all day long for the 1st week. Then I move them to a spot where they will get a couple of hours of full light, then a few more. etc. This time of year I am out of room under the lights.

Kay.

Well I suppose you could try. ;) The reason seed starting mixes don't have any fertilizer in them is because new germinated seedlings can't handle them - it burns the plant. Only after the seedling develops it first set of true leaves can it benefit from fertilizers.

As to the need for transplanting - there are several detained discussions here about this - but in a nutshell, at least one transplanting is required to trigger fibrous root development - the kind the plant needs to survive and produce. Without that trigger of transplanting the seedling only develops tap roots. It's a hormone thing like "puberty". So, as we always say, do what is best for the plant, not what is most convenient for the gardener. ;)

Dave

Thanks for your help Dave, it was very informative. I wanted to ask if you know anything about moon flowers? I have some growing in a hanging basket,can they stay in the basket or will I need to transfer them to a box with a trellis of some kind? Also the weather here went from 90 degrees to 57 degrees and very overcast with no sun,what can I do to get them more sunlight?
Toni