Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: businessmonkey9 on February 09, 2020, 09:06

Title: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: businessmonkey9 on February 09, 2020, 09:06
Hi

I have a variety of seed this year to start off indoor in my utility room.

I know different seeds needs slightly different soils PHs, but is there a good soil to use as a base.
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: Goosegirl on February 09, 2020, 12:10
I avoid anything soil-based as it seems to go cold so the seeds rot. I prefer Jack's Magic (others may disagree or not) because you just put your pot or whatever into a tray with some water in it, wait until the surface starts to go dark, lift it out, get a big cardboard box and push three of the flaps down inside, line the bottom and sides with aluminium foil, lift the other flap and do the same with that then put it in your utility room with the foiled flap facing the window. The foil will stop the cardboard from getting wet and the flap with the foil will reflect the light onto your new seedlings so they don't get drawn to the light and get leggy. Once they've germinated nicely put them in a tray on a window sill or whatever, but make sure you still have some foil at the back of the tray.
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: businessmonkey9 on February 09, 2020, 13:04
I have just taken reading from the room, and its around 20c, as the boiler is in their, i have a shelving system ready with trays, just wanted to make sure this soil would still be ok to use
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: Yorkie on February 09, 2020, 13:42
I too would not use soil for germinating seedlings.  It's not sterile, which can cause damping off or other fungal etc. diseases to affect your seedlings.
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: businessmonkey9 on February 09, 2020, 17:53
What would you recommend ?
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: yorky on February 09, 2020, 18:13
When you say soil are you meaning soil from the garden ? As others have said this is not good for seed sowing. What you need is proper seed sowing or multi-purpose compost from the garden centre or stores like Wilco's.
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: businessmonkey9 on February 09, 2020, 18:39
Wilko or westlands seeding ?
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: moose on February 10, 2020, 11:54
Whichever suits your pocket(I'm a Scot).
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: al78 on February 13, 2020, 12:37
People say don't use garden soil. I can see their points, but how on earth to people manage to sow direct outside if it is such a bad idea?
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: JayG on February 13, 2020, 15:59
Sowing indoors gives you more control over temperature and moisture, but less over humidity, which can lead to damping off.
Using sterilised compost keeps the balance tipped in your favour by ensuring you're not importing the pathogens which cause it.

Outdoor conditions are usually far less humid on average, so seedlings have a reasonable chance of avoiding the problem despite the likely presence of pathogens in the soil.
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: Aidy on February 23, 2020, 17:12
Something I have aadopted to great success is a pre-chitting your seed before you sow it.
Having read an article a few years ago the Amish use this method and it works.
An example is onions, last year I pre-chitted the seed, 3-4 days and they had sprouted, sown into pots at correct spacing and everyone grew, this method was quicker and reliable

I use a an old chinesse take a way tub, cut two sheets of kitchen paper and place one the bottom and wet it, not soak. Place seed on and place the other on top, dab it down with the off cuts and put lid on, place some where warm, mine go under the bathroom radiator.
Every couple of days check the seed and pick n sow as they sprout. This method means you only sow seed that has germinated
Title: Re: Seeding / germination soil
Post by: jezza on March 03, 2020, 22:58
Hello if you want to use garden soil it's possible if the soils been sterilized  sterilizing soil can be a laborious job depending how it's done  Steam,chemical and electric sterilization are the usual methods steam needs a good boiler and a constant pressure for 17 hours chemical takes 6 month if chemical still available electric is most reliable for small quantities special sterilizers are available that hold up to 4 bushels of soil and need to be on 12 hours preferably some where that's not in a covered area it stinks or for small quantities use an old cooker with the soil in a thin layer on a tray leave for 4 hours do not put in a micro wave oven if there's any stones in it it will blow the doors off   jezza