Which Seed Starting Potting Soil - Page 2

stevenkh1 · January 27, 2010

I bought a 2 cubic yard bag of Miracle-Gro Organic to start seeds last year and it worked great. I think it was around $7 for the bag at Big Lots and I'll be using it again this year.

mtbigfish · January 27, 2010

mensplace
I was in Lowes yesterday and just thought I would check out the Ferry Morse seed starting mix you mentioned - very light and fluffy then I checked the price $32.97 for 16 dry quarts loose - my Pro-Mix is a 3.8 cu ft compressed bale and makes a whole lot more than the Ferry Morse - Pro-Mix may be a much better buy for me after all

Dennis
Ps for those that don't know OSH it is owned by Sears

instar8 · January 27, 2010

Ferti-lome is a reasonably priced mix that has been working well for me. I think it has a pretty wide distribution . I like Espoma, but just too $$$ when you're doing a lot of flats.

instar8 · January 27, 2010

You'd prolly have to go to a smaller nursery/feed store type place, i don't think the big-boxers carry it..

dustdevil · February 2, 2010

As geeboss said, try using Miracle-Gro potting mix from Walmart if you can't find anything better. Pull out the little chunks of wood and stones to make it more suitable for seed starting. I've successfully used it for thousands of seedlings.

DeanRIowa · February 3, 2010

What about Planter's Pride Seeding and potting mix? Has anyone used it?

Here is a link to it. They have it on sale at the stores for $1 a 4 quart bag.

Dean

geeboss · February 3, 2010

DeanRIowa the Planter's Pride Seeding and potting mix should also work fine for starting seeds.

George

DeanRIowa · February 4, 2010

I bought a small bag of Planter's Pride seed starting mix and a bag of Pro-Mix Organic.

I hope the Pro-Mix organic turns out good. Anyone with experience with that version of Pro-Mix?

Dean

mtbigfish · February 5, 2010

I use either pro-mix fpg fine plug grade or just pgx plug grade with biofungacide and when potting out pro-mix bx with biofungacide 3.8 cf compressed about $27 this makes 33 gallon trashcan full when broken up and uncommpressed - real fluffy and the 3.8 cu ft bag still has some in it after I fill the trashcan
Dennis

velikipop · February 23, 2010

I used Black Gold for the first time this year and I am very happy with it. Started a 72 cell tray of tomato seeds on Thursday and 2/3 have sprouted as of today. These are the best results ever for me. I also like that it does not have to be pre-wetted.

gardenfrog · March 5, 2010

Pro Mix is my favorite! Miracle Gro is good, too, but a distant second. Stay away from WalMart's "Expert" brand potting soil. Expert is inconsistant, with weed seed and the plants just don't grow like the other two. For a good, light seed-starter, "Plantation" is also good.

jackdaniel · March 6, 2010

I'd rather make my own with 50% peat moss, 25% perlite, 25% vermiculite. I just got two bags of promix and will try that next crop. I hear nothing but good things about it, but it's expensive.

RiverRat · June 5, 2011

Reviving this thread to comment that I used Black Gold, from Territorial Seeds, for some of my tomatoes this year, and the difference between the ones grown with Black Gold vs. the other mixture was amazing. The plants were larger and stockier and took off much better in the garden. Now I have to get some more for next year.

z_willus_d · August 8, 2011

Has anyone located a place to purchase Pro-Mix anything (or Metro-Mix) Or Espoma or... anywhere in Northern California? I spent the better part of this Sunday banging my head on this west-coast procurement problem.

Thanks,
Naysen

timeless · August 8, 2011

You won't find a good seed starter in any store.
You must create it.
I prefer a 1/3 mix of peat, perlite and vermiculite.
The peat is easy to find.
The vermiculite? Go to Menards (or similar) and ask them for vermiculite insulation.
It's about 9 bucks a bag.
Perlite.
Now, that is going to be a problem.
I am lucky enough to have a local hardware store who carries it.
It's $20.00 a bag and I gladly pay it.
If you go to Menards or Home ★★★★★ or Lowes, they will sell you a bag of styrofoam balls and call it perlite.
THAT AINT PERLITE.
Just warning you in advance.

February 5, 2010	#24
mtbigfish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chillicothe Ohio - left Calif July 2010 Posts: 451	I use either pro-mix fpg fine plug grade or just pgx plug grade with biofungacide and when potting out pro-mix bx with biofungacide 3.8 cf compressed about $27 this makes 33 gallon trashcan full when broken up and uncommpressed - real fluffy and the 3.8 cu ft bag still has some in it after I fill the trashcan Dennis Last edited by mtbigfish; February 24, 2010 at 02:39 AM.

February 23, 2010	#25
velikipop Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Langley, BC Posts: 768	I used Black Gold for the first time this year and I am very happy with it. Started a 72 cell tray of tomato seeds on Thursday and 2/3 have sprouted as of today. These are the best results ever for me. I also like that it does not have to be pre-wetted. __________________ I'll plant and I'll harvest what the earth brings forth The hammer's on the table, the pitchfork's on the shelf Bob Dylan

January 27, 2010	#16
stevenkh1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Metro Detroit Posts: 172	I bought a 2 cubic yard bag of Miracle-Gro Organic to start seeds last year and it worked great. I think it was around $7 for the bag at Big Lots and I'll be using it again this year.

January 27, 2010	#18
instar8 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: N. Indiana Posts: 48	Ferti-lome is a reasonably priced mix that has been working well for me. I think it has a pretty wide distribution . I like Espoma, but just too $$$ when you're doing a lot of flats.

February 2, 2010	#20
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	As geeboss said, try using Miracle-Gro potting mix from Walmart if you can't find anything better. Pull out the little chunks of wood and stones to make it more suitable for seed starting. I've successfully used it for thousands of seedlings.

February 3, 2010	#21
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	What about Planter's Pride Seeding and potting mix? Has anyone used it? Here is a link to it. They have it on sale at the stores for $1 a 4 quart bag. Dean

February 3, 2010	#22
geeboss Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fairfax, VA Z7 Posts: 524	DeanRIowa the Planter's Pride Seeding and potting mix should also work fine for starting seeds. George

February 4, 2010	#23
DeanRIowa Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 5a - NE Iowa Posts: 416	I bought a small bag of Planter's Pride seed starting mix and a bag of Pro-Mix Organic. I hope the Pro-Mix organic turns out good. Anyone with experience with that version of Pro-Mix? Dean

March 5, 2010	#26
gardenfrog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Shelbyville, IN Posts: 343	Pro Mix is my favorite! Miracle Gro is good, too, but a distant second. Stay away from WalMart's "Expert" brand potting soil. Expert is inconsistant, with weed seed and the plants just don't grow like the other two. For a good, light seed-starter, "Plantation" is also good.

March 6, 2010	#27
jackdaniel Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: USA Posts: 94	I'd rather make my own with 50% peat moss, 25% perlite, 25% vermiculite. I just got two bags of promix and will try that next crop. I hear nothing but good things about it, but it's expensive.

June 5, 2011	#28
RiverRat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 78	Reviving this thread to comment that I used Black Gold, from Territorial Seeds, for some of my tomatoes this year, and the difference between the ones grown with Black Gold vs. the other mixture was amazing. The plants were larger and stockier and took off much better in the garden. Now I have to get some more for next year.

August 8, 2011	#29
z_willus_d Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Eastern Suburb of Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,313	Has anyone located a place to purchase Pro-Mix anything (or Metro-Mix) Or Espoma or... anywhere in Northern California? I spent the better part of this Sunday banging my head on this west-coast procurement problem. Thanks, Naysen

August 8, 2011	#30
timeless Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Wilber, Nebraska Posts: 14	You won't find a good seed starter in any store. You must create it. I prefer a 1/3 mix of peat, perlite and vermiculite. The peat is easy to find. The vermiculite? Go to Menards (or similar) and ask them for vermiculite insulation. It's about 9 bucks a bag. Perlite. Now, that is going to be a problem. I am lucky enough to have a local hardware store who carries it. It's $20.00 a bag and I gladly pay it. If you go to Menards or Home ★★★★★ or Lowes, they will sell you a bag of styrofoam balls and call it perlite. THAT AINT PERLITE. Just warning you in advance.