6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

I planted my broccoli, cauliflower, gooseberry, and tomato seeds once they germinated in the filters. I carefully plucked them from the filter and put them directly on moistened soil-less mix then covered lightly with more soil less mix. That then went under the lights. Plants popped up and are very happy.

HTH

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's some instructions with pictures

HTH covered it well - transplant as soon as they sprout (they won't live long on the filter) and use any soil-less mix you want.

If you want more info I have linked numerous "baggie method" discussions for you below. There is also a FAQ here on how to do it.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: Baggie method discussions

There are 2 forums seed saving & exchange they will be able to help you.......

'Blue Spires' is a Cultivar, therefore starting from seed may not come true.

Gardens North does sell the species PEROVSKIA atriplicifolia.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gardens North

Thanks

They do look like a nice set-up. Too bad they are so expensive and only do 24 plants. Sounds like you good a really good deal on so many of them. ;)

Dave

Most of your commercial seed starting mediums contain slight traces of fertilizers especially ment to get seeds/seedlings off to a good start. To have a truly "organic" blend, you'll have to make it yourself. Here's a basic peat starting mix for you: 2 parts coconut coir or peat moss; 1 part vermiculite; 1 part perlite, 1 part dehydrated steer manure; and 1/5 part dolomite lime. The lime is used to raise the pH of the naturally acidic peat, also provides calcium and magnesium, Espoma brand of pelleted is excellant! To prepare the blend, start with the peat and dampen thoroughly. Add next ingredient, mix, dampen and blend again, continue til you have it all together in the amount you need. It is highly advisable to wear a mask when making the medium to avoid inhalation of dust(s) associated with perlite and lime (if a powdered form is used). Making your own will not be cheap: think you'll find costs of everything, overall, will be very close to purchasing something already made up.
If you want to try a commercial blend that contains micorise (helps in root formation), a 16 quart bag of Pro Mix Ultimate Seeding Mix can be gotten thru www.greenhousemegastore.com for $12.95 plus $5 s/h. This is the BEST I've used yet, and you can't find it everywhere! Item number is: SO-PM-USM so you can find it faster if you want to look at its contents.
Hope I've helped a bit...GOOD GROWING!

Plain old Jiffy Mix has nothing but peat and vermiculite in it. Check out the previous discussion linked below - many tips in it. Plain old peat plus vermiculite or perlite is about as "organic" as you can get. ;)

But I'm surprised you couldn't find one online - Gardeners Supply, Gardens Alive, Parks, Gurney's, etc. all carry various types. metro Mix is organic as all it has added is a wetting agent.

Dave

Or just use homemade compost - many discussions here at GW about it (see link at top of the forum page called Peat vs. compost.

Here is a link that might be useful: Best seed starting mixes

We have a little one foot tall avacado tree in a pot started the same way you started your's, from what I remember we left it in the water until it had some leaves and roots, the seed split but still clung on a for quite a while, but when we put it in the soil it was without the seed. So I think it's ok if the seed splits, just as long as you make sure the whole plant doesn't fall in the cup, and by the time the seed falls off completely hopefully it will be big enough to go into a pot. I'm no avacado tree growing expert but thats what we did.

Hope that helped?
Good luck to you : )

you have stored the seed under ideal conditions & SHOULD germinate..... Seed take 60-90 days to germinate so.......

Wow! 60-90 days for tulip seed? Holy cow.

Thanks for the reply.

. The leaning is normal turn flat 90 dregrees every other day. a second light will help also move near a window with good light. all plants will get leggy if grown in poor light.

Hi misty - have you reviewed all the FAQ's here? Linked at the top of the front page. They cover most of the basic info needed.

As to when to transplant? It depends on how crowded it is in your starting containers. If crowded, transplant some now with lots of care. Handle the leaves only not the stems. Are the stems on anything real long and leggy? If so they need to be transplanted deeply to just below the bottom leaves now.

The rest can wait until they develop their first true leaves. Then transplant them to new containers and either use a mix with fertilizer already in it or start feeding them a mild 1/4 strength solution of any good liquid balanced fertilizer.

Enjoy your plants.;)

dave