It’s just about time to start seeds indoors for peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes here in TN so I thought I would share a quick post on how I make my seed starting medium (mix). Seed starting mixes can be bought with the same ingredients as what I’m about to share with you but when you mix it yourself you can make larger quantities and save a few dollars over the long run.
For my basic seed starting mix I use organic peat, vermiculite, perlite, and compost. I want a little nutirtion that won’t overwhelm the plants which is why I use a little compost. The vermiculite and perlite are light ingredients that will help create good drainage. Both are mineral based ingredients that are safe to add to your soil.
My typical recipe may vary slightly (I’m not a strict measurer when it comes to soil ingredients). Sometimes I may not have an ingredient on hand like vermiculite or perlite and have to make do with only one or the other.
Basic Seed Starting Mix Recipe:
- 1/3 Peat or Coir (if you can find it cheaply enough)*
- 1/3 Compost (well composted compost of course!)
- 1/3 Vermiculite and Perlite mix
*Coir is a great substitute for peat which has many environmental issues. You can find coir, which is made from coconuts at the pet store. You can also order it on Amazon in its compressed form here: Coconut Coir for Gardening.
There are many seed starting recipes that can be used successfully but this is what I typically use. All of the above ingredients are listed on the OMRI lists and are safe to use for organic gardening! For more on seed starting check our the Seed Sowing 101 series I wrote a while back. Happy Seed Starting 2014!
Seeds and Where to Find Them
By now you may have received your first seed catalog(s) in the mail. It’s a fun time of the year for gardeners. We get to sift through the pages, read the descriptions designed to entice us, and dream of what we will plant next year….
How to Save Seeds of Echinacea (Coneflower)
Updated on 11/23/2024 Fall is that time of year when gardeners begin the process of cleaning up the garden but also is the time when we begin to think of next year and saving seeds. One of the my favorite plants is echinacea and I…
Germinating Japanese Maple Seeds in a Plastic Bag
I love a nice Japanese maple! Who doesn’t? There are Japanese maples with variegated leaves, ones with deep burgundy colors, others with interesting shaped leaves that are highly dissected and many other kinds. The fall color on a Japanese is almost always guaranteed to be something special. Their…
How to Grow Sweetbay Magnolia from Seeds
No matter where I go when I see seeds that are ripe I’m tempted to collect them. That was the case when walking around Knoxville last year and seeing some ripe magnolia seeds on some Sweetbay magnolia plants. Sweetbay magnolias have several names including: sweetbay…
Think Ahead About the Spring Garden – Create a Garden Schedule
We’re still in the middle of winter and the weather outside is bitter cold as I’m writing this post but that doesn’t mean gardening should be out of your mind. Now is the perfect time to get your garden plan together for 2016 so that…
How to Grow Southern Magnolias from Seed
The other day while on a shopping trip I sat in the car with my daughters while my wife ran into the store for a few things. In front of our parking space was a magnolia. I doubt it was the full sized magnolia (Magnolia…
Discover more from Growing The Home Garden
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.