What do you use to start seeds? Survey:

I have tried them all... from the soil blocker all the way up to the APS they all have goods and bads.... swore off any pellets... I loved using newspaper pots until it was time to harden off... after getting rained on a few times they became too mushy and I had to lift each with a trowel or it would fall apart... I love the cow pots for anything that doesn't like to be transplanted or going in my beds... since they are made from compost and anything will help my poor soil.... and they are just tough enough to start indoors and some I bottom water... harden off and get in the ground without breaking apart... and the roots still grow through them

I will try out the tp rolls for the last min stuff this year instead of using bathroom cups... thanks for that

Thanks blomma, when I get my morning glory seeds in I will plant them into a large plastic cup to start germinating and grow inside til I can plant outside.
You mentioned the large root system plants need that's why I will use the big cups.
Also will keep deadheading plants and give away blooms to seniors that live nearby.

geraldine 87
Your welcome. I forgot to mention that if you can find a small fork, or else use a plastic and break off some of the teeth, it works even bettter.

If I remember correctly morning glories don't like to be transplanted so do it after first set of leaves, very carefully.

I use the foam coffee cups to transplant seedling in. Cheap in Walmart. I like them because the foam insulate the roots, and the sides can easily be torn away from the root system when time to plant. Less disturbance on roots. Can easily puncture drainage holes with a pen, or similar.

I used to live in Gt. Barrington, MA during the 70's and 80's. until I moved to WY. What a difference in gardening methods that is. Had to start learning all over again due to different climate and soil.

Thanks blomma, had to learn gardening in Fl. when I was there...much different from MA.
Picked up some lg. peat pots for mg...waiting for them to come in...
A seed seller said not to use peat pots for tomatoes because they promote fungus infections with die back of plants. True ??

geraldine87
MA and FL, not that is a huge difference
I have used peat pots for all kinds of plants without any problems. I have never heard of them promoting fungus infections. I really doubt it. Fungus comes from the bacteria in soil, I belive. No soil, no fungus.

Personally I don't care for peat pots anymore because they do dry out quickly and tend to soften when wet. Hard to pick up. I use foam coffee cups for temporary pots. They insulate the roots, are cheap in Walmart, and stand up, yet the wall tear off easily when you want to get the plants out of it so you get the whole rootball. You can easily write on it with a marker. Making drainage holes in foam is as easy as it gets. To me it is the perfect first pot.

I have some plastic containers and also use foam cups. Fill them with potting soil. Last year I used the Jiffy Mix seed starting mixture and all my tomato seedlings turned purple/black. Transplanted them into different dirt right away, and they survived. But I won't use the Jiffy mix again. Don't know if I got a bad batch, or what was wrong. I've been starting tomato seeds for 30 years, and never saw any seedlings turn those colors before!

Thanks, will return peat pots and go with the plastic, was going to do that at first.
They will be easier to handle!!

I’ve used peat pellets in the past but this year decided to make my own newspaper starting pots filling with seed starter soil mix. I placed the pots in stackable baskets to keep from having to handle them much. When it’s time to water, I just take the basket(s), sit them in the bath tub, run some warm water & let the pots soak up the water from the bottom. They’ve worked great!!!

I'm going to try cowpots next year if I can find them in 2" size.

I know what cow pies are but not cow pots. Can you tell me?

Cowpots http://www.cowpots.com/

don't make them in 2"

:(

Bummer :( I won't be trying them then. Maybe one day.

the 3" is not far off... not exactly 3 square... the only thing annoying is the lip takes up too much room in a flat... until they loosen up you have to squeeze the 4th one in side by side... I actually thought about cutting it off... the decided it was too much work

the 4" are the same way... only have to squish 3 across

here is the 3"

forget the cowpots, your geraniums are looking luvly onewish!

thank you my dear

onewish1 - I have to agree with dahlianut, your geraniums are coming along very nicely. I've germinated marigolds, vinca, alyssum, primrose & african daisey's so far. I've got thuja green giant seeds in cold stratification (since 2/2) to try as well. I can't wait to get them in the dirt, hopefully I can wait a full 90 days. :) I'm also trying to root stem cuttings of of leyland cypress & dogwood trees but haven't had much luck with them. They've been in peat pellets for 4wks & no roots yet. Maybe I should stick with the tried & true yellow bell bush when it comes to rooting stem cuttings but darn I would love to root some trees. Direction / advise anyone?

With woody cuttings, I've only had success with softwood cuttings dipped in rooting hormone and grown in sand. This might be helpful http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8702.html

my neighbor always does the same with her azalea cuttings... hormone & sand

joannabanana....I use ProMixBX for everything as well. Have Earthboxes so buy 3.8 cu.ft bales. Not everyone carries it but I found this year ACE hardware will order it.

I will have to see if my ACE will do that.... some of these places around here wanted to charge me $60.00 for a bale... but I found a hydroponics place not far from here that the price was something like $38.00

Thanks, the link was helpful. One more quick question though, why use sand for rooting?

Good question. I was taught that way when I worked at a nursery and I don't remember why. I bet someone on the Propagation Forum will know. That is another great forum

onewish...last week, ACE quoted me a price of $33 a bale for ProMixBX.

Last year I bought a similiar product (without the "BX" fungi) for $24 a bale at an Agway in CT farm country.

Hey, thanks, dahlianut! Cow pies weren't all together off the mark. What a good idea...

I am going to call them for sure DP... thank you!

onewish...the main warehouse for the Ace Hardware out here in eastern CT is in New York. I bet that is the one your local Ace would draw from too. I wanted fish emulsion and the NY warehouse didn't have it but the owner I think said she could get that from another Ace depot someplace. Anways...they got it..its a matter of the local Ace getting it. Freight is free...they just add it to their regular shipments.

I emailed them... if I don't hear back by tomorrow I am going to call.. that is great... thanks again

well it doesn't sound like the manager can get the pro-mix... but he said they carry Southland in 3.8 bales... anyone ever use that brand?

I used peat pellets then potted up to a larger potting soil pellet in a peat pot this year.

I used seed starting mix for my coleus and then put seedling in plastic cups with potting soil.

Hi!
Was great looking at those seedlings...I planted some seeds and sprinkled some perlite on top to help prevent damping off...will this work ?? will the perlite burn the new shoots ??
Am new to starting seeds and need all the help I can get!!
Thanks ::)

I use pearlite all the time in my mixes... don't think it's a problem

Since my last post here, I have been on a roll. I discovered a new use for kitchen paper towels---germinating seeds indoors. Others use coffee filters with this method. I prefer paper towels because they are soft and easier to squeeze excess water from.

From now on, kitchen paper towels will be my favorite for germinating seeds that are large enough to handle.

While looking for something in my garden shed, I came across a plastic shoe box full of different varieties of old seeds I had forgotten about. All are hardy perennials. I had given my daughter a bunch of seeds 2 years ago thinking I had given her all of them. I didn't. Gosh, this must be a sign of aging!!

I haven't started plants from seeds for a few years. This year I wanted more plants since I am redoing my borders. Likewise is my daughter. Since I found all those seeds, I figured I may as well test them out using the damp paper napkin method. I usually sow seeds in my coldframe but I am out of space in there. Nor did I want to waste seeding mix if the seeds weren't going to germinate.

The first variety of seeds I sowed were the C. macrocephala from 2004. I placed 10 seeds in a moist paper towel and placed it in a ziplock bag. Left the ziplock bag on top of my refrigerator where it is warmer than the house temperature. Seven out of 10 germinated in 7 days. The average time is 5 to 10 days. I have already potted them up 2 to a 3" pot, since I was unprepared for such fast germination, if at all. Next came Datura with the same method. I tried both the 2002 and the 2004, without any difference. Germination count was a bit lower. Six out of 10 seeds have germinated but others may be stragglers.

Now I am on a roll. I have 26 varieties of seeds so far in little packages of paper towels in baggies. Some I am stratifying in the refrigerator, other not. All were started between 2/18 and 3/1. To mention a few:
Scabiosa---2 varieties, germinated
Geranium 'Vision'---2 so far
Dianthus plumarius---in frige
Armeria---in frig
Euphorbia polychroma---in frige
Asclepia tuberosa---in frige
Callirhoe involucrata---in frige
Catananche caerulea
Salvia argentea---4 so far
Heliopsis helianthoides---9 germinated
and more to do

I hadn't planned on that many seeds germinating. Forget window space. I will have to drag out my 4ft long plant light and set it up again over a shelf. Too early to plant outdoors. Once through the real baby stage, I can bring them over to my daughter's sun room.

I came to the conclusion: never toss out old seeds. They do not have to be fresh to germinate. Also, I just want a few plants of each so this method prevents oversowing and wasting seeds. Love it!!

Caption: Germinated seeds of Centaurea macrocephala just prior to potting up.

OOps! I forgot to include the photo

And here are the same cuties potted up. Two in a foam pot.

Wow, just checked mine top of fridge, the black millet is 'sprouting' in container.
I used a clean (used bleach and soap ) plastic strawberry container from grocery store!! 'I feel good' never did good seed starting til I came to DG and met you all!!
20 today and 0 chill factor for tomorrow but smiles here...got plenty of snow, am sending some to friends in Fl..Ha Ha Ha...

I've been using ProMix for many years and always have excellent results. I've also tried the pellets, the peat pots, the fancy schmancy flats with domes and water tray bases. . .they're all a waste of money. A plastic flat or a homemade wooden one with heat cable if required, a flower pot, and ordinary plastic stretched and thumbtacked over, or a plastic bag. That's all that's really required. Oh, I forgot the lights. I use a homemade setup where I can raise or lower fluorescent lights. Another thing I use is a heavy duty set of shelves I got from Home Depot. It cost $60.00 but I use it every year and the shelves can be spaced any way you want. I hang fluorescent fixtures on each shelf; it works out great!