Using the peat pellets in seed tray -
 

Hey everyone - hope all is well ...

I just bought a Burpee seed starting tray cell kit - and it came with peat pellets you add water too and plant your seeds on top ...

Do you guys use these things ? Should I use my own seed starting mix instead ?

Whats the dish on these things > ?

~ Tom

ps. this is a side test to my "normal" peat pot starting seed technique ~ I'm gonna see which is better ...

Fred I haven't had that much luck with Peat pellets but the problems I have are probably self inflicted. I think I ese too much water as the pellets get soggy. This year I purchased some Bio-Domes from Park's and planted Pepper Seeds for the Mrs and the seeds germinated in 4 days. It's been 10 days and those in the Peat pellets have not Germinated. I also planted Indian Striped and Koralik tomato seeds in the Peat pellets at the same time and no signs of germination and the're on a heating pad.

Tom, are you talking about the pellets you drop into each cell, add water, stir a little and you have a cell full of a peat mixture ready to plant your seed in? NO. Just kidding. I tried the Seed 'n Start packs last year and was not impressed. I'll stick to my Jiffy 7's or imitations there of. But since you already bought it give it a shot and let us know how it turns out. Ami, plantin mine tomorrow on the other side of the pond.

I'm not crazy about the peat pellets or those things in the net and wasn't wildly impressed with the coir either last season. I use Pro-Mix starter but since you have them, see how they work.

I have been using peat pellets for seed starting with good results.
It's very convenient. Saves time.

dcarch

Hi Tom,
I used the Burpee's deal last year with the self watering mat.


All of the seeds came up in about 4 days and all was well but then disaster happened as my wife would not leave the lights on for more than 2 hours a day.
At $20 for a 72 cell kit it seems a little high for me.


Another problem was that when you water the pellets make sure the pellets are up right or they will grow the wrong way and push out the sides of the container or cell they are in.
(Which is hard, as they want to float.)


I purchased the jiffy 72 cell kit for 5.99 at @#$%-mart and I used them.


They are the ones that have the net around them and are the ones that some of us folks here in the Vill don’t care for.
I like the jiffy bags and have used them for years on and off.


A real good deal on the replacement pellets too, I bet Home Depot didn’t have any replacement pellets for the Burpee thing you bought did they.


I have a real problem with Home Depot and Lowe’s for reasons like this and others, but I am forced to shop there.


The only reason I use this stuff is the fact that the wife has not a clue as to how to plant seeds and take care of them.
With my situation at work I have to do all I can to get things going.


Maybe this year I will get some tomatoes, I have one more thing to do before I leave for work and we will see, wish me luck.

At least I have nice plants in the ground this year.
You couldn’t guess how much I stress over my plants while I’m at work.


My usual method is to get some sandy loam some cheap plastic cups or whatever I have around, put the seed in the cup water the dirt in the cup and then use a rubber band to hold some cling wrap on the top.

Then when each seed starts to sprout I remove the cling wrap.
No worries and no damping off, (EVER)
When the plant gets to size I put the plant in the ground, no big deal.

By the way I have 2 Tom’s big yellows growing out side as we speak thanks again.:)
A rather long winded post on peat pellets but you deserve a look at all aspects of the subject.

Later
Worth

the stuff looks interesting - but I ended up buiyng some kind of seed starting ix made by ferry morse ... gonna give it a wirl ~ not sure what I'm in for , but ready ~

Tom

Love the peat pellets and use them all the time for seed starting. Clean, convenient, easy to water and easy to transplant.

I don't use peat pellets. They're difficult to properly maintain moisture and I feel like I have to remove the net from around them before planting...which is a hassle. I've turned my garden over in the fall and found completely intact pellets still there. That's enough for me.

I use trays to thickly seed my tomatoes and transplant into individual plastic drinking cups. This method works best for me....and I don't use anything peat.

I've used the peat pellets before and it was alright. This year I bought Bio domes from Park seed and I love them!!!
Terry

Ive tried the netted pellets for the first time this year, theyre a bit challenging. I didnt get the tall tray that went with them, and they seem to dry out at the top very quickly. lost some flower seedlings already from drying.

i dont care for the peat pots at all.

I was looking at the Parks Bio-Dome contraption wondering if it was any good- the mat is styrofoam- I just dont see cleaning that thoroughly and not breaking it, but im a klutz. Are the Bio Sponges made of coir? they dont say.....

The Bio domes are wonderful!!!
The styrofoam trays are sturdy as can be. The pellets just push out from the bottom when your seedlings are ready. Cleaning the tray is easy breezy. And you can order re-fill plugs for it from park seed.

What happens when SOME and NOT ALL of the seeds sprout ?
Do you take of the dome or what ? That also seems like a cahllenge, like if they dont all come up at once ??!!!

Tom

The Bio domes have sliding vents on top. So you can open up for some air for the seeds that have sprouted but not completely take off the top for the ones that haven't.

oh boy - what if there are no vents ???!! :shock:

~ Tom