When to start seeds indoors?

[mike52]

This is my first year trying to grow my own tomato plants. It was a spur of the moment thing while I was in wally world, and I bought seeds, soil, and those paper-egg carton planters.

I figured that I would plant 2 seeds in each pod and hopefully a few would germinate. Seems every single seed germinated, and I guess i dropped some extra seeds along the way.. Anyway, every pod had 2 or 3 plants coming up. So now I have split those into other pods..

I have about 72 Black Krim, Pink Belgium, Brandywine, and Cherokee Purple. No way I'm planting all of these so will give some away.

Don't separate the seedlings from the pod. That will disturb the roots and cause almost all to die. Chose the strongest one and cut off the others

 

[Omega]

Don't separate the seedlings from the pod. That will disturb the roots and cause almost all to die. Chose the strongest one and cut off the others

I find it hard to do this, when I put two or three seeds per pod and they all sprout, they all seem to be healthy.

 

[mike52]

I find it hard to do this, when I put two or three seeds per pod and they all sprout, they all seem to be healthy.

I know it's hard BUT if you have all the plants in the same pot , they will crowd out each other, and you will have a bunch of plants competing for food, and root space. CUT THEM

 

[gtk]

Don't separate the seedlings from the pod. That will disturb the roots and cause almost all to die. Chose the strongest one and cut off the others

Too Late. I have already separated them about a week ago. I took a sharp knife and just sort of cut around them w/out disturbing the larger plant. That is why I went from 50 to 72

So far only 2 of the transplants didn't make it, with a 3rd looking a little poorly.

Yesterday I did add just a touch of fertilizer to each pod, and will gauge the reaction.

 

[Wobblyshot1]

The cabbage is ready to harden off which I'll start today. Hopefully I transplant to the garden soon. The peppers are going to take a while.....anaheim, hatch, and nadapeno.
Tomato seed start this weekend for an early May transplant to garden.

 

[Omega]

I tried starting my salsa seeds a couple days ago, I had purchased a bag of Jiffy brand seed starter mix last year, and it sucks IMO. I filled the cells and tried to get them moist and it just didn't work. When I sprayed the tops, only like the top 1/6th layer got moist the rest stayed dry. I added water to the tray so they could soak it up from the bottom and left it overnight. Next day, still dry, and floated the trays. So I trickled water into the cells and used a bamboo stick to stir the cell to moisten the entire contents, yea not great, still left pockets of dry material. It is supposed to be a mix but seems to be just finely ground coir, which doesn't seem to want to absorb any water. I went out and looked at Walmart to find my usual brand, the Miricle Gro seed starter mix, but struck out so just got a bag of some off brand I don't recognize, but it had some heft, unlike the Jiffy that is very light, so hope it works out, or my garden is getting another bag of seed starter mix mixed in.

 

[gtk]

The cabbage is ready to harden off which I'll start today. Hopefully I transplant to the garden soon.

Didnt know "hardening off" was a thing. Googled it, and I guess I'm glad I did. I was just going to set them out as soon as its time.

This "starting from seeds" stuff is beginning to resemble work

 

[Omega]

Didnt know "hardening off" was a thing. Googled it, and I guess I'm glad I did. I was just going to set them out as soon as its time.

This "starting from seeds" stuff is beginning to resemble work

I used to buy my plants from a place that got them from the Amish, but it closed down and the ones at the box store are overpriced, especially since they stopped carrying the six and eight packs. That is when I began starting them from seeds, had to buy all kinds of stuff and read up on it. Still learning, and yes, much more work, IMO, than just buying them to transplant. It's so hit and miss sometimes, some nature, some me. Timing the last frost has cost me plenty, and critters take their toll as well, though I got the critter issue pretty much solved now, except birds now and then, but I have netting if they get too bad.

 

[Wobblyshot1]

I tried starting my salsa seeds a couple days ago, I had purchased a bag of Jiffy brand seed starter mix last year, and it sucks IMO. I filled the cells and tried to get them moist and it just didn't work. When I sprayed the tops, only like the top 1/6th layer got moist the rest stayed dry. I added water to the tray so they could soak it up from the bottom and left it overnight. Next day, still dry, and floated the trays. So I trickled water into the cells and used a bamboo stick to stir the cell to moisten the entire contents, yea not great, still left pockets of dry material. It is supposed to be a mix but seems to be just finely ground coir, which doesn't seem to want to absorb any water. I went out and looked at Walmart to find my usual brand, the Miricle Gro seed starter mix, but struck out so just got a bag of some off brand I don't recognize, but it had some heft, unlike the Jiffy that is very light, so hope it works out, or my garden is getting another bag of seed starter mix mixed in.

I don't like Jiffy either. A few years ago I tried it and the seeds sprouted but didn't grow worth a hoot. By the time I gave up on the seedlings doing anything l was two or three weeks behind on planting.

 

[Omega]

Finally! Got my salsa started, and some cucumbers.

I went and picked up a bag of this seed starting mix, and wouldn't you know it, perfect timing, my Amazon package was on my doorstep when I got home from work, so got started right away.

The new mix has much better consistency than the Jiffy brand. New one on the left, Jiffy on the right, the Jiffy is just too powdery, hope it is as good as the miracle grow brand.

After two days, some of the Jiffy mix cells were still dry, the ones I manually mixed were a slushy mess, so took them out, and I am draining them in the sink before I get them out to the garden.

Finally got them in the dome, under a light and on a heat mat, the 1" blocks should be perfect to move them into a peat pot with potting soil once they get to the point they need some nutrients. 12 jalapeños, 12 cucumbers, and 12 roma, one seed each to test the mix, and keep me from having to cut any. I planted extra jalapeños in the jiffy mix, just to be sure, but not too enthused about using it again.

These things seem great, should be much easier to pop them out, I always struggle with the plastic ones. They were on sale not long ago and will probably return.



This little trowel is great too, has some nice features to start the seeds, a scoop to fill the cells, and a little...something, to poke a hole for the seed and a side to scoop a seed, I place them in my palm for ease. Currently, on sale for $5.50, I recommend it.

 

[DoubleRidge]

This "starting from seeds" stuff is beginning to resemble work

Yeah...its work but its very rewarding starting everything from seed. Last year was the first time everything we had in the garden was started from seed...another rabbit hole to go down is saving seeds...this year about a third of our starts are from seeds we saved from last years crop...enjoying the process....very rewarding.

 

[Forvols]

Yeah, I like it too very gratifying.