How to Make the Best-Ever Seed Raising Mix (2024)

FAQs

How to Make the Best-Ever Seed Raising Mix? ›

Seed raising mix combined with coarse river sand is generally a good blend. You can also mix in some perlite which aerates the soil and helps it to stay moist. For small seeds, use a plastic tray with plenty of drainage holes. Larger seeds and cuttings may be planted straight into their own small pots.

Seed raising mix combined with coarse river sand is generally a good blend. You can also mix in some perlite which aerates the soil and helps it to stay moist. For small seeds, use a plastic tray with plenty of drainage holes. Larger seeds and cuttings may be planted straight into their own small pots.

A good potting soil needs to be able to hold plants up, to drain well but also be able to hold water, and to be able to feed plants. The key ingredients in my potting mix are: garden soil for fertility and bulk; perlite for drainage; and a mix of peat moss and compost for water retention.

The medium that is used to germinate seeds is a soilless mix. It's usually peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, or coir depending on who makes it. In any case, the advantages are the same: good drainage, light weight, and no surprise diseases.

You can use just a regular potting mix, however, this makes it much easier and more likely to run into issues with drainage, moisture retention, pests, soil density, nutrient availability, and more. If you want a smooth and seamless experience starting seeds indoors, we highly recommend using a seed starting mix.

The main difference between commercial seed raising mix and a potting mix is the larger chunks have been removed, there is more 'moisture holding' media such as coco coir and not as much fertiliser.

Sand-grown seedlings are easy to transplant and an exceedingly high percentage survive. If the sand is first loosened around the plants, they may be gently pulled up with the roots still intact. By placing both sand and seedlings in water, the sand will be washed away leaving the roots free.

The Jiffy Seed Starting Mix is an ideal option for gardeners looking to give their plants the best possible start. This specifically-formulated soil mix replicates greenhouse conditions, giving the seeds a better chance of germinating quickly and effectively. Peat moss, vermiculite, and lime are included in the mix.

What is the best mix for seeds? ›

Combine compost, topsoil, a bit of coarse sand, and something like vermiculite, perlite, or coco coir until you have a mix with a consistency that holds together when wet. For seed starting, you'll avoid using as much sand as you would when making soil for your garden.

Some seeds like Allium 'Purple Sensation' and Eryngium giganteum need a long period of cold-moist stratification with alternating temperatures. These are the most difficult seeds to germinate.

It's official: beans, peas, and pumpkins are among the top ten easiest plants to grow from seed, according to a list created by the Home Garden Seed Association. Also on the list: cucumbers, zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, lettuce, radishes, and squash.

Use a standard, all-purpose transplanting mix. It is not necessary to purchase a special (finer) seedling mix. The latter is useful only for sowing extremely small seeds. Avoid heavy, dense potting mixes that contain “forest products”.

There are two different recipes for a good, basic starter we'll share with you. Basic Peat-Free DIY Seed Starting Mix (the Epic Starter): 1 part coconut coir + 1 part pumice or perlite + 1 part compost (this part can contain up to half its volume in worm castings) + a sprinkling of azomite.

Pots and modules are best for larger seeds, while seed trays suit smaller ones. For tips on making recycled pots, see our guide to going plastic-free.

You can use just a regular potting mix, however, this makes it much easier and more likely to run into issues with drainage, moisture retention, pests, soil density, nutrient availability, and more. If you want a smooth and seamless experience starting seeds indoors, we highly recommend using a seed starting mix.