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Canada

What does everyone use?

Myself year after year Ive always used that light fluffy stuff purchased from eaither Canadian Tire or Rona , HomeDepot ext.

Why not in the spring bring some soil in from the patch area thaw it and allow it to dry then use that soil for starting? seeing thats the soil they grow in it shouldnt hurt for seed starting eaither?

any ideas

Dave

12/10/2005 9:41:39 PM

Norton, MA

I use Miracle Grow soil to start. Tried patch soil, doesn't drain well enough, too fibery also for small roots. AleX Noel.

12/10/2005 10:08:36 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

With a high priced seed you can't take chances with an unsterile soil.

12/10/2005 11:06:10 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

1 part peat
1 part perlite
1 part vermiculite
Mycorrhizae at 3.5 ounces per cubic foot of mixture

12/11/2005 12:39:16 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Ditto Matts formula but I make sure to use the fine milled sterile Peat. Hydrate this mix with 1 part water & you're ready to roll.

12/11/2005 12:50:02 AM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

yep

12/11/2005 1:52:28 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

I also go along with the idea that if seeds won't start in my patch soil what chance have the plants got later on but I am growing seeds of low financial value and agree that you can't take any risks at all with a $400 seed.
Commercial loam based mixes usually contain peat moss and sand to prevent slumping (mud pies)and improve drainage and wettability.
I have used patch based starting mixes for the last 4 years mostly pasteurised but am now into large potfuls of unsterilised with an eggcupful of sterile peat moss compost into which the seed is sown.
I think temperature and water are the cause of a lot of germination problems,whatever you use do some tests with it first.

12/11/2005 5:19:37 AM

Indiana

i use miracel grwo mix works great!.

12/11/2005 9:38:46 AM

Indiana

that should be grow.

12/11/2005 9:39:03 AM

Indiana

jeese that should be miracle grow

12/11/2005 10:22:18 AM

Western NY

Pro-Mix BX is my choice. I think i'm using some similar product now, but i like pro-mix the best.

Traditionally, I add a small amount of soil from the best part of my planting site and mix it in. It usually makes up about 10-25% of the final mixture

12/11/2005 10:55:54 AM

Canada

This Miracle grow stuff your all talking about, Is this the stuff that has the "feeding" addtives mixed in with the soil? Ive used this stuff in the past for house plants and it works great but mine has the little tiny red,blue, yellow fertilizer balls mixed in

Dave

12/11/2005 6:13:48 PM

Norton, MA

You can use that, it should work fine, but I like to know exactly what my seedlings get by way of fertilizer. If you can find it just use the plain, sterile, Miracle Grow potting mix with the little white balls in it (the moisture ones). AleX Noel.

12/11/2005 6:49:49 PM

Canada

Ya i'll see what I can find in the new year

thanks
Dave

12/11/2005 7:14:28 PM

Ontario, Canada.

Dave, I'm using Schultz Professional Potting Soil Plus with 9 month multicote fert, from Walmart. 18L bag for about 4 or 5 bucks each. 1 bag will fill about 3 or more, 2 gallon pots. It is a good blend of peat and perilite. I'm using it for all the seed testing I've started yesterday.

Pro-Mix BX is not available locally. I believe you may be able to find it in large quantities as a landscapers product.

As mentioned above patch soil is not sterile and high cost seedlings could be subjected to damping off problems. You can bake garden soil for this purpose, but is it really required considering the small amounts of starter mix we use. My money rests with the good quality store bought bagged stuff.

Russ

12/11/2005 8:26:46 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Premier pro mix

12/11/2005 9:39:19 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

Where might I find the Pro-mix BX and Premier pro-mix? Are those steril soils too?

12/12/2005 1:42:06 AM

ENGLAND

Back in the early 1990's i was told, by some HH's of the time, that the potting/starting mixture should not contain any form of fertiliser whatsoever as the roots need to be hungry and search for food. As the seedlings are in their starter pots for such a short amount of time this starvation will not harm the Seedlings as they will soon be getting their required feed when transplanted out into the permanant growing areas. I followed this line of thought and never had any Seedlings that looked weak during their very first few days of life and once transplanted out and finding their food they thrived.

Just my 1 pennies worth.

Regards
Mike

12/12/2005 3:13:05 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Try Lowes and Home Depot.

12/12/2005 7:16:18 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Most better independent Garden Centers sell Premier's Proo BX around here. I buy it in 4 cu ft bales for growing annuals on. I don't like it for propagating but have used it in a pinch.

I do NOT advocate using Scott's starting mix for AGs because of the added fertilizer. Many of the other packaged starting mixed also contain fertilizer. I've had severe losses starting Impatiens in these mixes despite the very small amount of added fertilizer. Scott's has a Proline for soiless starters but ypou won't find them offered retail. Look instead for the three ingredients Matt & I are using under the trade name "Hoffman". Their ingredients are more comp[letely free of added fertilizer, sterile & reasonably priced.

If a started plant has to be grown on in a pot, then BX or even a fertilizer-added mix can be used.

12/12/2005 10:30:50 AM

Pocatello (cliffwarren@yahoo.com)

If I put my patch soil in square pots, I could make bricks... ;-(

12/12/2005 10:45:26 AM

Utah

I've started my AG's in Scott mix with fert...and it didn't seem to hurt anything...
... just my observation...
I might have to see if I can avoid it in future.

12/12/2005 2:57:13 PM

Follansbee, Wv

I start my seeds in 3-liter soda bottles filled with worm compost. When I fill the pots, I put a 16 ounce styro cup in the center at the top. Once the bottle is filled, I remove the cup and fill the center with a mix of peat, perlite, and vermiculite. This gives a sterile starting mix and the benefits of worm castings after the roots begin to spread.

12/12/2005 5:09:18 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

The supplemental fertilizer in Scott's soils is really only a problem if there happens to be Pythium spores on the seed or your hands or blowing around the aire while the seedling is emerging. That little bit of extra N is like gasoline on a fire. If it's never happened then count your blessings. If it does happen then welcome to the convert club.

12/12/2005 9:17:47 PM

Is anyone familiar with the premier pro mix mycorise? Would you not need to add your own mycorrhizae?

12/16/2005 8:39:05 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Tony,

I've heard of it but would be curious which species of mycorrhizae they are using. Some have little effect on annuals. We'd be looking for a blend of the various VAM Ectomycorrhizal inoculants.

12/16/2005 2:05:17 PM

Omaha, NE (N41-15-42 )

I believe Premier pro mix mycorise only contains glomus intraradices.

12/16/2005 11:01:19 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

GI is a solid work-horse but I think the end user would do well with greater diversity.

12/17/2005 1:01:31 AM

Coventry R.I.

i,ve heard useing your own patch soil, there could be disease in it

12/22/2005 12:14:19 PM