I want to show off your seed starting set ups and review them for you. I promise I will be very nice about it and probably will learn a few things from you guys. If you can, please send me your photos of your seed setups either via email or on Instagram DM And I will make a video all about that! F R E E Garden Guide! This is all the garden gear I use in a year, along with a curated list of videos you may want to check out if you want to master the seed starting process! chipper-originator-4877.ck.page/a073b6b263 Plant Sensor! Grab one of these here is the link: earthone.io/?ref=GARDENINGINCANADA For a Discount code: GARDENINGCANADA
I agree with everything but the last one. I stopped using seed starting mix and my plants are so much happier. I used to baby my seeds but then when I realized how well seeds grow when you throw a tomato in the compost pile I stopped trying so hard 😂
Me too. I used to constantly be needing to use liquid fertilizer on my seedlings. Now I start them in pots like the size of a solo cup with home made potting mix where I "sterilized" it with hot water. I don't have to fertilize (less work) and it grows quicker.
@@thegiulianob so you don't fertilize your tomatoes while they're indoor? I do my own seed starting mix as well. Sterilize them with hot water, then add worm casting.
Great explanation & fun spending time with you! I’m in snowy Alberta & have started a few winter sowing jugs outside. I’m trying some Walla Walla onions & San Mariano tomatoes so far. We do get Chinook warming trends here so I may be a bit too early but it’s an experiment. I use ProMix for vegetables & herbs. I started Leeks before in milk jug planting & they were successful but I think it may have been in mid March. I am keeping track now in my garden book!
I've used the jiffy plugs... but for a few years - just use potting soil. Love vermiculite over the top! Misting... yes, just made this error and bottom watered -- over did it (of course!!) And now my green onion shoots turned yellow. Back to misting again for me!! I also left my lights on too long -- if 12hrs is good, shouldn't 20hrs be better?!... it's not. I'm a horrible over smothering seedling caregiver 😂 12hrs and mist... my onions should recover! I like to make the same errors every year, but i remember before the bulk of my seedlings are growing. 😊
I always have a fan on my seedlings, no matter if I'm starting them in the house or in the greenhouse. It'll dry them out quicker, but I find I always get leggy plants without it.
Ive been growing vegetables for about 15 years and have never, not once used a seed starting mix, just straight up mutli purpose compost, i dont siv it, i may pick out the odd lump if its really big, but thats it, never had any germination issues, means i dont have worry about nutrients during seedling stage, and mine are among the healthiest plants on our allotment :)
@@GardeningInCanada it would be interesting to find out why the seedlings do so well in mutli purpose compost, because everything you said about using seed starting soil and then potting up makes total sense, I just get better results from compost haha
I really enjoy starting seedlings. Water, I use bottom, top, and mist, sometimes all at the same time. I use weak solution of MG to fertilize after day 3.. I use Holly Garden Pro-line mix. Top 1 inch layer is sifted with 1/4inch wire basket. Some time I just put the seeds on the surface of well wetted mix with little press for good soil contact, then mist to wet the seed, then cover with a lite layer of mix or perlite. I use a heat mat and I put a kitchen towel over the tray. This holds in more heat and allow the tray to breathe a bit, (if you ever opened a plastic dome after 3 days it just smells funky). I think the cloth covering helps alot raising and stabilizing the temp . I have noticed that at about the 3-4 week mark that any/all seed starting mixes start to lose their ability to hold water. I like your videos because I know they are backed by science and not just some regurgitated internet mantras.
Vermiculite made a HUGE difference in my seed starting. I live in the AZ desert where the surface of soil can dry out very quickly. For those little seeds it makes a huge difference. Now I want to try using straight vermiculite for those little seeds. I had no idea that you needed different soil for blocks (I don’t use them), but I find it interesting.
I just regular vegetable pro mix or whatever potting soil and just start in March. Put a many seeds from a fresh tomato and divided into 2 small pots. Then as it grows I weed them out. Works fine. Even if it’s been competing and such as long as you start early it should be fine. I took your method and used some peat based potting soil with little nutrients and it’s taking way longer to germinate maybe not even germinate at all
Its good that you all are discussing potting mixes and which one is better! I think a stray cat pooped in mine when i left it outside. I didnt see anything before dumping boiling water on it but it stinks now! So much for the beginning of the growing season! Just my luck. 🥵
At 7:35 or so I'm seeing what looks like a bottom watering system so I'm a bit confused as I thought you mentioned not to bottom water. Can you say more about this please. I have had mixed results with seed starting in trays and due to the shade of large neighbouring trees now and the short but very hot and dry summer months, I need to get far better at growing in trays. Thanks so much for your help with this.
2 questions! 1. What about cucumbers? Do they also need to be pumped up? They don't like their roots being disturbed. 2. I've read that some vermiculite is contaminated with asbestos, how do we fibf asbestos-free vermiculite?
1. Do not bump up cucumbers they will hate your 2. It’s asbestos free since the 1990s there was one mine that did have it but its been shut down and the mines today have to get testing regularly
I use paper towel method and I was drowning them. I now keep the paper towel much less saturated and place in partially open ziplock bag to slow evaporation and having much greater success. Do you like jiffy pots?
Great video! It's damping off though, not dampening off - I got it confused too! I love using vermiculite on top of the trays to minimize fungus gnats - I think you and Laura from Garden Answer both convinced me to try it and it seems to have helped. It's a bit harder to tell when to water though, but still worth the upsides haha
Can you do a video on root disturbance? Some plants/flowers don't like while others don't mind. How do we know this other than what the packet says. Are there attributes to the plant that are tell-tale signs?
I use home made paper pots for touchy plants like Morning glories, sweet pea vines etc. I am now using soil blocks for luffas, cucumbers, birdhouse gourds, squash and melons. Probably will eventually do just soil blocks in the near future.
@@brianseybert192 soil blocking is a good idea but would it still be considered root disturbance if I pull apart the soil blocks? Silly thought, I know! I picked up some cow manure pots for my sweet peas we will see how they do! If anyone has advice for poppies that would be awesome!
I had to watch, just to see if I can improve what I am doing. But it looks like I am doing it all wrong, bottom watering, potting soil instead of seed starting mix, no vermiculite, etc. But I get lots and lots of happy healthy seedlings and plants doing what I have been doing. I like things simple. I use a good quality potting soil that I sift. I use cheap plastic cells (going to invest in better ones soon for next year). Each year trays of plants are ready for my garden, more then i can use most of the time so friends get the extras.
I can't believe you mentioned potting soil. This is the equivalent of asking an electrician what is code on something. Pop your popcorn and sit back while everybody is sure their answer is right🙂 Thank you for this vid. It gave me some good pointers to look at.
I seem to have constant problem with white mold on top of my trays woth seedlings. Despite washing the trays in water with bleach ,and sterilizing the potting mix with boiling water,i cant seem to combat that problem. I use alot of cinnamon to control it,which worked but this year ill try the misting.The only thing im confused about,is that you say dont use potting mis ,just vermiculite, than you say to use potting mix the pros are using 🤔
On top of all this, Charles Dowding puts home-made compost in his seed pots, puts the seeds in, pours water over them and voila, , 100% germination success. Why? Fresh seeds. No matter what I used myself, whether compost, vermiculite or seed starting mix, the only problem I ever had was when I didn't look carefully at the date of the seed packet when I bought it in the shop.
Just planted my seeds in 5:1 light warrior and ocean forest lets see how that goes. Should've screened the mix before but oh well. Lets see an outdoor garden video and get canadian prepper to do all the digging
Pro Mix PGX is absurdly hard to find. Use PM BX and adjust consistency with one of any, very fine vermiculite/perlite/pumice/charged biochar, when using soil blockers. Otherwise, make your own mix from cheap and readily available substrates that will hold form. Seeds are comparatively inexpensive when compared to the jet-smoke-high costs for manufactured soils; plant more seeds!
I stopped using seed starting mix because I never had much success with it. This year I ran out of the potting soil I use so I used seed starting mix. My seedlings planted at the same time in all purpose miracle grow potting soil are miles ahead of the seedlings in the standard seedling mix.
I tried my own seed starting mix using compost, perlite, and composted coco coir. I didn't test my ph beforehand, and now some tomatoes have leaves that turned purple, shriveled up, and fell off. The Ph is 5.5. Now I am trying to figure out how to fix the ph.
What is a root trainer and when do I use one? Does lining a nursery pot with burlap make sense to add structure to larger root balls of taproot plants?
Root trainer is essentially a long, narrow pot. What it does is it train the roots to go down words rather than outwards. And the idea there is that if you have roots that are digging, rather than sprawling, you have better resistance to.L drought.
I keep getting a slimy green substance (mold?)growing on the top of my seed starts, whether I use vermiculite or not. I also get white mold on some, and sometimes a rust coloured substance (mold?). What am I doing wrong??? Thanks
Not sure if you've done it already, however, I think it might be a good idea to talk about the severe issues with misting established plants at the wrong time. Only because misting seeded soil implies misting plants is a good idea when it's often not. Also, is kind of important for people to remember that most seeds have everything the seed needs to germinate already in them. You can even start some on a cinderblock with no soil if you wanted to. They generally just require the correct amount of moisture and temperatures. That said, I do sometimes use plant hormones went starting a seed, though this isn't always a great idea.
@@GardeningInCanada They only sell Miracle Gro and Promix seed starter. The closest is in the USA. Maybe it's possible to find in Quebec but that's even further than the US border. The companies just don't have an information for where it could be found here.
I have success starting my seeds in Promix BX. When I transplant my seedlings into larger pots, I use Promix all purpose potting mix. Have done this for years and works great for me. I haven't had any success with the Miracle Gro mixes.
As just a home vegetable gardener, I've found top soil from the yard and rabbit poop works good for me. I don't know what kinds of seeds y'all are starting.
@brian3986 yes I know, I'm not talking about the odor. I'm talking about the fungus gnat eggs in the soil. Do you ever get any outbreaks of flies or gnats inside when you use your regular topsoil from outside?
I have sandy soil and the top foot and 1/2 are finally changing for the better. I would like to add worms. Do you have a suggestion of kind and amount? Aslso I wintered over my peppers how do I get them to start blooming ?
I found the jiffy pods to be a huge game changer, however I do want to start using trays. Good to know about the sunshine mix… I use a different sunshine mix in my garden regularly… I’ll look for the germinating one.
I use fertilizer once the true leaves, 3-6 leaves, are present. I use 1/4 strength fish fertilizer because I start some seeds a few months before my last frost date in 3" containers. Is this okay? My brassicas seem to grow well with this method.
I watched this video and immediately got up and sprayed my soil blocks from the top. I make my own soil block mix from coir, sifted compost, sifted leaf mould and vermiculite. I was bottom watering and have the white mold on top of the blocks and spraying from the top was the missing link. Thanks. What’s your opinion on adding diluted seaweed fertilizer to the water on my small seedlings? I have watched a number of your videos and appreciate you taking the time to share your expertise with us.
Since starting seeds inside takes so much effort, what is the greatest benefit of doing it? Are there certain plants that benefit more than just directly seeding outside?
Hello enjoying your channel! I have been a market farmer in the rockies for over a dozen years. I generate thousands of soil blocks per season for garden transplants with pretty good success. I have always followed the Elliot Coleman recipe for soil blocks, but maybe next year I'll try the GPX or SM#3. I am planning to invest in a paperpot planter for next season: what mix would you recommend?
Wish I'd seen this video when you posted it; was so loopy last week trying to fight white fuzz on my birch seedlings and get Ilex seeds stratified that I sprayed dilute bleach on the mold to kill it. Well, it worked, and now the birches are all mostly dead, obviously. I've soaked the jiffy plugs to oversaturation and pulled the moisture back down and out with paper towels to try to leach the sodium away, but it's not looking good. Next time, not using the included fertilizer with the plugs, doing better about sterilizing the seeds with peroxide after the water soak, and using your top misting and vermiculite advice. _Then_ these little guys will make it.
Terrific video! I’ve been a “mister”, particularly at the point of planting the seed & until it has popped through the soil changing to bottom watering once in the vegetative stage (should I wait longer before bottom watering?🤔🤷♂️) What are your thoughts about wicking mats? Starting to think that continuous source of bottom watering might lead to over-watering causing legging plants or damping off.🤔
@@GardeningInCanada Thinking more about the wicking mat, using it with plants at the vegetative stage might be better than putting newly planted seeds trays/cells on it may be advisable and only misting until that vegetative stage.🤔
I've used jiffy plugs, they are ok if that's all you can afford or get. I've done the pure potting soil which was ok. Last year I did potting soil for the bottom inch of the seed pots and then seed starting mix for the top half. They did well and my garden would have done well if the weather had behaved itself. LOL. I tend to bottom water though which I guess isn't a good idea. Tomatoes, peppers etc go on a heat mat and other stuff just on its own.
Spraying from above doesn’t mean there isn’t excess water. I don’t really follow why, against the advice of many gardeners on UA-cam, top watering is being promoted. I’ve found bottom watering has vastly reduced problems with gnats compared to misting above.
@@GardeningInCanadayou betcha! The title thru me off. I'm starting to grow indoors under lights. Using Fox farm Light Warrior seedling mix this year $ hoping for good results. Really like your videos. Thanks
I tend to just use whatever soil I have leftover from RIP plants and that has worked fine for me. Got about 100 Carolina reaper plants working now. You got anything fun to trade Ashley?
@@GardeningInCanadahaha no bears here but I’m sure it could double as pepper spray for people 😂. I plan on eating a good majority of these as well as making hot sauce, chili oil and dried seasonings. I realized there was no market for super hot peppers in Houston so I decided to make my own.
I thought about getting Promix but then saw reviews from people who said it had sticks in it. I planted Al Beit cucumber seeds in an egg carton with seed starting mix in an incubator for reptile eggs and they literally sprouted after 1 day and were 6 inches long in two days! If I had it to do over again I would have not waited for the cotyledons to take them off the heat. I created a little arch trellis in a pot with hardware cloth but 2 cotyledons broke off when I put them through the whole and the wire sprung back. Now I will have to plant more anyhow to replace the two I lost.
So I’m kinda confuse in paint 2 using vermiculite. If you’re using seeding starting soil you don’t use it? Your video says don’t, however you go in to describe to use it so I’m kinda confused
That one is an old wives tale actually. There was a mine in the 1990's that was shut down because of asbestos in vermiculite. But they now test the products.
This is off topic but I'm wondering if citric acid would be a viable way to lower ph. I know you would have to use much more of it then the acids found in typical ph downs. Would there be any benefits for the soil biology and/or plant to squeeze a lime into the fertigation/water occasionally in replace of using a ph down?
Oh and on some websites it talks about citrus fruit juice harming microbes. I know it kills some types but I was wondering if the beneficial microbes bounce back after a while. I've heard mixed opinions on various acids such as acidic acid from vinegar. I'm confused on which to avoid.
@@GardeningInCanadacan you link video in this comment? I can’t find it. I live in Winnipeg and our water PH is super high. I have a large container garden, grow a lot of tomatoes and peppers, and battle high PH constantly. Having such a large garden, it’s super time consuming so using PH down in a watering can every watering isn’t feasible. Thanks!
I am a visual learner...to an infuriating degree. I'll go looking through your older stuff after this video, but if one doesn't exist, can you show us how you germinate and bump up seeds when using only vermiculite? I'm having a hard time picturing what to do with these itty bitty flower seedlings I'm looking at in soil right now, wondering how I'm going to bump them up 😑 I'm NEW new and looking for alllllll the tips lol thanks for this helpful video!
I have some vermiculite that I was thinking of pulverizing in the coffee grinder I use to make worm chow. Do you think that would work to add into my leaf mold soil block mixture? It is not that I am cheap (I kinda am) but if I can make it myself, why buy it? As always, another great video. I still make mistakes, usually things I have not had problems with before. Stay Well!!!
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I want to show off your seed starting set ups and review them for you. I promise I will be very nice about it and probably will learn a few things from you guys. If you can, please send me your photos of your seed setups either via email or on Instagram DM And I will make a video all about that!
F R E E Garden Guide! This is all the garden gear I use in a year, along with a curated list of videos you may want to check out if you want to master the seed starting process! chipper-originator-4877.ck.page/a073b6b263
Plant Sensor! Grab one of these here is the link: earthone.io/?ref=GARDENINGINCANADA
For a Discount code: GARDENINGCANADA
Lol I'm nervous about it. My setup sucks I'm sure. Lately I have small amount of algae growing
I agree with everything but the last one. I stopped using seed starting mix and my plants are so much happier. I used to baby my seeds but then when I realized how well seeds grow when you throw a tomato in the compost pile I stopped trying so hard 😂
Me too. I used to constantly be needing to use liquid fertilizer on my seedlings. Now I start them in pots like the size of a solo cup with home made potting mix where I "sterilized" it with hot water. I don't have to fertilize (less work) and it grows quicker.
Interesting!
@@thegiulianob so you don't fertilize your tomatoes while they're indoor? I do my own seed starting mix as well. Sterilize them with hot water, then add worm casting.
@@thegiulianob Technically, the hot/boiling water pasteurizes the medium, which is better, mostly, than sterilizing for seedling growth.
Great explanation & fun spending time with you! I’m in snowy Alberta & have started a few winter sowing jugs outside. I’m trying some Walla Walla onions & San Mariano tomatoes so far. We do get Chinook warming trends here so I may be a bit too early but it’s an experiment. I use ProMix for vegetables & herbs. I started Leeks before in milk jug planting & they were successful but I think it may have been in mid March. I am keeping track now in my garden book!
I've used the jiffy plugs... but for a few years - just use potting soil. Love vermiculite over the top! Misting... yes, just made this error and bottom watered -- over did it (of course!!) And now my green onion shoots turned yellow. Back to misting again for me!! I also left my lights on too long -- if 12hrs is good, shouldn't 20hrs be better?!... it's not. I'm a horrible over smothering seedling caregiver 😂 12hrs and mist... my onions should recover! I like to make the same errors every year, but i remember before the bulk of my seedlings are growing. 😊
Girl you sound like me and I’ve been gardening for 6 years lol
lol 😸💕
I always have a fan on my seedlings, no matter if I'm starting them in the house or in the greenhouse. It'll dry them out quicker, but I find I always get leggy plants without it.
Great idea. Doing that now!
Oh yes that’s always good
I’ve heard it makes them stronger, by giving a low-level stress that it has to adapt to.
Totally agree. I have 5v computer fan over my seedlings. Keeps away bugs and fungi
That and a lot of light
Ive been growing vegetables for about 15 years and have never, not once used a seed starting mix, just straight up mutli purpose compost, i dont siv it, i may pick out the odd lump if its really big, but thats it, never had any germination issues, means i dont have worry about nutrients during seedling stage, and mine are among the healthiest plants on our allotment :)
That’s awesome! Good job 👏
@@GardeningInCanada it would be interesting to find out why the seedlings do so well in mutli purpose compost, because everything you said about using seed starting soil and then potting up makes total sense, I just get better results from compost haha
Half and half vermiculite and sphagnum is my favorite for seed starting.
I don’t bump up I just grow from the start in the correct 3 in pot
Nice!
I really enjoy starting seedlings. Water, I use bottom, top, and mist, sometimes all at the same time. I use weak solution of MG to fertilize after day 3.. I use Holly Garden Pro-line mix. Top 1 inch layer is sifted with 1/4inch wire basket. Some time I just put the seeds on the surface of well wetted mix with little press for good soil contact, then mist to wet the seed, then cover with a lite layer of mix or perlite. I use a heat mat and I put a kitchen towel over the tray. This holds in more heat and allow the tray to breathe a bit, (if you ever opened a plastic dome after 3 days it just smells funky). I think the cloth covering helps alot raising and stabilizing the temp . I have noticed that at about the 3-4 week mark that any/all seed starting mixes start to lose their ability to hold water. I like your videos because I know they are backed by science and not just some regurgitated internet mantras.
Vermiculite made a HUGE difference in my seed starting. I live in the AZ desert where the surface of soil can dry out very quickly. For those little seeds it makes a huge difference. Now I want to try using straight vermiculite for those little seeds. I had no idea that you needed different soil for blocks (I don’t use them), but I find it interesting.
Oh yes in that environment absolutely!
Depends on what seeds im starting, but i use a 10% Liquid Humic Acid 90% Distilled water solution as a seed soak.
I just regular vegetable pro mix or whatever potting soil and just start in March. Put a many seeds from a fresh tomato and divided into 2 small pots. Then as it grows I weed them out. Works fine. Even if it’s been competing and such as long as you start early it should be fine. I took your method and used some peat based potting soil with little nutrients and it’s taking way longer to germinate maybe not even germinate at all
I've tried so many ways of germinating my seeds, with some success, but this year I'm committing to the Gardening in Canada way...in Australia 😅
You can do it! We can adopt you 😉
Its good that you all are discussing potting mixes and which one is better! I think a stray cat pooped in mine when i left it outside. I didnt see anything before dumping boiling water on it but it stinks now! So much for the beginning of the growing season! Just my luck. 🥵
That video is gonna be coming out on Friday so watch for that usually around 3 PM central standard time
At 7:35 or so I'm seeing what looks like a bottom watering system so I'm a bit confused as I thought you mentioned not to bottom water. Can you say more about this please. I have had mixed results with seed starting in trays and due to the shade of large neighbouring trees now and the short but very hot and dry summer months, I need to get far better at growing in trays. Thanks so much for your help with this.
2 questions! 1. What about cucumbers? Do they also need to be pumped up? They don't like their roots being disturbed. 2. I've read that some vermiculite is contaminated with asbestos, how do we fibf asbestos-free vermiculite?
1. Do not bump up cucumbers they will hate your
2. It’s asbestos free since the 1990s there was one mine that did have it but its been shut down and the mines today have to get testing regularly
I use paper towel method and I was drowning them. I now keep the paper towel much less saturated and place in partially open ziplock bag to slow evaporation and having much greater success. Do you like jiffy pots?
I sift my own, hubby made me a giant sifter that fits over my wheelbarrow
Oh that is perfect!
I just planted celery tonight in soil blocks- going to try a vermiculite base tomorrow now!!!
Yes! Get on that
Great video! It's damping off though, not dampening off - I got it confused too! I love using vermiculite on top of the trays to minimize fungus gnats - I think you and Laura from Garden Answer both convinced me to try it and it seems to have helped. It's a bit harder to tell when to water though, but still worth the upsides haha
I'm gonna start some seeds today. I will try this misting thing and let you know.💯👍
Can you do a video on root disturbance? Some plants/flowers don't like while others don't mind. How do we know this other than what the packet says. Are there attributes to the plant that are tell-tale signs?
Yea! Absolutely that’s a good one
I use home made paper pots for touchy plants like Morning glories, sweet pea vines etc. I am now using soil blocks for luffas, cucumbers, birdhouse gourds, squash and melons. Probably will eventually do just soil blocks in the near future.
@@brianseybert192 soil blocking is a good idea but would it still be considered root disturbance if I pull apart the soil blocks? Silly thought, I know! I picked up some cow manure pots for my sweet peas we will see how they do! If anyone has advice for poppies that would be awesome!
I just order a similar set up, BUT the one I ordered has silicone cells so I CAN easily remove the the seedlings...🤞
I had to watch, just to see if I can improve what I am doing. But it looks like I am doing it all wrong, bottom watering, potting soil instead of seed starting mix, no vermiculite, etc. But I get lots and lots of happy healthy seedlings and plants doing what I have been doing. I like things simple. I use a good quality potting soil that I sift. I use cheap plastic cells (going to invest in better ones soon for next year). Each year trays of plants are ready for my garden, more then i can use most of the time so friends get the extras.
Hahah awe there is no such thing as wrong when it comes to gardening
I can't believe you mentioned potting soil. This is the equivalent of asking an electrician what is code on something. Pop your popcorn and sit back while everybody is sure their answer is right🙂 Thank you for this vid. It gave me some good pointers to look at.
I seem to have constant problem with white mold on top of my trays woth seedlings. Despite washing the trays in water with bleach ,and sterilizing the potting mix with boiling water,i cant seem to combat that problem. I use alot of cinnamon to control it,which worked but this year ill try the misting.The only thing im confused about,is that you say dont use potting mis ,just vermiculite, than you say to use potting mix the pros are using 🤔
Have you tried vermiculite on the surface with a fan?
On top of all this, Charles Dowding puts home-made compost in his seed pots, puts the seeds in, pours water over them and voila, , 100% germination success. Why? Fresh seeds. No matter what I used myself, whether compost, vermiculite or seed starting mix, the only problem I ever had was when I didn't look carefully at the date of the seed packet when I bought it in the shop.
My go to is misting, seed starting mix and after that is neglect and it works somehow.
Oh yes!
How do Jiffy Seeds like products stack up to SunGro #4? I'm guessing they don't. Thanks.
Just planted my seeds in 5:1 light warrior and ocean forest lets see how that goes. Should've screened the mix before but oh well. Lets see an outdoor garden video and get canadian prepper to do all the digging
AHAHAHA Ashley boot camp for Nate 😏 I like your thinking
me too! hahahahahah!@@GardeningInCanada
Seeing Nate flex those muscles hmmm might go viral. Just saying…
Pro Mix PGX is absurdly hard to find. Use PM BX and adjust consistency with one of any, very fine vermiculite/perlite/pumice/charged biochar, when using soil blockers.
Otherwise, make your own mix from cheap and readily available substrates that will hold form. Seeds are comparatively inexpensive when compared to the jet-smoke-high costs for manufactured soils; plant more seeds!
Yes that’s the worst part about those customer mixes. They don’t just carry them at a Walmart
I stopped using seed starting mix because I never had much success with it. This year I ran out of the potting soil I use so I used seed starting mix. My seedlings planted at the same time in all purpose miracle grow potting soil are miles ahead of the seedlings in the standard seedling mix.
Thanks for sharing
I tried my own seed starting mix using compost, perlite, and composted coco coir. I didn't test my ph beforehand, and now some tomatoes have leaves that turned purple, shriveled up, and fell off. The Ph is 5.5. Now I am trying to figure out how to fix the ph.
What is a root trainer and when do I use one? Does lining a nursery pot with burlap make sense to add structure to larger root balls of taproot plants?
Root trainer is essentially a long, narrow pot. What it does is it train the roots to go down words rather than outwards. And the idea there is that if you have roots that are digging, rather than sprawling, you have better resistance to.L drought.
Sharing is caring 😊
I keep getting a slimy green substance (mold?)growing on the top of my seed starts, whether I use vermiculite or not. I also get white mold on some, and sometimes a rust coloured substance (mold?). What am I doing wrong???
Thanks
Sounds like Algea
Not sure if you've done it already, however, I think it might be a good idea to talk about the severe issues with misting established plants at the wrong time. Only because misting seeded soil implies misting plants is a good idea when it's often not.
Also, is kind of important for people to remember that most seeds have everything the seed needs to germinate already in them. You can even start some on a cinderblock with no soil if you wanted to. They generally just require the correct amount of moisture and temperatures. That said, I do sometimes use plant hormones went starting a seed, though this isn't always a great idea.
This is great information 😊thank you .
Neither the Promix PGX nor Sunshine no. 2 is available in Ontario. It seems they are available in Alberta and the USA.
Oh darn! Have you tried talking to local farm and garden stores?
@@GardeningInCanada They only sell Miracle Gro and Promix seed starter. The closest is in the USA. Maybe it's possible to find in Quebec but that's even further than the US border. The companies just don't have an information for where it could be found here.
I have success starting my seeds in Promix BX. When I transplant my seedlings into larger pots, I use Promix all purpose potting mix. Have done this for years and works great for me. I haven't had any success with the Miracle Gro mixes.
As just a home vegetable gardener, I've found top soil from the yard and rabbit poop works good for me. I don't know what kinds of seeds y'all are starting.
You must not start your seedlings indoors
Nice!
@@wesh388 We do. Rabbit poop has no real odor. At least not in the quantity we use it. Nothing like horse, cow, or pig manure.
@brian3986 yes I know, I'm not talking about the odor. I'm talking about the fungus gnat eggs in the soil. Do you ever get any outbreaks of flies or gnats inside when you use your regular topsoil from outside?
@@wesh388 not yet
I have sandy soil and the top foot and 1/2 are finally changing for the better. I would like to add worms. Do you have a suggestion of kind and amount?
Aslso I wintered over my peppers how do I get them to start blooming ?
I found the jiffy pods to be a huge game changer, however I do want to start using trays. Good to know about the sunshine mix… I use a different sunshine mix in my garden regularly… I’ll look for the germinating one.
They do make things simple that is forsure
@@GardeningInCanada Where do you get Sunshine Mix #3? I can't find it on the internet...!!!
You made this video especially for me! Thanks! Much appreciated!
Glad I could help!
I use fertilizer once the true leaves, 3-6 leaves, are present. I use 1/4 strength fish fertilizer because I start some seeds a few months before my last frost date in 3" containers. Is this okay? My brassicas seem to grow well with this method.
Sounds great!
I watched this video and immediately got up and sprayed my soil blocks from the top. I make my own soil block mix from coir, sifted compost, sifted leaf mould and vermiculite. I was bottom watering and have the white mold on top of the blocks and spraying from the top was the missing link. Thanks. What’s your opinion on adding diluted seaweed fertilizer to the water on my small seedlings? I have watched a number of your videos and appreciate you taking the time to share your expertise with us.
That’s fine. My biggest concern is too much nitrogen when things are tiny.
Yes with mist. That was a game changer for me.
Right! It’s crazy
Since starting seeds inside takes so much effort, what is the greatest benefit of doing it? Are there certain plants that benefit more than just directly seeding outside?
Oh yes! Lots and lots cucumbers, beans, pea, lettuce, carrots, beets, squash.
Hello enjoying your channel!
I have been a market farmer in the rockies for over a dozen years. I generate thousands of soil blocks per season for garden transplants with pretty good success. I have always followed the Elliot Coleman recipe for soil blocks, but maybe next year I'll try the GPX or SM#3.
I am planning to invest in a paperpot planter for next season: what mix would you recommend?
Hi Ashley, can we add beneficial nematodes to starting mix?
Yes! No issues there
Do you suggest fine vermiculite on seed starts for a mulch?
Ideally yes
Wish I'd seen this video when you posted it; was so loopy last week trying to fight white fuzz on my birch seedlings and get Ilex seeds stratified that I sprayed dilute bleach on the mold to kill it. Well, it worked, and now the birches are all mostly dead, obviously. I've soaked the jiffy plugs to oversaturation and pulled the moisture back down and out with paper towels to try to leach the sodium away, but it's not looking good. Next time, not using the included fertilizer with the plugs, doing better about sterilizing the seeds with peroxide after the water soak, and using your top misting and vermiculite advice. _Then_ these little guys will make it.
Omph darn UA-cam not serving up the vids
Terrific video!
I’ve been a “mister”, particularly at the point of planting the seed & until it has popped through the soil changing to bottom watering once in the vegetative stage (should I wait longer before bottom watering?🤔🤷♂️)
What are your thoughts about wicking mats? Starting to think that continuous source of bottom watering might lead to over-watering causing legging plants or damping off.🤔
They are pretty gentle but you need the right pots that’s forsure.
@@GardeningInCanada Thinking more about the wicking mat, using it with plants at the vegetative stage might be better than putting newly planted seeds trays/cells on it may be advisable and only misting until that vegetative stage.🤔
I've used jiffy plugs, they are ok if that's all you can afford or get. I've done the pure potting soil which was ok. Last year I did potting soil for the bottom inch of the seed pots and then seed starting mix for the top half. They did well and my garden would have done well if the weather had behaved itself. LOL. I tend to bottom water though which I guess isn't a good idea. Tomatoes, peppers etc go on a heat mat and other stuff just on its own.
I used jiffy plugs for 10 years lol I love those things
Please write a book!! Love your knowledge ❤
Maybe one day!
I would by it🌹🤎
I would totally buy it❤❤
Spraying from above doesn’t mean there isn’t excess water. I don’t really follow why, against the advice of many gardeners on UA-cam, top watering is being promoted. I’ve found bottom watering has vastly reduced problems with gnats compared to misting above.
Listening closely! Thanks Ashley!
Thanks for listening
@@GardeningInCanadayou betcha! The title thru me off. I'm starting to grow indoors under lights. Using Fox farm Light Warrior seedling mix this year $ hoping for good results. Really like your videos. Thanks
Ooooh, what is this root training you speak of? Do you have a video about that?
Yes I’ll have too I was shocked many of you don’t know what that is.
Help! I've noticed my little watering can for watering my seedlings is getting rusty on the inside. Will this be a problem for my plants?
Unlikely the water would have to sit for a while in the can/rust to make a major difference
Perfect thank you!
Eventually it will.
The can will rust through and it won't be able to hold water, leaving your seedlings high-and-dry.
Eventually, that is.
Thanks!
❤️❤️
Could I use sand instead of vermiculite?
Sand is good if you are needing the even temperature distribution. But not my first choice.
What do you mean when you mention a plug tray?
Just your classic seed cell trays.
I tend to just use whatever soil I have leftover from RIP plants and that has worked fine for me. Got about 100 Carolina reaper plants working now. You got anything fun to trade Ashley?
100!? Are you making bear mace 😅😂. I only have paparika started
@@GardeningInCanadahaha no bears here but I’m sure it could double as pepper spray for people 😂. I plan on eating a good majority of these as well as making hot sauce, chili oil and dried seasonings. I realized there was no market for super hot peppers in Houston so I decided to make my own.
Love your videos!
❤️❤️ thank you! 😊
I thought about getting Promix but then saw reviews from people who said it had sticks in it.
I planted Al Beit cucumber seeds in an egg carton with seed starting mix in an incubator for reptile eggs and they literally sprouted after 1 day and were 6 inches long in two days! If I had it to do over again I would have not waited for the cotyledons to take them off the heat. I created a little arch trellis in a pot with hardware cloth but 2 cotyledons broke off when I put them through the whole and the wire sprung back. Now I will have to plant more anyhow to replace the two I lost.
Anything no compressed has sticks I find
Where would you get that promix pgx- I’ve never seen it.
Usually specialty stores like greenhouse or garden dedicated stores.
Thanks for putting out great content!
Glad you enjoy it!
So I’m kinda confuse in paint 2 using vermiculite. If you’re using seeding starting soil you don’t use it? Your video says don’t, however you go in to describe to use it so I’m kinda confused
Ive shied away from using vermiculite because of the low levels of asbestos.
That one is an old wives tale actually. There was a mine in the 1990's that was shut down because of asbestos in vermiculite. But they now test the products.
@@GardeningInCanada the latest article I read was from October 2023 and was put out by the Maine Department of Health.
Could sand or perlite replace vermiculite?
Sand can in particular for even heat distribution. Perlite I wouldn’t go with but no reason you could.
This is a question I have as well. Why not Perlite?
You could use it. I just find heat distribution is not as even with perlite.
This is off topic but I'm wondering if citric acid would be a viable way to lower ph. I know you would have to use much more of it then the acids found in typical ph downs. Would there be any benefits for the soil biology and/or plant to squeeze a lime into the fertigation/water occasionally in replace of using a ph down?
also thanks a lot for another great video. Here's another comment for the algorithm!
Oh and on some websites it talks about citrus fruit juice harming microbes. I know it kills some types but I was wondering if the beneficial microbes bounce back after a while. I've heard mixed opinions on various acids such as acidic acid from vinegar. I'm confused on which to avoid.
It actually depends on the water pH. Have you seen my video on that?
@@GardeningInCanadacan you link video in this comment? I can’t find it. I live in Winnipeg and our water PH is super high. I have a large container garden, grow a lot of tomatoes and peppers, and battle high PH constantly. Having such a large garden, it’s super time consuming so using PH down in a watering can every watering isn’t feasible. Thanks!
Where can I find the Pro mix one? In new york state.
Any sort of seed retailer, greenhouse or livestock feed companies that deal in potting soil/gardening should have it
Thank you!
I am a visual learner...to an infuriating degree. I'll go looking through your older stuff after this video, but if one doesn't exist, can you show us how you germinate and bump up seeds when using only vermiculite? I'm having a hard time picturing what to do with these itty bitty flower seedlings I'm looking at in soil right now, wondering how I'm going to bump them up 😑 I'm NEW new and looking for alllllll the tips lol thanks for this helpful video!
I don’t have a video on this because I have never filmed it before. But that is definitely something I can do for you.
Thank yoooooou 😭❤️ my lettuce and alyssum germination rates have been 💩💩 lol
Thanks for the vid
You bet
I have some vermiculite that I was thinking of pulverizing in the coffee grinder I use to make worm chow. Do you think that would work to add into my leaf mold soil block mixture?
It is not that I am cheap (I kinda am) but if I can make it myself, why buy it?
As always, another great video. I still make mistakes, usually things I have not had problems with before.
Stay Well!!!
Oh, that would totally work if you pulverized vermiculite. You could absolutely use that with seed starting!
Does the plant sensor check ph?
No 🥲 one day hopefully. I am pushing for it because it is sooo important
💚💚
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Blah, Blah, Blah... you contradict yourself on a regular basis... Smoke less pot!