[CH] cheap seed start

Byron.Bromley (Byron.Bromley@Gsd-Co.Com)
Fri, 9 Apr 1999 09:21:18 -0400 

FWIW dept on seed start

I use speed trays, These are slotted trays about 1 in wide and about 1 1/2
in deep. I bought 2 sets 1 set I cut in 1/2 and bought some 1/2 size trays
for these to fit in. The 1/2 size trays are great for starting less than
100 seeds
at a time. I bought 3 1/2 sized trays, so I could use 1 to fill with water
so I could water from bottom. 1/2 size tray's also fit in my kitchen sink.
  The advantage of the full tray is I can start 200 seeds at a time on a
heat mat.
 with 1 in spacing. You can use a little as 1 slot if desired. This method
cut my purchase of seed starting medium from 64 qts to 8 qts.
  I use Peters sterile seed starting medium. Any similar type will do. It's

this type is most readily available in my area. 
  As soon as the seeds start to break soil, I transplant into 3 1/2 in 
dia by 4 in deep newspaper pots. Using a potting soil with minor
fertilizer.
.09 .06 .05
 For my newspaper pots, I place them on a double layer of the grated
trays which fit on top of a water proof tray. With the 3 1/2 in dia pots I
can
get 18 plants per tray. This allows for some drainage in case of over
watering.
  I use only B&W newspaper, colored print takes 2 years to rot down. If you
have to buy newspaper to make pots with the Wall St. Journal is
your best investment, Least amount of colored print. 
  
   As far a Jiffy products go, I have tried Jiffy 7's, Jiffy 9's, Super
Jiffy's
and Jiffy pots and Jiffy mix

  My own use, I found that Jiffy 7's, The netting is supoosed to rot down
I didn't in my soil, Jiffy 9s  fell apart while trying to transplant, Super
Jiffs were a B---- to water, If you try to water from the top, the bottom
never 
got wet, If you try to water from the bottom the top never got wet.The only
way to get these totally moist was to take a seperate pot, fill it with
water
and let each one soak for about 15 min. 
   Jiffy mix is sold as a sterile medium, why do I have weeds and mushrooms
growing in it. I don't have that problem with Peter Sterile potting soil. 
    My seeds did not seem to germinate as well using Jiffy's as with
Peters. 
  Jiffy pots, I can never get them to rot down like advertised. I finaly
just tore them apart. 

This is only 1 mans experience, the choice is yours.
If you want to learn more about newspaper pots, contact my direct
and I will send my methods.Or read The New Starters Handbook by
Nancy Bubel

I want to add, I agree with Gary, Send your idea's, that I don't mind
Just don't tell me I have to do it your way. 

Just an example, The growers east of the Rockies and west of the 
Appalachians and North of the Texas panhandle have a lot less bugs to 
deal with than we do on the East coast. I am in process of compling that
list. 
Here is just one example accordiing to Rodales, Greenhouse Whitefilies
are NOT listed for Idaho, North Dakota, MIs, KA. and Yankeeland of Texas
But a couple hunderd of these B------- will kill a pepper plant in the
Northeast. 
And Rodales list using tobacco to kill them.

Done rantin' for now
Byron