Thanks kimmr and lazyg. for responding. I guess I forgot to mention that I had already tilled,,or I guess a better word is dug the areas to make new beds for a flower and vegetable garden. Before it was just an area with bushes and high grass. So again lazyg,,,may I ask what do you mean by layering 'compostable stuff' on the garden area? Do you mean just layer the area with leaves, grass, brush, etc. (not yet composted).. or do you mean covering with bags of store bought compost? Also, what are the 'mulch layers'. That from the organic material I've covered the area with? I guess I don't know the difference tween mulch and compost. Sorry I'm such an air-head beginner.

I posted this under the seed starting thread as well. Jiffy Seed Starting Mix works fine and easy to hydrate if you do two simple things: 1) microwave distilled water to 130-140 degrees fahrenheit or max hand hot temperature. Using a liquid measuring pitcher place 1 quart of Jiffy SSM in a clean container like a one gallon zip lock bag. Then add 1 cup of hot water to the bag or container. Expel any excess air and zip bag up. 2) Using your hands grip and massage the bag. This step takes 2 minutes max. You will now have hydrated Jiffy SSM. Want to do a whole bag? Add 4 cups hand hot water. Wash and dry your hands and one arm up to elbow. Plunge hand and arm into mix and grip and squeeze Jiffy SSM. Be sure to get all of mix fully hydrated. Remove hand and arm and wash. This step takes 5 minutes max. You now have Jiffy SSM fully hydrated at the correct hydration. When you add the water to the mix it will seem like it is not enough but after 2-5 minutes of mixing you can squeeze a handful of the mix and just barely get a little water out. I only use Jiffy SSM. I have had trouble with some of the other seed starting mixes ( Schul.. et al) over the years. I have not tried the other expensive mixes mentioned above. I go cheap. Works great. I grow plants from seeds under lights most years 50+ flower varieties as well as some bushes and trees etc. Rick

We don't have Menards in this part of the country so I don't know exactly what tray you mean, but I wonder if the recycled paper trays don't have some of the same moisture issues as the peat can...very hard to control moisture, they are either too wet or too dry (paper/peat wicks water from the sowing medium). One recycled paper tray product that came prefilled was mentioned earlier, brand TerraCycle - or something similar to that. The sowing medium was one component, pure worm castings which didn't seem to make sense...the tray compartments were quite small so clearly for newest seedlings which don't need that rich of a growing medium when all nutrients required for germination, initial early growth are contained in the seed itself.

Has anyone tried growing seeds in Rockwool instead of peat pods? I actually had varying results with that. I did find it works best if you neutralise the ph first before you put them in the trays and add the seeds. After the seeds pop, I transferred them to soil (wool and all) and fertilized them. Roots shot through those like a "termite through wood". I also heard of a method of using sponges, cut into squares, for seeds. I did not do it, but if someone tried it and it worked, I would love to hear the story. Here is a link that might be useful: RockWool This post was edited by RonnyB123 on Tue, Feb 4, 14 at 18:34