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Old 09-07-2009, 01:41 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible
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Default Can you re-use peat pellets?

I have a bunch of peat pellets in which the seeds never germinated. They
are all dried out now. Are they okay to use them again, or should I just
remove the netting, crumble them up, and add them to the garden soil?
--S.

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Old 09-07-2009, 12:45 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
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Default Can you re-use peat pellets?

Suzanne D. said:


I have a bunch of peat pellets in which the seeds never germinated. They
are all dried out now. Are they okay to use them again, or should I just
remove the netting, crumble them up, and add them to the garden soil?


They are very difficult to re-wet, and who's to know why the seeds never
germinated. (Did they carry some sort of mold or pathogen?) The pellets
themselves are relatively cheap, especially if you buy them in bulk mail
order, so my opinion is, better safe than sorry. I don't reuse them.

I always run my 'extra' seedlings and dud pellets through the compost
bin.

(I use the Jiffy-9 pellets for the most part, which avoids the netting issue.)

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

"So, it was all a dream."
"No dear, this is the dream, you're still in the cell."

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Old 09-07-2009, 08:37 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
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Default Can you re-use peat pellets?


"Suzanne D." wrote in message
...
I have a bunch of peat pellets in which the seeds never germinated. They
are all dried out now. Are they okay to use them again, or should I just
remove the netting, crumble them up, and add them to the garden soil?
--S.


To be sure, you can sterilize them, say in a microwave.


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Old 10-07-2009, 03:29 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible
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Default Can you re-use peat pellets?


"Pat Kiewicz" wrote in message
news:20090709-104506.265.0@Pat-
They are very difficult to re-wet, and who's to know why the seeds never
germinated. (Did they carry some sort of mold or pathogen?) The pellets
themselves are relatively cheap, especially if you buy them in bulk mail
order, so my opinion is, better safe than sorry. I don't reuse them.


That was what I figured as well. They would probably do just fine in the
compost. I am actually thinking of getting a soil blocker next year and
making my own small blocks instead of the Jiffy peat pellets.
--S.



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Old 10-07-2009, 05:35 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible
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Default Can you re-use peat pellets?

On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 17:41:29 -0600, "Suzanne D."
wrote:

I have a bunch of peat pellets in which the seeds never germinated. They
are all dried out now. Are they okay to use them again, or should I just
remove the netting, crumble them up, and add them to the garden soil?
--S.


I just re-used some. They were from last year, and completely
dried-out. They worked OK: some stuff germinated, some hasn't yet.
About the same as usual, for us.

I can't say for sure about any particular pellet, but we often get a
slimy green mold in our trays - so, there's a good chance some were
'infected'. Nothing bad happened.

G
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Old 11-07-2009, 10:02 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible
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Default Can you re-use peat pellets?

Hi All,
"Suzanne D." wrote in message
...

"Pat Kiewicz" wrote in message
news:20090709-104506.265.0@Pat-
They are very difficult to re-wet, and who's to know why the seeds never
germinated. (Did they carry some sort of mold or pathogen?) The pellets
themselves are relatively cheap, especially if you buy them in bulk mail
order, so my opinion is, better safe than sorry. I don't reuse them.


That was what I figured as well. They would probably do just fine in the
compost. I am actually thinking of getting a soil blocker next year and
making my own small blocks instead of the Jiffy peat pellets.
--S.

I made a soil blocker. The soil has to be just right [ damp but not wet ]
and the right type of soil,
or it will not work very well. I gave up in the end. It was more trouble
than it was worth.
Hope this helps you.

Richard M. Watkin.


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Old 11-07-2009, 11:55 AM posted to rec.gardens.edible
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Default Can you re-use peat pellets?


"R M Watkin" wrote in message
news:4a584709$1_4@mk-nntp-
I made a soil blocker. The soil has to be just right [ damp but not wet ]
and the right type of soil,
or it will not work very well. I gave up in the end. It was more trouble
than it was worth.


It's something I am only thinking about right now. On one hand it DOES seem
like a lot of hassle--making sure the dirt blend is just right, dealing with
the inevitable crumble, and spending a lot of time to make planters when you
can prepare 72 Jiffy pellets in minutes just by adding water to the tray.
On the other hand, I like the idea of having really tiny blocks (I'd get the
3/4" size) for things like corn, of which I would want a LOT but on which
wouldn't find prudent to waste a whole Jiffy pellet for each seed, and for
having no leftover pots and netting, and for having to hardly spend any more
money once you get the initial equipment. I'll just have to see how I feel
about it next spring.
--S.



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Old 11-07-2009, 05:18 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
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Default Can you re-use peat pellets?


"phorbin" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...

"phorbin" wrote in message
...
In article ss,
says...

"Suzanne D." wrote in message
...
I have a bunch of peat pellets in which the seeds never germinated.
They
are all dried out now. Are they okay to use them again, or should I
just
remove the netting, crumble them up, and add them to the garden soil?
--S.

To be sure, you can sterilize them, say in a microwave.

And what happens if they aren't completely dessicated (sic) ?


Interesting question.
You want the pellets a bit damp if you are using a microwave to
sterilize,
otherwise it wouldn't work well. I'm sure it wouldn't matter much with
most
any other sterilization method such as various steam or heat methods.
Biocontrol/Chemical sterilization methods would be another matter.
However,
I really do not find proof beyond Internet mythology that chemical
fertilizers will "sterilize" soils very well as often alluded.


I framed my question in the way that amused me at that moment (though I
don't know why it did) but obscured my thought.


I appreciate the candor.

That is, does a partially dry peat pellet explode in the microwave?


No, I invite you to do a quick search on sterilizing soils. There are a
lot of myths about microwave use. It is still heat that kills most
bacteria, ( But note: NOT the toxins). Pesky critters, such as fungus
gnats and
fruit fly, can also survive microwaving under certain conditions and you
can use metal in microwaves although you really need to know what you are
doing.

This is the quickest way to sterilize small amounts of soils when you need
to.
I use a thermometer rather than time to ensure I have a good 165 + internal
temp.


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Old 11-07-2009, 07:19 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
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Default Can you re-use peat pellets?

In article ss,
"gunner" wrote:

"phorbin" wrote in message
...
In article ,
says...

"phorbin" wrote in message
...
In article ss,
says...

"Suzanne D." wrote in message
...
I have a bunch of peat pellets in which the seeds never germinated.
They
are all dried out now. Are they okay to use them again, or should I
just
remove the netting, crumble them up, and add them to the garden soil?
--S.

To be sure, you can sterilize them, say in a microwave.

And what happens if they aren't completely dessicated (sic) ?

Interesting question.
You want the pellets a bit damp if you are using a microwave to
sterilize,
otherwise it wouldn't work well. I'm sure it wouldn't matter much with
most
any other sterilization method such as various steam or heat methods.
Biocontrol/Chemical sterilization methods would be another matter.
However,
I really do not find proof beyond Internet mythology that chemical
fertilizers will "sterilize" soils very well as often alluded.


I framed my question in the way that amused me at that moment (though I
don't know why it did) but obscured my thought.


I appreciate the candor.

That is, does a partially dry peat pellet explode in the microwave?


No, I invite you to do a quick search on sterilizing soils. There are a
lot of myths about microwave use. It is still heat that kills most
bacteria, ( But note: NOT the toxins). Pesky critters, such as fungus
gnats and
fruit fly, can also survive microwaving under certain conditions and you
can use metal in microwaves although you really need to know what you are
doing.

This is the quickest way to sterilize small amounts of soils when you need
to.
I use a thermometer rather than time to ensure I have a good 165 + internal
temp.


To sterilize jiffy pots, or soil heat (in convection oven) to 200F for
30 min. "If" you had perfect heat transfer, it would only take 20 min.
at 182F. I use a metal mixing bowl.
--

- Billy

There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading. The few who
learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence and
find out for themselves.
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http://www.tomdispatch.com/p/zinn
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Old 12-07-2009, 03:13 PM
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I got a paper plantpot maker and it does the job perfectly. They are fairly easy to make by using anything cylindrical with a flat base. You can decide what size you want to use. You use up your old newsppers to make them, and two thicknesses of paper is adequate to prevent them falling apart. Allow about an inch overlap at the base, fold it over and press it down on a hard surface. The roots grow easilt through the paper offering no problems with transplanting. I use three diameters of approximately 1 inch, 1 1/2 inch, and 2 inch. You can make the pots whatever length you wish. Your costs are based on whatever you use fr potting. I have no problems with using one seed per pot. Anything that hasn't germinated goes n the compost heap. If you like small leaf salads try growing several varieties in the 1 1/2 inch pots on the windowsill, or staging in the greenhouse. THree seeds to a pot works well. I havent tries it through the winter yet.
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Old 12-07-2009, 08:36 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible
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Default Can you re-use peat pellets?


"Bigal" wrote in message
I got a paper plantpot maker and it does the job perfectly. They
are fairly easy to make by using anything cylindrical with a flat base.
You can decide what size you want to use.


I have thought abut making these as well, though have no source for
newspapers. Would phone book pages work as well, or do the papers have to
be fairly large?
--S.

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Old 13-07-2009, 12:27 AM
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Probably, and would do the 2 smaller sizes I mentioned. If the book is a standard size A4 you should get 2 pots from each sheet, but don't use glossy paper (not so porous). A loty of people just dump their old newspapers. If you don't know anyone, do you know where the newspapers are dumped? You won't need many, you can get quite a few pots from one paper.
Bigal
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