Seed Starters / Germinators
 

I have typically used the cheapo Jiffy pop up cells and plastic "greenhouse cover" for sprouting my garden seeds in the spring. The method works well, but water control / consistency isn't great. I am also looking for a more durable, long term / sustainable setup. Has anyone used either the APS or Deep Root seed starters from Gardeners Supply?

APS

Deep Root

I like the vents in the lid of the deep root model, but the construction of the APS. Any feedback on these or others?

Re: Seed Starters / Germinators
 

I just save and reuse the ones I get when I buy plants

To be honest, I haven't had good luck with any seed starting, though, because I have noplace to put them where they get some sun, but not get baked. The few that have survived have been very thin and scraggly.

My best results have been starting seeds with a piece of toilet paper in tart cups. When they sprout, I take them outside and use tweezers to pluck them out and plant them either in the garden or deck planters. That is so much better than just planting seeds. I get very few dry holes that way.

Re: Seed Starters / Germinators
 

In an old Countryside magazine, I found the design for my plant incubator. Buy 2 sheets of Tuff-R foil covered insulation. On one sheet, cut through one side of the foil to divide the sheet into 4 2' x 4' connected sections. Now cut ends out of the other sheet to form a box. Use two ends on each side. Duct tape the seams to form a 4' long box with a lid. At the top on one end, cut a slot big enough for a standard 2 bulb fluorescent shop light . Insert the shoplight and cut out the other end through one layer to support it.Seed trays on the bottom, of course, and add a shallow dish of water to keep the humidity up. With the lid closed, it will hold about 94 degrees F even in a drafty area. Tomato seed usually come up in 3 days.
The duct tape version usually only holds up a couple of years so I lined a wooden box with Tuff-R and have been using it for years. I think an old refrigerator could be easily modified.

Re: Seed Starters / Germinators
 

rapid rooters work great. just put the seed in the hole, pinch off an edge with tweezers and cover the hole with it. keep it moist/humid and warm and all should be well. not just good for seedlings, but also if you want to take cuttings.



"The breakthrough technology used in RapidRooter results in a unique matrix of composted organic material bound together by plant-derived polymers. RapidRooter is created through a scientifically controlled process which produces large populations of beneficial microbes in the plug media. These naturally occurring beneficial microbes colonize young roots and help young plants to resist disease while maximizing nutrient uptake. The optimal air-to-water ratio within the plug matrix causes explosive early root growth. Use RapidRooter for robust early rooting and explosive plant Growth"

Re: Seed Starters / Germinators
 

I agree that the peat pot/pellets are hard to keep moist.

I had great luck last year using vermiculite as the starting medium. I continue to use the plastic trays with the clear dome lid, just fill the whole thing with vermiculite, soak it down and bury the seeds. The vermiculite is sterile and it does an incredible job of holding moisture.

I just started this years batch of seeds yesterday. I picked up a 4 cubic foot of vermiculite for $30. That should last me this and next season. Once the seedlings put on their first set of true leave Ill move them to individual pots of potting soil. The used vermiculite can then be added to the compost heap or garden bed to aid in moisture retention.

Re: Seed Starters / Germinators
 

Here is a technique I use in order to keep soil moist...

http://spike.gardensower.com:2122/pi...ng%20wicks.jpg

note the strings coming out of the bottom of the cups. The string goes all the way up through the soil. As long as I keep water in the reservoir the strings will 'wick' up the water and keep the soil moist. It greatly simplifies seed starting/cutting propagation. This pic was taken over the weekend from some rosemary I'm trying to propagate. Make sure to water the soil in the very beginning to get the process started and then it's easy... :emotions16:

Re: Seed Starters / Germinators
 

I used the APS system, and it seemed to work well--for the most part. I haven't used it for a couple of years because we mostly buy our tomato plants as well as most other things that we plant. Our back yard is only about 1/8 acre (which is very large for in-city Seattle), and our garden covers maybe 1/3 of that. That amount of garden space just doesn't reward a gardener for the trouble of starting one's own seedlings.

I also used a system or two that came from Ferry Morse and were sold through Lowes (& I believe Home Depot).

TIPS: We found that the little pads that you put under the starter kits that provide a constant source of heat are REAL important in getting the little seeds to germinate properly.

No matter which window you put them in, they won't get all the sunlight they need, so you better invest in a few grow lamps right away. We just got the cheapest 4' florescent fixtures and some wide spectrum lamps. The plants seemed to like them.

Trying to get the plants to be a plantable size at the exact time they need to be planted requires a lot of planning. We usually ended up with spindley starts as we would usually start them a little too early. Plants can sense when they are crowded, like in a starting kit, and they will grow tall and thin to compete, rather than develop a good root system (which is what you want).

The little puff-up peat pots Ferry Morse sells in their starter kits are kinda cool, but they are hard to keep moist. The Gardener's self watering kit is much easier for that. All are way too expensive for what you get, unless you want to plant 67 tomato plants (like we did one year).

Anyway, that is my 2 cents, for what it is worth. We are thinking about doing it again this year, but for peas. In Seattle, getting a little head start is really important with our short growing season.

--Willie

Re: Seed Starters / Germinators
 

if you haven't had time to prepare, those products show what you need -

http://demandware.edgesuite.net/aabf...cts/35-657.jpg

http://demandware.edgesuite.net/aabf...cts/32-574.jpg


in the first case, a way to keep seedlings from getting dried out.

judicious saving of fast food container (e.g. whole chicken with clear plastic top) and garbage bags (thin translucent cheap) give you ways to give a pot or group of baby plants some humidity assistance.

the second pic looks like a bunch of cups full of dirt. there are times when i use styrofoam cups to save water on washing. i save those cups.

$1.50 for 50 cups at a restaurant supply. + dirt.

not saying they're not useful products, just that there's a way to keep it low-cost or no-cost.