I hope my book on gardening gets here soon...

[mousme]

It occurs to me that I have next to no idea how to start all my (soon-to-come) seeds in the nifty containers I just got.

Egads.

I expect I shall have to get some potting soil or something this weekends as well, since I highly doubt they'll grow on their own. Anyone know what kind of soil I should be getting for this? fearsclave? ai731? Anyone? Bueller?

Eep!

I wish I didn't feel so ignorant. At the very least I will learn from the experience.

Comments

[chasingthenuns.livejournal.com]

I know here there's seed starting mix that you use. Really, that's what it's called. I also know you can make your own, I'm just not sure how. If you don't get an answer though, I know somebody that might know.

[fearsclave.livejournal.com]

I like peat pellets; I like peat pellets; see this post for a pic. They come in a little plastic greenhouse, and you pour warm water in until the pellets have fully expanded from their dried disc form. You poke the seeds in, keep it watered, and eventually they start sprouting. Once they're big enough, I pot them in fibre pots with potting soil, and then move everything out to the garden in late May/early June. But bear in mind that I make no claims of expertise here.

[fearsclave.livejournal.com]

See this entry for a pic of the fibre posts.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Hrm. I have self-watering things from Lee Valley, so I don't know if peat pellets are something I can use with that.

I shall investigate.

[ai731.livejournal.com]

I'm going to try mixing my own potting soil for the first time this year using the contents of the vermicomposter, some store bought potting mix, and a bag of vermiculite (which I hope to find at the St. Isidore seed & feed store tomorrow morning). In the past, though, like chasingthenuns, I've just bought a couple of bags labeled "seed starting" at CanTire.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. I'll see if I can grab a couple of bags tomorrow, then.

[zercool.livejournal.com]

Potting soil isn't the same as starting mix. I agree with fearsclave - if you can get them and afford them, the starting pellets are excellent.

[ladyiolanthe.livejournal.com]

I like the peat pellets too except I find that you have to peel the mesh off of them before transplanting because otherwise, I get root-bound seedlings. The problem with peeling the mesh off is that if some roots have grown through it, you tear the roots off, too, which can makes the seedlings go into transplant shock.

[ai731.livejournal.com]

*nod* I have the same problem with them, so I tend to only use them for the very slow-growing things, leeks in particular. There's also ecological issues with peat, as it's a non-renewable resource. Coir is a good (renewable) substitute, and they do make coir-based pellets, but they are more expensive, of course.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't know that peat was non-renewable. Good to know. I think I'll just use seed-starting mix, in that case.

[silly-imp.livejournal.com]

I have a couple books on gardening, including an awesome beginner one written by an young urban gardener in Toronto. You're welcome to borrow them.

[talkingmute12.livejournal.com]

I haz a document to share with yah. Need email to share it. In the meantime, here's some reading http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s-3-81-185,00.html

From one of my books,
Seed-starting mix:
2 parts loam
1 part peat
1 part sand (coarse and sharp)
+ 2lbs superphosphate per cubic yard.

Potting mix:
7 parts loam
3 parts peat
2 parts sand (coarse and sharp)
+ compost from compost pile OR

5lbs pers cubic yard of an additive containing (by weight)
2 parts hoof and horn meal
2 parts superphosphate
1 part sulfate of potash.

I love the "Cornell" potting mix:
2 gallons vermiculite
2 gallons shredded peat moss
2 level tablespoons superphosphate
2 level tablespoons ground limestone
8 heaping tablespoons steamed bone meal or equivalent amount of cow manure