Spring Seed Starting Primer for 2018 – Epi-3441
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:56:34 — 33.4MB)
It is that time again. Part of the nation is still in ice and snow but the giant rat in Pennsylvania says an early spring is coming. Early or not spring is coming and it is time to get those seeds for plants you want to set out going NOW.
Join Me Today to Discuss…
- Understanding how seeds germinate in the wild (this answers so many questions)
- Setting up your seed starting systems
- How much do you want/need to start
- Indoors, garage, outdoors. green house
- Lights at this point just use good LEDs unless you already have something else
- Heating (mats, space heating, etc)
- Determining your starting dates
- Determine last frost date – Almanac.com Tool for This
- Plan at least one week later
- Count backwards based on time to “set out”
- How I make my potting soil
- Based on my compost as the primary ingredient (screened)
- I add 10-20% biochar (been making it with Mike Whittman’s stove this winter)
- I add about 10%ish pearlite mainly because it shows me if I got a good mix
- When planting seedlings I often amend a bit further by the batch
- Dr. Earth Fertilizer – link (remember MSB can order direct with a discount)
- Rock dust type adjuncts – one example
- If you are buying in soil I recommend Fox Farms with my adjuncts plus something like this – Cavern Culture
- I usually spray my seedlings with some compost extract and liquid kelp once they have at least two sets of true leaves.
- Trouble shooting
- Slow / Low germination
- Leggy
- Poor color
- Mold, slime, etc.
- Plants get to big before time to plant out
- Final thoughts
`
Resources for today’s show…
- Find Me on Nostr
- Article Explaining the GrowNostr Initiative
- Join the Members Brigade
- TspAz.com
- TSPC on Discord
- TSPC Group on Telegram (group chat)
- TSPC Telegram Channel (just messages from me)
- Jack on MeWe
- Join Me on Odysee
- All My Recommend Bitcoin Tools and Resources
Sponsors of the Day
- Join the MSB Here
- Redneck Hippy Duck Farmer T-Shirts at TspSwag.com
- Live Free Academy Freedom Cell Challenge
- JM Bullion
- Barrina LED Grow Light 6 Packs – Item of the Day
`
Video Version of Today’s Show
Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon.
Join the MSB Today
Want all the Early TSP Episodes?
Remember in addition to discounts to over 80 vendors who supply stuff you are likely buying anyway, tons of free ebooks and video content, MSB Members also get every edition of The Survival Podcast ever produced in convenient zip files in blocks of 24. More info on the MSB can be found here.
I also use dynamyco as a starter, but I learned from mycologist Efren Cazares that mycorrhizae can take 3-6 months to establish to be effective. He recommended (if starting in a new pot) to use cut up dried roots from previous season’s mycorrhizae inoculated plants to ensure colonization of new plants.
All nice and well but you can literally see this stuff “establish itself” in the starter cups. As to dried roots, dude needs to reread his study guides, mycorrhizae only interact with LIVING roots. Dead root may as well be plastic to them.