[tomato] Seed starting advice - Thanks Chuck!
ChuckWyatt/Md/Z7 (Tomato@GlobalGarden.com)
Tue, 2 Mar 1999 17:42:07 -0500
>>1. Do you think the clear polycarbonate tube guards will affect seedling
growth?<< THey will probably degrade the results by cutting down the light.
>>2. Seed manuals and yourself mention that after true leaves appear, it is
time to put them into bigger pots, such as 4" pots. Other than shelf
space,
is there any reason why seeds should be started in small containers and
then
transplanted to larger ones? Is there any reason why I couldn't start the
seeds directly in the 4" pots and skip the transplanting altogether (how
about jiffy pots & expandable disks? One pamphlet hinted at proper root
growth as a reason, but then again, seeds started directly in the garden
have all the room in the world to grow, so how does that affect their root
development?< Note that I say bury the seedling all the way to the
cotyledon when potting it up. This important as roots will grow on the
stam. Also there is a small amount of fertilizer in Pro mix that is about
exausted after two or three weeks. If you want to use my system please
don't tamper with it and then wonder why you don't get good results.
>>3. Is Pro-mix BX used for seed starting or repotting, and what is the
brand
name and a good national chain to find it?<< Both. The brand name is Pro
Mix BX. Jiffy mix or ready mix are also satisfactory.
>>4. Do you think coating the white inside of the shop light with
reflective
material (tin foil, reflective Mylar?) would increase light output and help
seedlings? <<It might help some.
>>5. Are some tomato seedlings more delicate than others? My Santa F1
(grape
tomatoes) seem to grow slower and be more leggy than others (with my new
lighting system, I'm hopeing to prevent this)<< See Margaret's answer re a
fan.
Good gardening,
Chuck Wyatt