Anyone use seed starter kits?

[BOSSHOG]

Little pods you add water too then put seeds in and then set in a tray and wait for magic. I have been doing my own seeding the old fashioned way but I must say those seeding kits are mighty tempting.

[pecwae]

1. I like them.

I've got some seed sprouting from them in a cheap indoor greenhouse right now. The best thing is that the plant doesn't suffer the transplant shock since you don't have to handle the roots. Just harden them off, set them out.

Now if I can just keep those pesky squirrels outta my garden!

[BOSSHOG]

3. Thanks very much

I think I'll try them this year. We have a very healthy crop of squirrels every year. Very low maintenance too.

[KatyaR]

2. I have--OMG--over a hundred of them going right now,

Way more than I need! They work really well, but you have to be careful with the watering. It's easy to soak them or get them too dry, especially if you use a heat source under them.

Right now I've got a 72-pod tray going that's setting on a heating pad on medium heat. Once the seeds sprout and get some leaves, they get placed underneath a grow light (my first year to use it, so we'll see how that goes). So far, so good--you can see my results after about 10 days:


These are soggy because I had just watered them, but they dry out pretty quickly.



These squash plants are doing really well. I would also warn you that if you plant something like squash or morning glories that grow a lot of roots really fast, you should take the netting off the pods before they get very big. After a week the squash roots had grown through it, and I had a hard time getting it off without breaking the roots.

For tomato seeds, I didn't put them on any kind of heat this year, and they are coming up--it just takes a little longer. I still have some time before I can plant them, so slow is good.

You should either leave the top completely off the base of set it to where it gets good airflow--the pods may get moldy if you don't. A small fan works great to keep the air moving.

Good luck!

[BOSSHOG]

4. I appreciate your help

Think I'll take the plunge this year. I usually try something or plant something different each year. At the very least it keeps my wife amused. It looks like you are going to have a booming crop this year. I'm looking forward to planting some heirloom tomato seeds I picked up. Just messing about in the garden is so therapeutic. Have a great year.

[Kolesar]

5. Are these some kind of coconut-fiber mat?

That are cubed and set into a starter tray? thx

[BOSSHOG]

6. The ones I've seen

are about the size of a silver dollar. You wet them and they expand, you put in your seeds and maintain them in a tray. There is no packaging to take off when the seed is ready to be planted outdoors. Its kind of gagedty to me so I think I'm gonna try em.

[Kolesar]

7. Eisenhower, Susan B Anthony, or Sacajaweja?

:) The roots would just grow right through it so you don't have to bust them up a bit like peat-pots, which is a whole lot of fussing when you are crouched by the row with the circulation cutting off in your legs.