Comments on: Bad, Bad Soil: Why I Will Never Mix My Own Seed Starting Soil Again http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2007/04/bad-bad-soil-why-i-will-never-mix-my.html Gardening isn't a hobby, it is an obsession Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:52:17 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Tomato Seedlings - An Owner’s Manual http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2007/04/bad-bad-soil-why-i-will-never-mix-my.html/comment-page-1#comment-6395 Tomato Seedlings - An Owner’s Manual Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:39:02 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/new/2007/08/bad-bad-soil-why-i-will-never-mix-my-own-seed-starting-soil-again.html#comment-6395 [...] thinking that is because tomato seedlings seem to be pretty incompetence friendly (really I am that bad at starting seeds normally. Ask me how many pepper plants I have right now. Not an impressive number when you [...] [...] thinking that is because tomato seedlings seem to be pretty incompetence friendly (really I am that bad at starting seeds normally. Ask me how many pepper plants I have right now. Not an impressive number when you [...]

]]> By: Sage http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2007/04/bad-bad-soil-why-i-will-never-mix-my.html/comment-page-1#comment-6315 Sage Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:57:47 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/new/2007/08/bad-bad-soil-why-i-will-never-mix-my-own-seed-starting-soil-again.html#comment-6315 Ammendment.... In case it wasn't clear... Bake the soil. NOT the seeds or seedlings!!! Ammendment….

In case it wasn’t clear… Bake the soil. NOT the seeds or seedlings!!!

]]> By: Sage http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2007/04/bad-bad-soil-why-i-will-never-mix-my.html/comment-page-1#comment-6314 Sage Fri, 27 Mar 2009 14:55:15 +0000 http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/new/2007/08/bad-bad-soil-why-i-will-never-mix-my-own-seed-starting-soil-again.html#comment-6314 Maybe the problem was the lack of dirt? I know that 'soil-less' planting is becoming a fad... but to me, it makes sense that plants that grow naturally in the dirt just might want some dirt. I would recommend that whatever mix you use... add about 25% native soil to the mix. (Native soil being whatever soil you plan on putting the plant in once the seedling grows). This can help reduce shock when the seedling is transplanted later as the little fellow at least has an idea of the dirt to come before he's placed in his new garden home. For my tomato seedlings... I use: + native soil ... give the seedling a taste of the future + used coffee grounds ... tomatos like the added acidity & it lends to good drainage + crushed egg shells ... tomatos seem to like calcium + just a little bit of moss + oak leaf compost ... no preference, it just happens to be found in natural abundance on my property If you have pest concerns in your soil... bake the batch for your seedlings to sterilize it. I put mine in casserole dishes in the oven at 400 degrees till I'm sure it's cooked all the way through. (makes the house smell very unusual... but it works. My seedlings and tomatos do VERY well. I don't think there is a magic formula. Just think about what a baby 'mato needs and try to fill those needs. Something a little acidic if your native soil is too alkaline or nuetral. Something to give good drainage. Something to help retain a little moisture. Something to give nourishment. (Other then the use of compost and eggshells... I don't fertilize until my seedlings are a few inches tall. Too much nitrogen while too young can apparently promote too much stem/leaf growth... taking energy away from root growth). Anyhoo... peace and good luck!!! Sage Maybe the problem was the lack of dirt?

I know that ’soil-less’ planting is becoming a fad… but to me, it makes sense that plants that grow naturally in the dirt just might want some dirt.

I would recommend that whatever mix you use… add about 25% native soil to the mix. (Native soil being whatever soil you plan on putting the plant in once the seedling grows). This can help reduce shock when the seedling is transplanted later as the little fellow at least has an idea of the dirt to come before he’s placed in his new garden home.

For my tomato seedlings… I use:

+ native soil … give the seedling a taste of the future

+ used coffee grounds … tomatos like the added acidity & it lends to good drainage

+ crushed egg shells … tomatos seem to like calcium

+ just a little bit of moss

+ oak leaf compost … no preference, it just happens to be found in natural abundance on my property

If you have pest concerns in your soil… bake the batch for your seedlings to sterilize it. I put mine in casserole dishes in the oven at 400 degrees till I’m sure it’s cooked all the way through. (makes the house smell very unusual… but it works.

My seedlings and tomatos do VERY well. I don’t think there is a magic formula. Just think about what a baby ‘mato needs and try to fill those needs. Something a little acidic if your native soil is too alkaline or nuetral. Something to give good drainage. Something to help retain a little moisture. Something to give nourishment. (Other then the use of compost and eggshells… I don’t fertilize until my seedlings are a few inches tall. Too much nitrogen while too young can apparently promote too much stem/leaf growth… taking energy away from root growth).

Anyhoo… peace and good luck!!!

Sage

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