best way to start seedlings?

[dazednconfused]

Recently had a few discussions on which way is the most efficient and productive for starting copious amounts of seedlings indoors for the outdoor season. Here are a few that have been brainstormed....must take into consideration the hardening off period, growth potential, ease and volume of the container

16-20 oz party cups filled with your best organic soil

large jiffy peat pots filled with nice organic soil

42mm peat pellets (or even the larger forestry pellets)


After the container is root bound, they will be planted directly into the ground...what do you recommend?

thx.

 

[barletta]

My seedplants will be vegged/sexed in ~2l pots. Started in papertowels, transplanted to solo cups, then to real pots when I can start sexing them on my deck. I expect them to fill a 2l rootball pretty good after ~6-8 weeks.

I saw a guy start lots of seelings on the cheap using 1 gallon ziplocks. He packed em tight, and covered the outside of the 'outside' bags.

 

[antimatter]

Are Jiffy 7 pellets good for 1 or 2 weeks starting from seed?

 

[barletta]

Are Jiffy 7 pellets good for 1 or 2 weeks starting from seed?

Yuppers. By 2 weeks, they will want a lil nitrogen, and a bigger home.

 

[antimatter]

Yuppers. By 2 weeks, they will want a lil nitrogen, and a bigger home.

right on that is perfect.

 

[dazednconfused]

If you were to plant a seed in a peat pellet and let it grow for 10-14 days, transplant into a 32 oz plastic cup. Would it be able to grow healthy for 3 weeks in the plastic cup before transplanting?

Reason being, have heard about the 3rd and 4th week of growth determining whether or not the plant will be a female. This time in its life is critical, cannot stress the plant in any way.

1 L seems a little small but if it can make it to week 5 then it sounds good. After the seeds sprout in the peat pellets they will be moved outdoors to harden off (first 10-14 days), then transplanted into the plastic cups.