Make Your Own Seed Starting Mix
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Date: 2022-07-18
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Comments and reviews: 15
J.
It's now known that the growth and fruiting potential of veggies is determined within days of germination, largely based on the soil constituents of the 'starting mix. ' So, yea, what you start your seeds in matters greatly to overall productivity. I include about 20% of my own garden compost (i. e, what my plants will eventually be grown in) into my seed starting mixes. I suspect this also reduces the potential for transplant shock as the biology and mineral components aren't changing so much upon transplantation. I'm like you, wondering why so many growers think their seeds are better off starting life in a sterile environment. just sounds illogical given what science is telling us about germination signalling and triggers necessary for plant health, and the importance of soil biology to create and satisfy those triggers. The real reason soil supplement makers sterilize their products is largely because of customer complaints about algae and insects that may appear during use. but I think those critters are actually good for the starting seedlings, for the most part. Yea, I see a couple fungus gnats, but they never get to large numbers or become annoying. It's much more important to me to get the seedlings off to the best start.
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It's now known that the growth and fruiting potential of veggies is determined within days of germination, largely based on the soil constituents of the 'starting mix. ' So, yea, what you start your seeds in matters greatly to overall productivity. I include about 20% of my own garden compost (i. e, what my plants will eventually be grown in) into my seed starting mixes. I suspect this also reduces the potential for transplant shock as the biology and mineral components aren't changing so much upon transplantation. I'm like you, wondering why so many growers think their seeds are better off starting life in a sterile environment. just sounds illogical given what science is telling us about germination signalling and triggers necessary for plant health, and the importance of soil biology to create and satisfy those triggers. The real reason soil supplement makers sterilize their products is largely because of customer complaints about algae and insects that may appear during use. but I think those critters are actually good for the starting seedlings, for the most part. Yea, I see a couple fungus gnats, but they never get to large numbers or become annoying. It's much more important to me to get the seedlings off to the best start.
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Kyle
In my context most of my germination and nursery work is done indoors, with grow lights; having a sterile seed starting mix is crucial in this space, for without it a lot of things can go wrong. One of my observations of gardening for the past year and raising plants primarily with grow lights/module trays - is that bags of soil left out for a season - can harbour pests such as fungus gnats, soil mites (not harmful) and other pathogens that can stunt growth of plants. Inside is not always as sterile as we might like to think, things like Downey Mildew can damage your seedlings if you don't have proper air circulation - reduced chances if you water from below! A couple of questions I have is - when it does come time to transplant these plants from inside, to outside; is there a noticeable transplant shock? What are the ways to reduce this shock? Is it just a myth, such as hardening off - something that Charles Dowding doesn't do?
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In my context most of my germination and nursery work is done indoors, with grow lights; having a sterile seed starting mix is crucial in this space, for without it a lot of things can go wrong. One of my observations of gardening for the past year and raising plants primarily with grow lights/module trays - is that bags of soil left out for a season - can harbour pests such as fungus gnats, soil mites (not harmful) and other pathogens that can stunt growth of plants. Inside is not always as sterile as we might like to think, things like Downey Mildew can damage your seedlings if you don't have proper air circulation - reduced chances if you water from below! A couple of questions I have is - when it does come time to transplant these plants from inside, to outside; is there a noticeable transplant shock? What are the ways to reduce this shock? Is it just a myth, such as hardening off - something that Charles Dowding doesn't do?
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Ottawajames
RE: sterilized potting mix,
personally I like the idea that the bag of potting soli i buy has no insects nor eggs in it, no fungal spores and no unwanted seeds inside it. I have recently bought a Mycorrhizal inoculant amendment that helps establish a healthy colony of beneficial fungus and bacteria in dead soils. I started using it last season and have had pretty positive results, mainly that the watering requirements of my potted plants has reduced by about a third due to better retention and uptake.
I do agree with you that there's no reason they should be inert, which is to say devoid of nutrients, though.
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RE: sterilized potting mix,
personally I like the idea that the bag of potting soli i buy has no insects nor eggs in it, no fungal spores and no unwanted seeds inside it. I have recently bought a Mycorrhizal inoculant amendment that helps establish a healthy colony of beneficial fungus and bacteria in dead soils. I started using it last season and have had pretty positive results, mainly that the watering requirements of my potted plants has reduced by about a third due to better retention and uptake.
I do agree with you that there's no reason they should be inert, which is to say devoid of nutrients, though.
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Hannah
Hey, nice video, you asked early in the video why seed starting mixes should be sterile and whithout nutrients.
To answer the question: Seed starter tents to be very low in nutrients to promote root growth (because the plant searches for nutrients. Then, when you put the seedling in your garden it already has some strong roots to start of its growth. And store bought mixes are sterile so every batch is the same and it's asured that there aren't any soil-borne deseases in them.
But I guess putting some nutrients in the mix won't hurt. :D
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Hey, nice video, you asked early in the video why seed starting mixes should be sterile and whithout nutrients.
To answer the question: Seed starter tents to be very low in nutrients to promote root growth (because the plant searches for nutrients. Then, when you put the seedling in your garden it already has some strong roots to start of its growth. And store bought mixes are sterile so every batch is the same and it's asured that there aren't any soil-borne deseases in them.
But I guess putting some nutrients in the mix won't hurt. :D
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KimblesTheBrave
I have a question: If I'm broke and don't want to buy a grow light, but I don't have any well-positioned windows with direct sunlight, is it reasonable to germinate seeds indoors and then move them outside to get sun when it's above freezing during the day? My last frost date is in May but I'm hoping to get a head start on the tomatoes at least. Does anyone have experience with moving plants between indoors/outdoors when they're still seedlings?
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I have a question: If I'm broke and don't want to buy a grow light, but I don't have any well-positioned windows with direct sunlight, is it reasonable to germinate seeds indoors and then move them outside to get sun when it's above freezing during the day? My last frost date is in May but I'm hoping to get a head start on the tomatoes at least. Does anyone have experience with moving plants between indoors/outdoors when they're still seedlings?
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Peter
I finally disagree with you on something (after 3 years. The reason you don't want nutrients in seed starting mix is you want the roots to ' reach ' to find nutrients. Seedlings can survive a fairly long time without nutrients just by using what is found in the seed. If you have nutrients for the seedling the first week, you will find that the roots are underdeveloped and the plant is much less drought resistent when you transplant it.
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I finally disagree with you on something (after 3 years. The reason you don't want nutrients in seed starting mix is you want the roots to ' reach ' to find nutrients. Seedlings can survive a fairly long time without nutrients just by using what is found in the seed. If you have nutrients for the seedling the first week, you will find that the roots are underdeveloped and the plant is much less drought resistent when you transplant it.
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Rocky
Hi! I have been having trouble getting advice response on other platforms so lets give this a shot with beloved epic gardening community-
Yay or nay to filling raised beds (fabric beds in my case) with compost only?
We have so much delivered and Ive been dispersing it through out the garden but some of my biggest beds were empty and I filled totally with the compost- and started having second thoughts. Any advice?
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Hi! I have been having trouble getting advice response on other platforms so lets give this a shot with beloved epic gardening community-
Yay or nay to filling raised beds (fabric beds in my case) with compost only?
We have so much delivered and Ive been dispersing it through out the garden but some of my biggest beds were empty and I filled totally with the compost- and started having second thoughts. Any advice?
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Varraz
I also make my own seed starting mix and Ive had great success with it.
4 parts coir, 2 parts sieved native soil (fine clay, high in minerals, 1 part sieved compost (from our food scraps, very fertile.
When the seedlings are ready for repotting, I swap the coir for weatherd and shredded horse manure, and I use equal parts of all three components, hands down the most successful method for me.
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I also make my own seed starting mix and Ive had great success with it.
4 parts coir, 2 parts sieved native soil (fine clay, high in minerals, 1 part sieved compost (from our food scraps, very fertile.
When the seedlings are ready for repotting, I swap the coir for weatherd and shredded horse manure, and I use equal parts of all three components, hands down the most successful method for me.
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hervva
i would just use my compost, but it sprouts a looot of weeds. I dont know what to do to stop weeds from my compost but i have no time to properly make hot compost. I use seedlings so i can see where the plant is and wouldnt eradicate it with all te weesd coming from compost but i'd rather directly put seeds in ground. Any tips, pls?
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i would just use my compost, but it sprouts a looot of weeds. I dont know what to do to stop weeds from my compost but i have no time to properly make hot compost. I use seedlings so i can see where the plant is and wouldnt eradicate it with all te weesd coming from compost but i'd rather directly put seeds in ground. Any tips, pls?
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Tommy
Hey Kev, so I'm not too far from you in Corona, but much hotter here, very dry soil. Would you mind telling me if you add Amend, steer manure, worm castings etc. before planting, how do you make your soil more effective? If it helps. I didn't grow last year (back injury) so any Amend I added last year wasn't used-up. Thanks much Kev
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Hey Kev, so I'm not too far from you in Corona, but much hotter here, very dry soil. Would you mind telling me if you add Amend, steer manure, worm castings etc. before planting, how do you make your soil more effective? If it helps. I didn't grow last year (back injury) so any Amend I added last year wasn't used-up. Thanks much Kev
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Zahida
Thanks Kevin for your very informative video clips. I'm totally new to the gardening world but very eager to get started. However, I do find it tiresome to write down the information in quarts, gallons etc and then having to convert it to the metric system.
Would like to see the metric equivalent in brackets if possible.
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Thanks Kevin for your very informative video clips. I'm totally new to the gardening world but very eager to get started. However, I do find it tiresome to write down the information in quarts, gallons etc and then having to convert it to the metric system.
Would like to see the metric equivalent in brackets if possible.
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Michael
Here you mention briefly something about vermiculite and why maybe you don't want to use it. Can you do a video specifically about how, where, and when to use it? Perhaps discuss perlite and any other additives that come to mind in the same way too?
Love your content! Follower for life!
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Here you mention briefly something about vermiculite and why maybe you don't want to use it. Can you do a video specifically about how, where, and when to use it? Perhaps discuss perlite and any other additives that come to mind in the same way too?
Love your content! Follower for life!
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handmade
New to gardening. And I love your videos! I am learning so much and so excited! My dad was an avid Gardner and passed away, gardening makes me feel close to him and your videos really make me feel like I can do this. Also just started listening to your Podcast which I also love! Thanks
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New to gardening. And I love your videos! I am learning so much and so excited! My dad was an avid Gardner and passed away, gardening makes me feel close to him and your videos really make me feel like I can do this. Also just started listening to your Podcast which I also love! Thanks
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Shane
I've found the muck from cleaning the rain gutters works well as seed raising mix. It's dirt and decomposed organic matter (mostly leaves. Just pick out any larger chunks and use as is.
Also makes cleaning the gutters less of a chore if you view it as 'scavenging a free resource '.
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I've found the muck from cleaning the rain gutters works well as seed raising mix. It's dirt and decomposed organic matter (mostly leaves. Just pick out any larger chunks and use as is.
Also makes cleaning the gutters less of a chore if you view it as 'scavenging a free resource '.
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TosillKohut
I bought a bag of Sprout Island Organic Seed Starter from Coast of Maine last week. Soil I have purchased from stores in the past has had debris from trash, twigs/sticks, and rocks in it.
Next project will be building a compost bin for all my leaves and yard debris.
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I bought a bag of Sprout Island Organic Seed Starter from Coast of Maine last week. Soil I have purchased from stores in the past has had debris from trash, twigs/sticks, and rocks in it.
Next project will be building a compost bin for all my leaves and yard debris.
reply
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