Starting Seedlings

[dpf]

There has been some discussion in Morning Coffee about starting seedlings. From working in the local wholesale greenhouse and at my friend's retail house I have gained some knowledge on this. You want a soil mixture that is high in peat. Most commercial packages mixtures are not....so buy a bag of peat and mix it with your potting soil. While I am lucky that I get most of my bedding plants free for helping Missy with deliveries or I used to dog sit for Roxy during her greenhouse season, I do start some of my own plants. I have had excellent luck buying the peat pellets. You can plant one seed in each. I put 6 of the 30mm pellets in those plastic containers that you buy strawberries, grape tomatoes, etc. They are excellent for starting because they have holes in the bottom for drainage and the lid makes it form its own little green house. I place the containers on Styrofoam flats that meat is sold in to catch any water and place them in a sunny window. After the initial watering to expand the pots, I just mist the pots with water in a spray bottle daily to prevent them from getting too soggy and the seeds molding. Once the plants are tall enough to hit the top of the container I cut the lids off and add some potting soil around the peat pots. When I know that the weather is safe for plants to be outside I transplant them into my pots. I've had excellent luck with this method with cannas, marigolds, moon flowers, tomatoes and pepper plants.

[Shirlv]

Thanks for posting. I like reading anything pertaining to gardening. Living in an apartment I have no place to start seedlings. I nag my children about gardening so it’s a good thing they have a delete button. Their priorities lie elsewhere but I am welcome to their yards. Too bad my body doesn’t cooperate. Lol. It must be very rewarding watching your window sill.