"Kay Lancaster" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:32:33 GMT, Gloria wrote:
I decided to try starting a few tomato plants from seed for the first
time,
but I'm having trouble. I'm using large peat pots and I'm filling them
with
jiffy seed starting mix. How do you get this stuff wet? It repels water
rather than soaking it in. Is there a secret to getting this starting
mix
wet?

Hot, near-boiling, water.

You may have better luck with plastic seedling containers... peat pots
tend to
wick moisture away from seedings, and seedlings transplanted outdoors with
the
peat pot still on tend to be stunted compared to plants transplanted from
a
plastic or clay pot.




Thanks,
Gloria

I'd rather use the peat pots, but they're not the problem, it's the seed
starting mix, but thanks to all the great responses, I've got it wet and the
seeds are planted. You're absolutely right about leaving the peat pot
on......I've learned from experience to always tear the peat pot completely
off of any plant I buy that is in a peat pot. I've had plants that I bought
in peat pots in the past that didn't thrive even though they looked great
when I set them out. My investigation determined that the peat didn't break
down and the roots got pot bound after planting, even though I tore the
bottom out.

Thanks,
Gloria