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Terry Coombs · 30-03-2018, 07:58 PM posted to rec.gardens.edible

On 3/30/2018 1:38 PM, wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:

On 3/30/2018 7:17 AM, wrote:
On Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 9:06:26 AM UTC-4, Terry Coombs wrote:
and **** Poor Performance . I don't understand it , the same seed , soil
, and growing conditions and the plastic cells far outdo the little
strips of 8 peat pots . I like the concept , just slit it and bury it
without disturbing the roots too much . But the whole thing doesn't work
unless the seedlings actually grow . I planted 4 kinds of peppers in
these , multiple seeds per cell because I know they're old and the germ
rate is likely low - did the same with some other peppers and the
tomatoes in the plastic cells . The peat pots had exactly 2 seeds
germinate of probably 64 or more seeds . The plastic were over-run , and
in fact all the seedlings now in peat were germinated in plastic . Even
allowing for the stress of being moved , they just ain't gettin' it .
They have nice color , look good , just aren't growing as fast . I'm
wondering if I need some supplemental N or something - maybe a light
shot of Miracle Grow , since it's high in N at 24/8/16 . I just don't
know what to do at this point , but I'd like to save these seedlings .
They're extras to me , but I planned to give them to a neighbor (the one
with the rabbits) . He works for a living and doesn't have the time I do
to devote to this stuff .

--
Snag
Ain't no dollar sign on
peace of mind - Zac Brown
I was having the same trouble my last season of growing starts & asked an oldtimer at the garden shop about it. He told me there is something in the peat that inhibits pepper germination. I restarted with my own compost and garden soil with seeds from the same batch. This time I had nearly 100% germination.
I would never use peat in a seed starting mix again.
Â* And I won't either ... I'm awaiting delivery (at our local co-op) of
some Anaheim seedlings , I have wanted to grow these for several years
with lousy results - last year I finally got some to germinate , but
they did poorly in the garden . This year I got soil tests and am
amending the soil as needed . So far the results have been good , what I
have planted so far is all doing well .
Count me among those old timers who find peat not to be a suitable
soil additive. I start seeds in unwaxed paper cups or, increasingly, in
2" terra cotta pots. The soil come directly from the garden beds. The
soil mix in the various containers is very nearly the same as in the
beds. Only a few of the container plants get something akin to miracle
gro and those plants are not for eating.

Â* I do use potting soil , it's more convenient plus until recently the
garden soil has been lacking . Might still be , but I'm taking steps to
improve it . Just today I planted 180 cells in (foam) egg cartons with
assorted flowers . I'm hoping to establish self-renewing/perennial
patches of flowers that will have flowers all summer for the bees . From
about mid-June on there's actually very little for them to forage on here .

--
Snag
Ain't no dollar sign on
peace of mind - Zac Brown