Tag Archives: Make your own seedling mix

DIY: Seedling Mix

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Seed starting mix is known as a soil-less mix , and unlike garden soil or potting soil, it is a sterile pathogen free growing mix. This is important because pathogens can kill seedlings while they are germinating, so growing seeds in a soil-less mixture increases their survival rate.  After your seeds have germinated and grown two true leaves, then they can be transplanted into containers filled with potting soil. 

DIY Seedling Mix recipe:

4 parts screened (mature) compost
1 part perlite
1 part vermiculite
2 parts coir (coconut fiber)

 

Use hands, or trowel to mix until ingredients are well combined.

Wet the seedling mix only until you can form a loose ball (water should not be dripping from the mixture)

Fill pots, or trays, with seedling mix

Plant seeds to the depth shown on the seed packet, cover seeds with seedling mix, then use a spray bottle to gently water the seeds.

Label your pots or trays with seed variety.

Article and photos by Carlotta Lucas, AGC Member

Paper Cup Seedling Pots

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Note: Use only unwaxed paper cups for your seedling pots, so they will decompose when planted in the garden later.

Start your seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date in your location.

To get Started:

Buy seedling mix, or make your own [it’s cheaper] – See DIY: Seedling Mix Formula, on this Blog. Seedling mix is a soil-less mixture specifically made for sprouting seeds.
20160318_155511_resized_1Poke three to four holes in the bottom of each paper cup.

Fill each paper cup with seed-starting mix, leaving 1/2 inch of space below the top.

Plant two seeds in of each cup. Check seed packet for seed planting depth; each variety is different. Cover seeds with seedling mix.

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Sit cups in trays, or boxes, water, then cover trays loosely with sheets of plastic wrap.

This helps keep moist and prevents mix from drying out.

Place in a warm location, after two days, start checking cups daily, water if

Remove the plastic wrap when most of the seeds have sprouted.

Place trays in a warm sunny indoor location. If placed next to a window turn trays regularly for equal sun exposure.

Water on a regular basis, but don’t over water.

two true leavesWhen plants have grown two true leaves, thin by snipping off the weaker plant in each cup.

After the last frost date in your area,  “harden off” your plants before planting

To Harden Off Plants:  Sit plants outside in a protected area for four hours, then bring them back inside. Increase “outdoor time “ by two hours each day. After a week of hardening off, you can plant the starts in your garden.