Re: Why is nothing growing?
Garden soil is not potting soil. Garden soil is intended for use in the ground and not in the pots. If you read the bag it will usually tell you it is not for potting. Garden soil has a lot of compost in it which is too heavy for pots. If you want to make a light seedling mix you can make one yourself. I water daily so I need a mix that dries fast. I use 1 part fine peat moss, 1 part perlite, and a handful of vermicompost (if I have it) per 5 gallon bucket. I also put a handful of osmocote in my potting mixes for a starter fertilizer. Moisten the mix before you plant. It keeps the seeds from floating and the soil does not run out the bottom holes as badly. No nitrogen in seed mixes. The seeds will have enough fertilizer built into the seed to get it to sprout and up to the stage where the first true leaves appear. Start fertilizing only after the true leaves appear. I prefer MG 1/4 strength weekly. Make sure you transplant the seedlings out by the time they have 2 sets of true leaves or you may end up with pot bound issues unless you pot up. Too much nitrogen in the starter mix and a heavy mix holding too much water may lead to dampening off where the seeds are inhibited from sprouting because of the rich nitrogen environment or because the seeds rot in a wet soil. Osmocote is a balanced slow release fertilizer an I put it in my mixes because I am not as good as I used to be about fertilizing regularly. If you want to be more organic you can use fish emulsion instead weekly. My neighbors complained about the smell and it draws cats and flies so I only use it when I suspect a nutrient deficiency but don't know which one. If I know it has been a while since I fertilized, I use the miracle grow because it works faster.
I agree, if the weather is warm enough, planting them out in the garden is best. Less issues with hardening them off and setting them back. I do start some plants in pots anyway though. I don't like to thin in the garden and even in pots I can still plant more than I can use. For things like beets, lettuce, asian greens and some herbs, I prefer to plant them in starter pots and then transplant them out into the garden or in pots later. Sometimes, I have strays in the garden from seeds I dropped or volunteers. Those I have to repatriate to their proper place.
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- Location: Apache County, Arizona
Took it slower this year. I got my seeds, planted in small peat pots in February.
Have little 4’ greenhouse with gro lights inside. Used the organic sterile seed starter. All of them sprouted and did well. Then I transplanted into bigger pots.
No room in the little indoor greenhouse now, so I took them out to the big greenhouse. Have to tent them every ight, with a heater. Thry are doing really well. They are all about a foot tall now, and very healthy. Will probably transplant into the big 20 gallon pots in a month. Will probably still have to tent, as we can have frost up to Memorial Day. So far, so good.
Last years’ crop was still producing in October, so yes, I was canning then.
Sure learned my lesson about over-potting.
Every year I learn something else.
Thanks for all the advice.
I have also cut down on what I grow in the greenhouse. Peppers have not worked well. Have had huge battles with aphids. Used Neem oil and everything else on the market, and dish soap. Find myself spraying every day. Not worth the expense for 5 or 6 peppers. I do miss the Marconis!
Have little 4’ greenhouse with gro lights inside. Used the organic sterile seed starter. All of them sprouted and did well. Then I transplanted into bigger pots.
No room in the little indoor greenhouse now, so I took them out to the big greenhouse. Have to tent them every ight, with a heater. Thry are doing really well. They are all about a foot tall now, and very healthy. Will probably transplant into the big 20 gallon pots in a month. Will probably still have to tent, as we can have frost up to Memorial Day. So far, so good.
Last years’ crop was still producing in October, so yes, I was canning then.
Sure learned my lesson about over-potting.
Every year I learn something else.
Thanks for all the advice.
I have also cut down on what I grow in the greenhouse. Peppers have not worked well. Have had huge battles with aphids. Used Neem oil and everything else on the market, and dish soap. Find myself spraying every day. Not worth the expense for 5 or 6 peppers. I do miss the Marconis!