hello :-) heather... I am in Metro West near Boston. Vermont is more than 2 hrs from me pretty sure and the shipping for ordering online must really add significantly to the cost, so I guess that won't work for me. thanks though. :-) pickwick...I thought I had pretty good perlite, but guess I wouldn't know a good one from a bad one. It is white and clean. What are Q.A. variations? What is the purpose of the mesh screen for adding perlite? Yes, normally I use dry mix and fill, water with a spray, drain, sow, cover with sifted soil mix, mist. Yes, I need a good mix..again, hard to find a good one without fertilizer/moisture retaining ingredients. stagerat...yes, I am an organic grower too and would love organic growing mix. We have a local [40mins away] nursery, that is certified organic, and I called them and according to them, they are having a hard time finding something that they can use. Actually now that I think of it, I wonder why they aren't just making their own. Maybe they are and they just haven't said so. As for Miracle Gro, I just can't bring myself to support the chemical industries biggest suppliers. That goes for Scott's too. They make so many chemical lawn products etc, and I feel so strongly that is the wrong way to go, that I can't buy their products. I would rather use my money to support a company who is trying to get it right. There is a product called Coast of Maine but their prices are so high, I can't afford them. The reason I don't want fertilizer in the mix is because of the above reason and because the fertilizer they put in it is a synthetic chemical one and I haven't used that type of fertilizer in 25 years and don't want to use it now. I could get by with it just for seed starting I suppose, but it just goes against what I prefer to do. So, I suppose I can mix up my own, now that the winter is just about over and I can get outside again. It is a real pain mixing it in the house. Thankfully I had enough mix to get through most of my winter sowing. Thanks very much for your recipe and the links, I will look over the other recipes. I would really like to get away from peat all together, but it is really hard to figure out how to do that. lol Someone on another thread maybe, was suggesting mixing ground coconut husks in place of it. They use it and find it a good substitute. Something new to try. [g] Thanks everyone :-)

Go to HD or Lowes and get a cheap 2 bulb 4' shop light with chains. Use any 2 bulbs they have (more lumens the better, though). Arrange the height of the light to 1-2" above the seedlings. Raise the lights as the plants grow. Get a timer or remember to pull the plug and give the plants the 'correct' amount of darkness per day (continuous daylight will actually stress the plants). If you have the ability, set a small fan to gently blow over the plants - this will help them become stronger and help evaporate suface moisture which could aid early seedling death. Water the plants by adding water into the trays, not over the soil. Have fun. As simple as that description was, I've overcomplicated it. Starting your plants from seeds is actually really easy - especially tomatoes and peppers (even I can do it). Just remember to work back from your plant out dates or you will end up with plants too big to work with or fit under the lights. Andrew

Hi farming and welcome to GardenWeb! Well, as far as germination, some seeds require dark but for most seeds light is helpful or even required. For seeds that benefit from light during the germination period, the intensity of the light is not really critical. Often times the seeds are under some kind of humidity dome and the light can be well above that dome and still be providing plenty of light until the seeds sprout. Now once they sprout, then any domes are removed and the lights must be lowered to be very close to the seedling. Generally the closer the better but it does, of course, depend on what kind of lights are being used (you don't want to burn the leaves). I use T8âÂÂs and usually keep the lights no farther than about 2 inches above the seedlings. I do have one T5 fixture and since those bulbs get hotter than the T8âÂÂs I usually keep that one about 3 inches above the seedling. After the seeds sprout, cool temperatures and plenty of light are important. If you donâÂÂt have enough light, or your growing area is too warm, the plants can end up leggy and with weak stems. Good air circulations is helpful as well. Many folks use some kind of small fan (usually on a timer) that will come on several times a day. You didnâÂÂt mention what youâÂÂre growing but, whatever it is, I wish you the very best of success! Hope this is helpful, Art

mike!!!! your lights need to be about one inch from those tiny plants.. for vigor ... though i presume you moved them for a pic ... and if you had sterilized your media.. you MIGHT have avoided the algae .. in worse case.. it can kill the babes ... but they will be potted up into 6 oz solo cups at 4 leaf stage.. so sterilize that media ... also.. that is a nice POTTING media you have there.. there is finer ground media.. for SEED starting ... and the way it looks like media is sticking to the sides.. above the water line.. as in it looks like Noah's flood came thru.. is there drainage in the bottom of your tray ... if not.. next spring.. save some cell packs.. to use above the water holding tray.. obviously you have success.. just making notes to go to the next level ... if you wish ... also.. some bottom heat.. might help them grow faster.. my furnace kicks down to 64 at night.. and that is not seed growing temps ... so if you have a heat mat .. and ran it.. at night.. it might make them grow faster ... presuming the furnace brings up the house temp during the day ... all complicated if you are doing this in a cold basement .... the variables: light .. water.. heat/temp ... and operating room cleanliness ... see link ... ken Here is a link that might be useful: sterilizing media in microwave or oven ... in the oven ... i used a dollar store turkey pan covered in alum foil .... with one hole in the foil.. and when it steamed .. it was done ... leave covered for a few days ... unless you want the whole house to smell of damp warm media ... i would like such.. but wifey might not ...