[donald.cape]

I'm going to try sowing more types of seeds indoors this season . I hope to get an earlier start than last year when I sowed most seeds direct.

What kind of compost should I use, can I use an all purpose type or should I use a specialised seed sowing one. I will be sowing most of my seeds in paper pots I've made and planting out the pot complete .

I've seen multipurpose compost on Wickes website but it's peat based, I want to do my bit and stay peat free if I can.


Any advice would be appreciated

[wildeone]

i use a multi purpose compost but it does say suitable for seeds,potting on etc etc

To be honest its whatevers cheapest and peat free!!!  :oops:  

[ditchdigger]

John Innes.

[gobs]

I like JonInnes, Donald, and do use seed grade for most seeds  (it's about richness) except for those things that are good germinators and I don't tend to re-pot much or at all, like toms, corgs, corn, then I use a higher grade(2).

[noshed]

Munty posted his recipe for seed compost somewhere here. I used multipurpose last year and it was OK with perlite mixed and vermiculite on the top. This year I'm using Munty compost so there will be trouble if it's no good.

[richyrich7]

Munty posted his recipe for seed compost somewhere here. I used multipurpose last year and it was OK with perlite mixed and vermiculite on the top. This year I'm using Munty compost so there will be trouble if it's no good.

   I use seed compost if available but multipurpose is fine like noshed I mix a little perlite in with it, I would prefer to use a peat free, but to be honest peat tends to be in most of the cheaper ones, also I've had less reliable results with peat free but perhaps that's just me.

I avoid using fresh grow bag compost with fine seeds as I feel the high nutrient content may scorch the delicate roots.

BTW you can sow seeds in vermiculite only, seedlings contain enough of their own nutrients to get them growing. But they do need potting on as soon as their first set of true leaves appears.

[splodger]

i buy the cheap - on offer multi purpose bags - most of which tend to be poor quality, peat based - but i add bits to make the right compound that i need

for seeds i add a very light sandy soil (i scrape it up from the floor of the woods - so it's leafy and sandy - and very chestnutty   )

most would opt for john innes - but i'm a tight R 's - so make my own - at the end of the day - for seeds you do not want high quality - high nutritional compost - it really ought to be poor quality to begin with - once it's germinated and you have transplanted - you can give a bit of food