Wow. Wow. Wow. Let's slow down and back track here to clear a few things up!
Do you have to use seed starting mix?
You might be surprised to hear this, but my personal philosophy is No!
Why's that?
Well, traditionally a seed starting mix is a sterile medium that is heavy in peat moss or coco coir that is used to germinate seeds in, before potting them up into a larger container with a Seedling Mix.
This has been a common practice because it is a sterile environment and a desire to protect the very young seedlings from pests or diseases.
But my thinking has always been:
The garden, where we want them to thrive, is the opposite of a sterile and controlled environment - so why bother starting them in a sterile environment?
What's the difference between seed starting mix and seedling mix?
When you look at some of the common seed starting mixes such as those from Jiffy and Burpee the ingredients consistent of only two elements: Peat Moss (or Coco Coir, a peat moss alternative) and Vermiculite. The Peat Moss or Coco Coir serve as the growing medium while the vermiculite retains water.
But where does the plant get nutrients and microbial life from?
And this is why I include worm castings and finely sifted compost in our Worm Casting Seedling Mix.
With a seed starting mix you can only use it for about 3 weeks and after that point the plant NEEDS nutrients and microbes. To accomplish this, you would pot it up into a seedling mix to begin putting on its growth.
So from my perspective, the only benefit of aseed starting mixwould be if a non-sterile environment is causing damage.
Is it necessary for seed starting mix to be sterile?
Over the past several years I have started thousands of seeds using our simple method to starting seeds indoors, and not a single one has died in the first few weeks due to being in a non-sterile environment.
Genetically these plants are more familiar with a non-sterile environment than a sterile environment and will be looking for those nutrients and microbes within their first few weeks.
So given that they are in a more natural environment, not only have they survived, but they have thrived - just as demonstrated by our +150 delighted customer testimonials.
DIY Seed Starting Mix with Worm Castings
If you are looking to make your own seed starting mix - I encourage you to add nutritional and microbial value to it by including both compost and worm castings.It is common to use up to 50% peat moss and perlite, and then 25% compost and 25% worm castings.
However, to do so you would need to buy each of the four inputs individually and then mix the ratios together - likely to cost you more and certainly take more time than using a pre-measured and pre-mixed seedling mix.
Where can I buyWorm Casting Seedling Mix?
We would absolutely LOVE to have you try our Worm Casting Seedling Mix this season and even better is that we ship it all across Canada! We have been refining the ratios based off of our experiments for the last 3+ years and each bag is perfectly measured to fill 1x 1020 tray.
All you need to do is open it up and start seeding - it's never been easier!
Additionally, we offer FREE Shipping on all orders above $100 - which makes adding one of our tried & tested Grow Lights a common way to get the free shipping!
How do I start my seeds?
Once you have your growing medium all set,you're nearly all set to start your seeds.
But - factors such as light, temperature, and water play a big role in how successfully your seeds will grow in your beautiful seedling mix. So when you're ready, I encourage you to head over to our step-by-step seed starting guide: The SIMPLEST Method to Start Seeds Indoors.
You can use just a regular potting mix, however, this makes it much easier and more likely to run into issues with drainage, moisture retention, pests, soil density, nutrient availability, and more. If you want a smooth and seamless experience starting seeds indoors, we highly recommend using a seed starting mix.
One of the most important aspects of seed cultivation is the kind of soil seeds are sown into, with ordinary garden soil and potting mix both widely used options. For the best results, though, a dedicated seed raising mix can offer the ideal conditions to help seeds to thrive.
Potting soil is typically heavier and may contain more nutrients than seed starting mix, leading to poor germination rates and root development. The seed starting mix is specifically formulated to provide the right balance of aeration, moisture retention, and sterility required for optimal seed germination.
Combine compost, topsoil, a bit of coarse sand, and something like vermiculite, perlite, or coco coir until you have a mix with a consistency that holds together when wet. For seed starting, you'll avoid using as much sand as you would when making soil for your garden.
Due to its poor soil structure, topsoil isn't a good medium for plant roots or even flower beds. Its poor drainage leads to excessive water retention and root suffocation. But when added to native soil, these qualities are improved enough to sustain plant growth.
If you're using a seed starting mix that includes compost and/or worm castings, it will offer your seedlings some food but not enough. Though water and sunshine are key elements to growing strong seedlings, fertilizer is also a necessary tool.
Almost all seeds can be pre-soaked, but it is large seeds, seeds with thick coats and wrinkled seeds that will benefit most. Small seeds benefit less and are difficult to handle when wet. Examples of seeds that benefit from soaking include peas, beets, cucumber, corn, squash, pumpkin and beans.
Planting seeds this way is called direct sowing, and it is an easy process that yields great results. Unlike indoor seed starting, direct sowing involves unpredictable elements: weather, wildlife and insects. Even so, many vegetables, annuals, herbs and perennials sprout easily from seed sown directly into garden soil.
Typically, your seeds will stay in their seed tray for 4-6 weeks. After this period, you will either need to transplant the new seedlings into larger pots or transplant them outside. Check your seed instructions and pay attention to your frost dates before transplanting young plants outside.
Traditionally, these mixes have used sphagnum peat moss to ensure the soil has a good mix of drainage and water retention, and many seed starting mixes still do. Some companies have switched to using coconut coir because of concerns over the sustainability of peat.
Help seeds germinate by sowing them in Miracle-Gro® Seed Starting Potting Mix. This is finer than a regular potting mix, so young roots have an easier time of poking through. It mostly contains lightweight peat moss—a texture that allows air to move through while retaining a uniform amount of moisture.
However, for seeds to flourish into vibrant plants, they require the nurturing care facilitated by the right tools and environment. This is where seed starting kits come into play, serving as indispensable companions for both novice and seasoned gardeners alike.
Some seeds like Allium 'Purple Sensation' and Eryngium giganteum need a long period of cold-moist stratification with alternating temperatures. These are the most difficult seeds to germinate.
I knew as soon as I saw last week's column in the paper that I would be getting questions on whether it is OK to reuse soil, be it seed-starting soil or potting soil. Sure enough! The short answer is that it is perfectly acceptable to reuse soil if the plants previously grown in it were healthy.
Can You Grow Grass in Potting Soil? The simple answer is no, outdoor grass will not grow in potting soil. Potting soil is best for planting indoor grasses or plants in pots or containers. Instead, you should use topsoil to grow grass in your lawn or other outdoor areas.
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Introduction: My name is Duncan Muller, I am a enchanting, good, gentle, modern, tasty, nice, elegant person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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