Tomatoville® Gardening Forums - View Single Post - Effective germination of tomatoes, peppers and eggplant

JRinPA · April 9, 2021

I have found it more important to get the sprouted ones under light, rather than wait for the unsprouted ones. The unsprouted are likely near the edge of the mat that does not receive or hold the heat as well.

If the sprouted do not receive light, they will get leggy.

The unsprouted might take a little while more but if they are the same quality seed, they will eventually come up with the heat of the lights alone. Just keep them moistened.

By the same token, if I have peppers and eggplants in the same tray/mat as tomatoes, I keep the tomatoes to the outside. The peppers and eggplant want more heat, in general.

I make my own mix for soil blocks so can't directly comment on quality, but I saw some Pro-Mix at walmarts this spring. $13 for 1 cu ft compressed, I think. I was sort of surprised. Pro-Mix has a top notch rep, I thought, so it was weird finding it next to Miracle Grow.

April 9, 2021	#77
JRinPA Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SE PA Posts: 963	I have found it more important to get the sprouted ones under light, rather than wait for the unsprouted ones. The unsprouted are likely near the edge of the mat that does not receive or hold the heat as well. If the sprouted do not receive light, they will get leggy. The unsprouted might take a little while more but if they are the same quality seed, they will eventually come up with the heat of the lights alone. Just keep them moistened. By the same token, if I have peppers and eggplants in the same tray/mat as tomatoes, I keep the tomatoes to the outside. The peppers and eggplant want more heat, in general. I make my own mix for soil blocks so can't directly comment on quality, but I saw some Pro-Mix at walmarts this spring. $13 for 1 cu ft compressed, I think. I was sort of surprised. Pro-Mix has a top notch rep, I thought, so it was weird finding it next to Miracle Grow.