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New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.

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Old January 6, 2012   #1
raindrops27
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Default Wonder soil Brick with worm castings?

Ok, please advise if you have used this product for starting seed. Cons, pros please, and thank you.

Also, is it beneficial to bottom water tomato seedlings with a kelp solution. It will be my first season using kelp. I've read people just mist the leaves with it, but was wondering how it would be as a bottom watering regimen.

Thanks again for the help

Melissa
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Old January 7, 2012   #2
dice
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A diluted kelp solution will be fine for bottom-watering seedlings.
(I have not used the Wonder Brick with worm castings, but I did
use coir with worm castings and perlite last year. Worked great.)
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Old January 7, 2012   #3
raindrops27
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I cannot make up my mind what to use.
But, wish to be ready and prepared.

Previous years, I've always used the Jiffy greenhouse pellets, with great germination. However last year, all of the first sets of tomato plants went from a lush green, to a light yellow. Without over watering. Sprayed a weak solution of epsom salt, without a sign of greening up. Subsequent plantings were on their way to yellow. So, I am thinking it is the medium. I've never started seeds in cell flats, nor have I mixed my own seed starter. But, I want healthy tomato plants so, please share what ratio you mix your seed starting medium.

Also, how long does kelp/fish concentrate store?

Thank you Dice
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Old January 8, 2012   #4
dice
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Quote:
Also, how long does kelp/fish concentrate store?
Years, I would think.

5 parts coir, 2 parts worm castings, 1 part perlite worked well. You
could probably take a non-fertilized seed-starting mix and mix 3 parts
of it to 1 part worm castings and it would be fine.

If you could find any of these products at a local nursery, nursery supply,
etc (so you can avoid shipping), these are all good products:
http://homeharvest.com/pottingmixes.htm

The coir I used was this stuff: http://www.groworganic.com/beats-pea...-ft-brick.html
(pH was just fine at 6.5-6.7.)
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Old January 8, 2012   #5
raindrops27
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Was out from this morning so I just got your message. While out I picked up this coconut substrate. Have perlite, just need to buy castings, kelp solution, and cell flats. You're a great help thank you, I appreciate it.
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Old January 9, 2012   #6
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Heres a thread on what I use to grow my seedlings. Ami

http://www.tomatoville.com/showthrea...ior#post166727
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Old January 9, 2012   #7
dice
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Note that I started the seeds in coir only, but I potted up into the
coir-castings-perlite mix when I potted them up into 3" pots.
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Old January 9, 2012   #8
raindrops27
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Thank you Ami beautiful plants..

Dice- It is like you can read my mind. Thanks..lol
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Old January 11, 2012   #9
dice
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I have not used Jiffy Mix, Miracle Grow seed-starting mix, Black Gold
seed-starting mix, or any of the seed-starting mixes that one typically
finds on retail store shelves, so I simply have no information on how well
any of those work.
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Old January 15, 2012   #10
afrance30
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I use the Wonder Soil bricks (without worm castings, the Brick Lite is cheaper) and I LOVE it. I use it to start seeds and potting up, and for container plants.

Good stuff
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Old January 15, 2012   #11
raindrops27
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Thank you Afrance, can I ask what variety is that tomato on your signature, that appears half yellow on top, and red/pink on bottom.

It looks so good, thank you!

Melissa
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Old January 22, 2012   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raindrops27 View Post
Thank you Afrance, can I ask what variety is that tomato on your signature, that appears half yellow on top, and red/pink on bottom.

It looks so good, thank you!

Melissa
The big bi-color is Gold Medal, one of my favorites
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