Perennial Seed Starting Mix

 Seed Starting Recipe

Blephilia ciliata

The majority of our seed at Nodding Onion Gardens spend the winter outdoors in small cold frames, however each season we grow a few species indoors under florescent lights. This is done for several reasons; first it provides the opportunity to learn the idiosyncrasies of new plants, second observing how they change and mature makes identifying weeds vs. young seedlings that much easier. Most importantly it is FUN!  Poking around in seed trays, transplanting seedlings when the days are short, cloudy and cold puts a song in my heart and dirt under my finger nails!😂

So why after 14 years did I need a new seed starting mix? Necessity! This spring my faithful pre-mixed potting soil wasn't available. Darn! I was both familiar and comfortable with: the amount of water, ideal house temperature and fish fertilizer dilution seedlings required to thrive. 

Made from compost

Investigating a New Seed Starting Source

Starting local seemed the most sensible. I knew Rust Belt Riders was a Cleveland, Ohio Company that collected kitchen scraps from residents and converted it into a compost growing medium. What I didn't realize is that they had an organic seed starting mix called Tilth Soil Sprout Organic Seed Starting Mix. I order one bag as an experiment, only to learn a few weeks later that Kurtz Bros., Inc, in Strongsville carried it! How convenient, 10 min down the road!

First Round 

Honestly, my first seedling transplant run through didn't go as planned. I never stopped to consider that this new "recipe" might handle a bit differently than the mix I was accustomed to. Saturating seed flats before transplanting tender seedlings didn't end well. The poor "guys" were drowning. One thing I have learned over the years is that when I make a mistake, it is best to admit it then make adjustments as soon as possible. Down to Kurtz Bros., I went. The folks there wouldn't let me give up; I recall them saying something about stubborn and green thumb in the same sentence.

Second Round
 

I was able to revive the young plants with a few minor adjustments.

Amendments made to one bag of Tilth Soil

Young Nasturtium plants

\ I was on a mission to revive the seedlings! Instead of slowing down and investigating what was actually in the mix I went to work. Adapting the original formula in such a way that it felt and looked more like what I was familiar with. Annuals: Nasturtium, Calendula, Marjoram, Basil, Oregano flourished in the "unabridged" Tilth Organic Seed Starting Mix, as did stratified native plant seeds. The problem children were the perennial transplant seedlings. 

                                                     

Ingredients I added 

                                                

Coconut Coir Brick

1. Coconut coir - "One brick" rehydrated, allow to dry for a few days until light and fluffy

2. Perlite - Approximately 2 1/2 cups

3. Vermiculite - Approximately 2 1/2 cups 

*Note -  My family never bothers asking for a recipe, as most likely there isn't one! A little of this a little of that!

Perlite & Vermiculite 

As with baking, I instinctively knew the consistency that I was striving for. Once I was happy with the amended mix I went to work. This time around I did not soak the potting soil like I had done for so many years. It wasn't necessary as the Rust Belt Riders Formula held moisture perfectly!

When I was certain the seedlings were out of danger and on their road to recovery I began the process that would have been more logical right from the start. What were the ingredients in Rust Belt Riders Sprout Organic Seed Starting mix?

 

After investigating, which involved visiting their site then reading a paragraph. I realized there was way more to this mix then compost. I decided it maybe wise to decrease the fish fertilizer dilution until I had a better idea as to how the young plants would respond. 

Silene virginica

Fish Fertilizer - Typically I fertilize seedlings right after they have been relocated then every 10 days or so - 2 tsp/quart. For now I am using 1 tsp/quart.

Tilth Soil Sprout Ingredients

Compost - Alive, dark, rich. Invaluable gold!

Peat moss - I may not have needed coconut coir as it redundantly mimics peat moss, Remember the fun is creating!

Perlite - They had it covered but I preferred a tad more. If a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of flaxseed I add 3.🤣

Blood Meal, Bone Meal, Kelp! Rustbelt Riders had it all! Basically the equivalent of adding: oatmeal, ground flaxseed and chickpea flour to banana muffins. Quite tasty I might add!

Additional Ingredients include: Gypsum, sharp sand paramagnetic rock dust and biochar. 

In Conclusion

After tinkering with the mix for several months and closely observing the seedlings, I can say with out a shadow of a doubt that the "guys" love the recipe! They are healthy, strong and progressing nicely. 

I did include vermiculite, which helps with water retention. It may not have been necessary however; since I had it on hand and we include it in our outdoor mix I added it in.

Thank you Rust Belt Rider for all the time and hard work that you have put into creating Sprout Seed Starting Mix!

The "Guys" and I are hooked... there is no going back!

Beth Coyne