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Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

I have been looking for organic potting soil for the last couple of days, but broke down and bought some of the regular old chemical stuff. I just wanted something to start practicing. But, most of the garden centers won't open until next week. So, I couldn't fnd what I wanted.

I've seen that some of the major brands that I recognize make organic potting soils. But, is this just a marketing gimmick? Does it make a difference?

Is it a bad idea to start the seeds in a non-organic mix if I am going to be doing most of my subsequent growing using organic methods? Will this shock my seedlings? How can I avoid this?

4/5/2005 1:59:35 AM

Atlanta, Georgia

If your patch soil is good and doesn't turn into cement when it starts to dry out, you can go ahead and use it.

I am using my patch soil exactly to prevent any kind of possible shock to the plants.

I've used my patch soil now in a few tests and have had 100% germination. I decided to make the test after having tried 100% mixture of worm humus which got hard as a rock on me and prevented the plants from being able to break thru to the surface.

I mixed my patch soil with a bit of 1 to 5mm lava rock to make it a bit more porous.

As long as your soil stays soft enough, your only concern is to first make it moist enough like making cake batter and get your temperature to a constant warm enough heat level. It's a good idea to cover the soil with plastic to slow down evaporation if you are planting in soil.

Best regards and keep testing unimportant seeds!
Michel

4/5/2005 3:57:12 AM

New Hampshire

Last year I planted my sprouted seeds into 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 patch soil and with in 2-3 days 1/2 of my Plants where dying from small grubs eating the roots and stem. Never found out what they were but I will never do that again. Just my experience.

4/5/2005 6:59:26 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

I know that last year all of the eight jack-o-lantern pumpkin seeds that we planted grew into viable plants. And half of those were started directly in the ground. So, I imagine that my patch soil is good enough for germination.

But, I am going to be mixing in a lot of compost and topsoil or triple mix. So, I don't think that I can test with a true representation of what my eventual planting soil will be like. Maybe I'll experiment with 100% potting soil, 100% current patch soil, and a 50/50 mix.

4/5/2005 11:13:54 AM

Syracuse, NY

i have used seed-starting mix as depicted in my diary of '04
to fill-in the planting hole as i put the plants into the ground. i make the hole just a little bigger than the
peat-pot-shaped root ball, plaster the sides with mix that has one cup of Bio-Grow Endo Plus mycorrhizal fungus inoculant from Joel Holland mixed-into 8-10 quarts of
it in a 5 gal. bucket with one gallon of warm water, fill it in around the edges with the mix, water it all in and
around the stem and have no problems with the plants whatsoever. i intend to use a little more Myco in the mix this year, in case i've been using too little, as well as
intending to make the planting hole even BIGGER, like
as big around as the bucket i have the mix in! eric

4/5/2005 7:02:32 PM

Ontario

bears your problem last year was seed maggots. A moth lays her eggs on the grass or rye and they hatch and the maggots go in the soil looking for seeds to eat. Always use sterlized soil to start seeds. I'm talking from experience

drew

4/5/2005 7:26:03 PM

Leamington, Ont.

Marc
Last year I used regular potting soil and all winter I've been using potting soil for testing. This seems to work good for me.

4/5/2005 8:41:42 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Drew speaks good words here. Use sterilized seed starting media ONLY!

4/5/2005 9:47:11 PM

Napa Valley, CA

Eric hit the nail on the head.....the package should actually say "seed starting mix".......not to be confused with "potting soil". When using the seed starting mix take care not to get it too wet as it can rot the seeds before they germinate. I soak the mix water in the sink, then squeeze out the excess moisture with my hands (as you would with a sponge) before putting it the container. Keep the germination chamber at about 85 degrees and the seed will usually sprout in 2 or 3 days. I have been doing this for 6 or 7 years with excellent results.
I think Eric's use of mycorrhizal is a great idea......Eric, you mentioned using a "little more"......be careful bud, go light, I know of some growers that went too heavy with some ugly results.

4/6/2005 12:13:54 AM

Syracuse, NY

okay, i don't want any mushrooms in my peat pots!
Myco-Rooms, lol....i actually sprouted my tomato seeds the other day, whereas i put just a little sprinkle of Bio-Grow
right in the same hole as the tomato seed....22 of 25 have sprouted at 85 degrees on the Germ-Buck, adn the others are very boud to sprout soon also...the sprouted ones are rarin' to go!
ummm, it is very neat to see the Mycorrhizae sprouting on top of the seed starting mix after just a day at about
87 degrees, in the AG pots as well....
at least then i know SOMEthing's gonna grow, lol!

4/6/2005 5:23:56 PM