First Time with Jiffy Pellets
 

Hi all: This year, I am attempting to use jiffy pellets (peat) and did manage the watering project. Still, no sight of any life, although the first seeds were sown a week ago. No, they haven't dried out... but I have read some criticism over the years about the various challenges these pellets may present, so I am asking all of you experts if there is anything you could tell me I need to pay attention to.

Is it normal for seeds to take longer before they germinate when sown in jiffy pellets? Something in the materials or the method which may delay growth?

I've used them successfully in the past. The germination didn't seem any slower than normal. I do think you have to pay more attention to how deep you are planting them in the pellets.



If they are in a covered tray under lights and on a heat mat, it should be pretty much like germinating in potting mix.

No heated mat, they're in normal room temperature under the plastic dome. That is how I always started my seeds before. I guess the material is a bit trickier and it is not easy to push the seeds into it.. Should another week go by without results, I will re-sow (yep, that is a sure way to get all seeds pop up at once...), and maybe even sow some varieties into potting mix for back-up.

instead of water I make them expand with a liquid fertilizer.
For me they take longer also,my theory is they are cooler than a
normal cell with soil due to the evaporation from the pellet during the day.

I've used Jiffy pellets for years with no problems. I used coir pellets this year for the first time. They're even better than the Jiffy pellets and cheaper too.

Not sure what advice I can lend except don’t use them. Not a fan.

Do they still come covered in that awful netting material? Used them years ago but stopped cuz that netting was still wrapped around the roots at the end of the season. They did not decompose.:no:

[QUOTE=Foose4string;730762]Not sure what advice I can lend except don’t use them. Not a fan.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=peebee;730767]Do they still come covered in that awful netting material? Used them years ago but stopped cuz that netting was still wrapped around the roots at the end of the season. They did not decompose.:no:[/QUOTE]

I agree with both of you. I had some left and tossed them into the burning pile years ago.

[QUOTE=peebee;730767]Do they still come covered in that awful netting material? Used them years ago but stopped cuz that netting was still wrapped around the roots at the end of the season. They did not decompose.:no:[/QUOTE]

Best practice is to remove that netting when planting out. Even if they did decompose, it wouldn't be fast enough during one season. Same with those "cardboard" peat pots, always best to peel them off.

I've used them extensively over the years -and still do. There are (at least) 2 types of netting. The best is a very thin mesh, honeycomb-like, with a set or vertical perforations on the side, making it super easy to unzip the case and discard the netting. This is typically on the VERY large pucks by Jiffy.

Then there is a type of random, tight weave mesh made from either kevlar (i'm not making this up :twisted:) or a tougher material that's nearly impossible to tear by hand -you'd need scissors or better. I make sure I stay away from those.

Note that Jiffy pucks are made of peat, and many folks report trouble germinating peppers in them due to their chemistry. I'm beginning to conclude the same, as I've never had much luck with that combination. For many other situations, pucks can be handy.

Foose & AlittleSalt, that sure doesn't sound encouraging :lol::lol:

But hooray! The first one has come alive! Not all hope is lost. Am well aware about the netting problem and will remove all of that before re-potting the seedlings.
It's an experiment I took upon me in order to avoid buying heavy bags of soil... which I'll eventually do for the latter stage. So many people seem to happily use them, so they cannot be all bad (except the enviromental issue of course which is removable)

Jiffy pellets aren't my favorite seed starting option. You can grow things in them but they aren't that stable when your seedlings get some growth and you need to transplant sooner than you do with seeds grown in flats.

You didn't say what you had planted or how fresh the seed was, but if you Google germination time it's easy to find tables that tell Yo 7-10 days at 75 F or something similar. Older see dwill take longer and it all reaches the point where germination rates are low to no germination at some point.

Jiffy plugs shouldn't alter germination times but how moist they're kept, temperature, and if they're covered to retain humidity can all effect germination times. If you only start a few plants a year there might be a role for them in your garden. If you start enough seed that you have considered heat mats and or grow lights you'll probably just want to order some trays ans inserts from a greenhouse supply store and use a good seed starting mix.

I don't like them either but this year I bought a few of them so that I can start some cucumber and zucchini about 2 weeks earlier than I would plant them in the ground. I did not want to transplant them so I bought some peat pellets. I will cut off the netting before planting.

Oldman: I hadn't mentioned it but they are all tomatoes (I had thought it to be obvious) :-)
And, as mentioned, I have sowed tomato seeds many times before, of various ages, and usually there is life within a week (often within a few days) so it is not for lack of experience.

Heat mats or extra lighting aren't an option, and I have not needed any of them befoe (nor do I have space for them) as I try to keep things very simple. That usually works well and seeds like to come alive.
Glad to know that I need to re-pot the seedlinga sooner than usually.. will keep it in mind and get some used and washed cartons for them.
We'll see how it goes..

I find them pretty handy as well as coir bricks. I always have them on hand. Since I grow
year round indoors and seed inside, they are compact and less likely to dust the indoor
environment.
I don't use them for small seed like tomatoes but perfect for dwarf sunflowers and early
spring peas, beans, squash, etc.
Larger seed root systems will bust right through the mesh no problem.

Our Spring can be cold and very wet often tragic for direct sowing of seed that is said to
not like transplanting like a pea. At the same time I direct sow peas, I start a couple dozen
in peat pellets. 7 out of ten times the direct sown either rot or are food for birds and such.
The head start in the pellets really helps me get going...then succession planting by
direct sowing weekly is a good combination. Same with the winter and summer squash.

I grow tomatoes densely, 5+ seeds per cell and many varieties. Would not make sense for
me to use pellets.

Don't love them but I would not worry about success rate. Same as any other cell system.
And the mesh just needs a couple simple pulls to ripe it open before re-potting.

When I worked in a nursing home, I used peat pellets to start basil seeds. I had low to no expectations, but was proven wrong. A resident had a very nice collection of various basil varieties growing on her window sill, and took in foster plants from the other ladies too. Her secret was that she kept them in the original foam bowl and bottom watered every day. I fed with a little blue stuff once in a while. They were a big hit with the care that they received.


- Lisa

[QUOTE=NarnianGarden;730786]Foose & AlittleSalt, that sure doesn't sound encouraging :lol::lol:

But hooray! The first one has come alive! Not all hope is lost. Am well aware about the netting problem and will remove all of that before re-potting the seedlings.
It's an experiment I took upon me in order to avoid buying heavy bags of soil... which I'll eventually do for the latter stage. So many people seem to happily use them, so they cannot be all bad (except the enviromental issue of course which is removable)[/QUOTE]

Well, being blunt sums-up my experience with them. I found a way that I like with the seed cells, I believe it mimics nature more. In the same thought - I hope the Jiffy Pellets work out great for you. :)

My wife was telling me about something on her Facebook thing that actually sort of makes sense. People are starting seeds in ice cream cones...I guess it would work?

I am sure anything would work. Nature is quite resilient and willing :)

My experiment is simply based on the hopes to avoid buying heavy soil bags (I will have to buy them later for the final planting) and many folks seem to use the jiffy pellets so... I thought I'd give them a try. They definitely are lighter to bring from the store than a ten kg bag..!
Will keep a close eye on them, we'll see how it goes.

I've not tried them, but I can see where they would have a niche... good luck with them and let us know how it goes! :yes:

An update. About a half of my 24 pellets have come to life! Those are the strong and vigorous ones; there were a few sickly looking ones which had surfaced and died after a few days (or I accidentally managed to give them [I]coup de grace[/I]).. As for the remaining ones, I am hopeful. Sowing more seeds 'just in case' would be unwise, because that is a foolproof way to get too many seedlings.
We'll see..

Because of my MG Seed Starting Mix disaster, I went immediately to Jiffy plugs and Jiff Seed Starting mix. I have no complaints about Jiffy. I put some saved seeds from 2012 into the mix and they were up in numbers after day 3.

I also started a bunch of the plugs and have had the same results. But, I agree with a previous comment about not leaving the seedlings in the plug very long. I have potted up most of the 9 dozen plugs I started after the disaster. To do so, I break the netting off and chunk it. Then I break the plug apart enough to get to the individual seedlings and their roots. At this point I am treating them like any other seedling being potted up.

With some of the seedlings, I am combining the material from the broken up plugs and some of the loose Jiffy mix and loading up some of my usual 9 oz cups. I'm also beginning to apply some ferts. I'll repot with my usual potting mix ASAP. Right now, it's a fast pace task to save these seedlings from attempt number two for the first time.

But, I must confess that I have a heat mat. And I love it. You must find a way to add heat to the bottom of your germination flats.

All that popped up are growing well and seem to have survived their birth trauma. Still waiting for seven - those are varieties I really want to try, including Anmore Dewdrop, Boloto, and Green Grape..

Find it best to strip off the pellet webbing when transplanting. Don't use them any more, just Jiffy-starting mix. No need to fertilize until the plant develop second set of true leaves.



Edited to add: Now use diatomaceous earth to start tomato seeds. Jiffy mix for basil, lettuce, catnip, etc. Get the DE from automobile parts supply store. Not the claylike stuff that is kitty litter. DE has prevented dampoff.

[QUOTE=NarnianGarden;731838]All that popped up are growing well and seem to have survived their birth trauma. Still waiting for seven - those are varieties I really want to try, including Anmore Dewdrop, Boloto, and Green Grape..[/QUOTE]




If you have extra seeds of the no show varieties, you could try starting them using the Deno (paper towel) method and transplant into the peat pellet after they put out a root. Good luck either way !


- Lisa

Three more babies appeared - woohoo! Antonovka Myeodovaya, Boloto and Golden Eggs. So that brings the total number to 19. Which is enough, under present circumstances.

Will keep a close eye on all of these and transplant them as soon as I can see more than one true leaf...

But now I saw that one of them has three-leaved cotyledons - I read years ago that it's not good news .. Well, I shall wait it out and hope for the best ..!

[QUOTE=NarnianGarden;732027]But now I saw that one of them has three-leaved cotyledons - I read years ago that it's not good news .. Well, I shall wait it out and hope for the best ..![/QUOTE]

I have had them with no problems.
Bad news for pecans though as it produces three nuts not two and you get a lower price.
It can be passed on in the seeds of anything.

Thanks Worth, that's good to hear.
I found a couple of old threads about the same subject, and it seems to be something quite benign after all ... *feeling relieved*

Update: Most seeds have germinated and the seedlings are growing well. They are outside on the balcony during the day, not too much direct sunshine, but enough light to make them sturdy and strong. It is good they aren't growing too quickly, because I cannot plant them outside before the end of May.
Following the advice given here, I will soon transplant some of the earliest ones to their own cardboard pot..

I've always had great germination, growth etc. with 36mm pellets. But the very thin mesh that is easily torn off is a thing of the past, as currently (2021) the Jiffy pellets are surrounded by a weave that must be cut off with scissors. I've only found 1 windowsill tray that was the old style this year..

Being a lazybones I once tried peat Jiffy pellets in hope they'd save me a bit of extra work. I can't remember the diameter, but tomato seeds didn't germinate well in them unlike cucumbers which took the Jiffies in a stride. I never thought of taking the cover off, so I found it still in place when I pulled out my dead cucumbers at the end of the season. That's how I realized the "lazy ways" were not exactly what my plants deserved. Elbow grease is what they appreciate.;)
Milan HP