A garden is only as good as the ground that it's planted in. Discussion forum for the many ways to improve the soil where we plant our gardens.
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#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NorCal
Posts: 110
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Well I REALLY need your HELP with ideas and comments on a soil I am experimenting with for germinating/sprouting.
I have too many issues with peat based soil compacting and too much unknown materials in other mixes. I tried this mix recently with hot peppers, sweet peppers, okra, and tomatoes and as long as I keep an eye on it for moisture under the grow lamps [yes it poured rain here today and we still have not had spring] then it seems to do well/////.....PLEASE GIVE ME CAUTIONS OR IDEAS? Coconut Coir Back to Earth 3 Peat Moss Gardner & Bloome 1/2 Fine Fir Bark Black Gold 1 Worm Castings/Compost Soil Mender 1/2 Forest Humus Denali Gold 1/2 Fine Perlite Black Gold 3 Vermiculite Hoffman 1/2 Oyster Shell Grit Manna 1/2 Crushed Granite Purina 1/2 |
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#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 682
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I like the fir bark its spongy and holds water well for me. I usually just buy the plugs for seed starting. I did a youtube video comparing the results Vs the jiffy pods and the fir bark plugs won hands down
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#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NorCal
Posts: 110
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What type of plug mix are u using that used bark...maybe I am wasting my time?
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#4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 682
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They are pre made plugs called Super Plugs, though there are several brands root riot plugs, and many more. They are made from fir bark and have a small amount of lime added as well as soil microbes a beneficial myco type fungus and bacteria.
Here is the video where I compare them to the jiffy plugs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLRH0SGLQtE
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#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: NW Indiana
Posts: 1,150
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Hey Stephen. Nice video and great to put a face with your name!
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#6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NorCal
Posts: 110
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Like the video as well....So far all of the store bought mixes are too heavy to the peat and I have issues with them an hot peppers especially.
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#7 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 682
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![]() Quote:
I have tried all kinds of strange media. One of the epic fail medias I tried was jello.
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#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2010
Location: NorCal
Posts: 110
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Thanks for the help.
I talked to a local grower...not of veggies! LOL He suggested I look at mushroom compost and worm castings carefully. I have done some revisions and will test on seeds soon. |
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#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: PNW
Posts: 4,743
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5 parts coir, 2 parts worm castings, and 1 part perlite worked well
for me. (Only hangup is that you need a lot of worm castings. A small worm bin fed kitchen wastes just does not keep up.)
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