what medium to start seeds?

Zippy Gigglesniffer · Joined: 11 Nov 2003 Posts: 7

I would be interested in knowing what medium organic gardeners use to start seeds. The one post I found on this discussion board suggested a product by Rabbit Hill, I believe. Does anyone mix their own? and from what? I've been using organic potting soil and have not been too happy with it for some reason. Maybe some people won't mind sharing with me what they use? Thanks. Zippy

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 997 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

I think the product I use is the Rabbit Hill Farm seed starter. It's soil less which lessens the chance of a fungal disease that might kill your seedlings. It has a lot of wormcastings in it for gentle fertilizing and its been sterilized. It's a good product.

CaptainCompostAL · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 861 Location: Irondale,Alabama

I like starting seeds in simple leaf mold in small cups, using a diluted compost tea loaded with either seaweed or molasses.

Sometimes I like to start small seeds on small thin sheets of toilet paper on the soil, then watering them in with a diluted aerobic tea.

Gar · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Posts: 533 Location: Lavon,Texas

I make a mix of top soil, that I purchased at Home Depot, and compost. I dump the 40lbs bag of top soil in the wheel barrow and add alot of compost, finished or not. Then, by hand, I mix it up until you can not tell the different ingredients. Usually takes about 5 minutes. I cut the tops off of milk cartons to start the seeds from. I fill the cartons about half full of the mixture and add the seeds, water and wait until they start to grow. At first I water every other day, then back off to once a week, once they are up. So far every seed I planted has grown. The mixture only costed me
$1.10 for the home made potting soil and it makes alot.

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 997 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

I also get the egg cartons from Whole Foods (the recycled paper ones) and use them to put seeds and "soil" in each for starters.

BOBBY SHEPHERD · Joined: 08 Jul 2004 Posts: 4 Location: FT Worth.TX

sandih wrote: I think the product I use is the Rabbit Hill Farm seed starter. It's soil less which lessens the chance of a fungal disease that might kill your seedlings. It has a lot of wormcastings in it for gentle fertilizing and its been sterilized. It's a good product.
Where do you purchase your Rabbit Hill Seed Starter?I have not seen any of that product in the stores in the Ft Worth area.

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 997 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

I don't know about Ft. Worth, but I've purchased it at Redenta's and Sticks and Stones Garden Market in Dallas. Check out the Organic Resources tab on the left side of the home page of this website...maybe Howard listed some places in your area that you haven't checked yet.