Comments on: My Tips on Starting Seeds

By: Anne@ArtyGreen in Paradise

Anne@ArtyGreen in Paradise — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:48:20 +0000

Hmm, interesting. I use recycled garden pots all the time – with seed raising mix and have pretty good success. I do try to make sure that they are appropriate sizes though. And I make my own labels out of recycled materials. One great tip that I have started using, from someone who did a comparison study (almost scientific), was to water the seedlings with warm water – this has made for phenomenal root growth this year. Is that something you do?

By: Unknown

Unknown — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 03:31:15 +0000

Crushed egg shells is scientific. It's not hokum. Crushed egg shells are mostly calcium. Soils low in calcium tend to not support nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes, etc…) as well as soils with good calcium content. Adding crushed eggshells prevents bottom end rot inexpensively.

By: Mlle Paradis

Mlle Paradis — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 21:17:34 +0000

great post! thank you! a good scold about SCIENCE! never hurt anybody. also loving that chart!

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:56:06 +0000

Hi Caley,
I never heard of Metro Mix – I am going to see if I can try it. Thanks for sharing!

By: Caley

Caley — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:49:19 +0000

Since you asked…I like Metro Mix 360. Promix is mostly peat and it holds so much water that the humidity kills stuff here in the Southeast.

By: Eddie E. Cummings

Eddie E. Cummings — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 07:15:55 +0000

Thank you for this information, a new gardner fan from Michigan.

By: Brent Kryda

Brent Kryda — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 06:37:07 +0000

A science indeed. I can handle most annuals just fine, even a few perennials, but trees just give me problems. Maples pop just fine like the veggies and flowers, but they seem to be about it. I have had good results with barrel and prickly pear cacti only if I transplant them within a week of sprouting. I have yet to successfully start a Joshua Tree or any yuccas, even with the "cactus helper" technique. In contrast, I can plant nearly anything outside and take a gamble with the frost schedule and seem to have much better fortunes in general. A science with wacky math!

By: Cassidy

Cassidy — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 22:51:27 +0000

This is such a great article on starting seeds! Thanks for sharing. The infographic is also wonderful. I've never had much patience with seeds (generally I just start with already growing plants) so I'm going to give your tips a try this year and see what happens!

By: last name johnson

last name johnson — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 09:24:02 +0000

Amen, amen… Plants are science!

By: Matt Mattus

Matt Mattus — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 08:32:33 +0000

LauraH_ can I tell you how excited I am to be speaking in Ontario this fall? As for snooping into where the pro's get their info from, I use textbooks, wholesale nursery sites like Griffin Greenhouses, and the major fertilizer supply sites – Google Peters Professional Peat Lite fertilizer, and you will see many special blends – some for geraniums, some just for pansies, etc. For bulbs, I choose one with high potash, and low nitrogen.Here – only siberian crocus still, still waiting for my Eranthis to emerge ( if the puppies have not crushed it!).