Did you use the same Miracle Gro soil before? I would look into using something different.

Miracle Gro soil seems to suck. The Moisture Control stuff seems just awful in my unprofessional opinion. Houseplants seem miserable in it, it doesn't dry out properly or absorb water well when dry.

I don't use containers for vegetables except potatoes, so I can't offer any positive suggestions.

One time a nursery worker told me that potting mix from a previous year is no good. Since then, I try to use mine up or mix it with garden soil in the bottom of a large container. I have avoided Miracle Gro products.

The tomato is your first photo looks like it is deficient in nutrients. I would re-pot is ASAP but buy fresh potting soil from a farm and feed type store.

Unless the old MG had some fungus or something growing in it I'd say it was just depleted of nutrients, no need to repot. Just fertilize that tomato. You don't say where you are, but lettuce just bolts as spring goes into summer - so unless you're in far north Maine or Canada, it's going to happen. You could try growing under shade cloth - but the ones in with the tomato are going to bolt b/c the tomato needs full sun and heat - and lettuce needs more N than tomatoes so not a good companion.

I don't use MG but that's my best guess - I know the beneficial fungi in Espoma and Promix "expire" (literally!) after a year or 2 but other than that a potting mix is generally just a mix of peat and vermiculite/perlite, maybe with fertilizers (MG does include those I know) so it doesn't "go bad" unless it's gotten wet and started growing "bad" fungi/bacteria.

i understood the facts to mean he had unused media in the garage ... and i see no reason UNused media should go bad in storage ...

but they are right.. never reuse media for seedlings ...

and i have heard repeatedly.. nothing good about MG media ... is for the mass markets ... you can do a lot better.. if you talk to some local greenhouse.. and get professional level media ..

dont know where you are.. but its been a long cold spring... lack of vigor is usually related to such in spring ...

but your last pic says it all .. doesnt it... its a media failure... not that i recommend dirt in pots ... but it working better than the stuff you have ...

ken

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'll probably dump the old MG in the garden because I don't trust it anymore. And next year I'll spring for some official seed starting mix.

Could the problem be that you used "moisture control" in the wet spring months? The close up of the soil in the mesclun pots looks wet and very compacted to me. Also, the difference in vigor between your two tomato plants could be due to the fact that one is not competing with all those other plants for very limited space , etc. I would not be convinced it is the soil based on what you've presented so far. Or not just the soil, but also the weather this year.

I have always started my seed in yogurt cups using plain old SuperSoil brand Potting Mix.

A hippie gardener caught me at the nursery that first year, noticed all the expensive seed starting equipment I had in my cart and told me it was all a waste of money (the heating mats, special seed trays, triple-priced seed starting mix, etc.) I took his advice and have never regretted it. I don't even put it through a screen. I just pick off the larger woody pieces if they happen to land on top.

I also buy a big bag of it which lasts a number of years. It's never gone bad on me.

My advice is to use the money you save not buying expensive seed starting mix and invest it in good quality seed. Others may disagree, but I've never had any luck with Burpee seeds. I buy mine from Johnny's (they last me years and I'm still getting 100% germination), but there are many other reputable seed companies such as Territorial and Baker Creek.

There is also a seed starting forum here on GardenWeb that you might want to browse. Lots of good solid advice. I think they are ones who told me not to waste my money on expensive grow lights....

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I also forgot to mention that starting your seeds in containers slightly larger than those little nursery 6-packs helps too. Less potting-up (I only pot up tomatoes, the others go from cup to ground), and they don't try out fast.

Good advise about yogurt cups, That's what I always use too, But I never transplant to bigger pots I just transplant to the garden, I think you have too many plants together in 2 of those pots, The tomato by itself should be ok.

Yes, i agree with individual pots for each plant...and fertilize the poor things.

I like Fertiome combination seed starting and potting soil.

I think it has all been covered above...dead depleted soil...
" nothing good about MG media ..."
Long cold spring... and looks like your salad bolted in the start tray...
Really no chance of it recovering. I would not waste money on the little Burpee salad mixes but might do better directly planted in a prepared bed once the soil warms.

And some years all goes well as expected without much notice.

I'm just guessing you are in zone 5b-6. I'm harvesting lots of salad now and will continue for a while with a shade set-up. Different varieties can handle cool weather and others don't mind the july heat.
I suggest getting a Johnny's catalog. (or view on-line). Great consistent seed quality and i'm even using some last year seed. My winter purchased spicy micro mix, grew it all winter indoors, is doing great direct seeded in the garden right now....

Being impatient, some seed i planted too early did bolt quickly but another variety is doing well in the same bed.

My beds get some compost in the fall, then covered...a quick double dig early spring a few weeks before planting...salad beds get an inch of pro-mix, wet good, then direct seed salad mix thick. Topped with a dusting of pro-mix and shade cover to sprout.

I agree with opinions on MG products. I never buy them. We usually mix our own potting mix. In the past, we've bought a large container of peat moss, perlite and mix that with some compost in a wheel barrow. Once it's mixed, we store it in one of those aluminum trash cans with a lid, where it's easy to access without plastic bags opening up and spilling every where. I've been experimenting with a new recipe after reading a lot about a 5-1-1 mix they suggest over on the Container forum. But the jury is still out on that one.

We normally will use the mix all spring and summer and then in the Fall make up another batch, fill our aluminum can and bring it down to the basement for the winter for houseplants and seed starting in early spring.

I'm sure there are premixed potting mixes available if you don't have the interest in making your own. I've heard Fafard makes a good product, although expensive. If I were buying pre made, I'd be looking at the ingredients. Peat moss, perlite, compost maybe, bark fines. I'd be avoiding a lot of other ingredients. Especially aimed at water retention, or synthetic fertilizer, coloring or soil 'conditioning'.

Seeds have become so expensive now, that I would have to agree with Loribee, to save the money to spend on that. I don't use Burpee either. I have been buying from FEDCO which is an organic growers coop for seeds, supplies, potato tubers, etc. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from Johnny's either.

Loribee, I love your yogurt container idea! We usually make our own yogurt and buy the large container once in awhile. I am going to have to try to start using multiples of the smaller size and save those for next year. I also have those red drinking cups that I use too.

I've never heard of soil "going bad". I think it might have more to do with the weather. Did you let your tomato plants get below 60 degrees at night? Did you put a shade cloth on some of them that put a lot of weight on the plants? Did you spray some of the plants too hard with the hose? Did some get more/less water than others?

I know that personally, I had some tomato plants that I rested a shade cloth on because I was too lazy to put up stakes to hold up the shade cloth. Those tomatoes never recovered from that stress, while the ones right next to them (not touching the shade cloth) are now 1.5 feet taller than the over-stressed plants.

Veggie plants are like people - if you over-stress them early in life, they'll never recover.

Thanks, prairiemoon! Incidentally, I've been using those same cups for years, I just rinse them in a mild bleach solution and they're ready for the next season. So you really would only have to eat as much store-bought yogurt as you want cups, LOL

Love Johnny's for seeds. I've got some seeds dated 2010 that are still germinating like they're brand new!