[Prendo]

Hiya,
I use Westland organic Vegetable Growing Compost. This year I considered the John Innes range but I'm reluctant as I think the fact that they produce 3 different types, one for seeds one for transplanting and another for potting on, is a bit of a rip off. Why did I pick the organic Vegetable Growing Compost I hear you ask ... well, unfortunately, I didn't base my decision on a very scientific and exhaustive research project, as of course I should have. The bottom line was that when starting out this time last year as a total newbie in the world of veg growing, once I saw "organic" and "Vegetable" in the title I was sold!
Also, as a hobby gardener for many years (as opposed to a hobby veg grower) I have used my own home made compost for potting up mature plants and shrubs etc and it has done the job fine but I wouldn't trust it for my precious veg seeds.
So growers, would you care to share you're secrets on what you use as a growing medium for your veg seeds and why?

[michael brenock]

I always used bord na mona compost over the years as a seed and potting compost and found it very satisfactory. when that was no longer available I started using the seed composts from lidl but had a few mishaps with it as it caused some damping off and other diseases. I am reluctant to use my own compost for seed raising as there may be some weed seeds present and there may be diseases present, not good for precious emerging seedlings, I have often thought of heating some compost in the micro wave oven to get rid of these problems but never got round to it. Sterilising soil by steam was common in the fifties and sixties but the heating released a lot of Nitrogen for the crop.
The John Innes compost is a scientifically balanced compost both physically and nutritionally but one is for seed and the other is for developing plants.
michael brenock horticultural advisor (retired) .

[michael brenock]

hi prendo, forgot to say in previous message don't stay up too late at night watching seeds germinating, early morning is better.
michael brenock

[Lius]

Prendo,

For indoor planting I only medium sized pots or large diveded trays and from there straight into the garden. I don't bother moving plants from one pot to a larger one as they grow or changing compost, I think it's too much stress on the plants.

I fill the pots or tray 3/4 way up with a compost rich mix and the last 1/4 with fine seeding compost on top. I put 2 seeds in each tray or pot and they germinate quite happilt in the top layer. I snip off one plant when I can tell which looks like the stongest. When they are big and need more nutrition they just sink thier roots down into the compost rich mix below with out any disturbance. From there staight into the garden with a lot less work than re-potting etc.

[Ben Yezir]

I used B&Q John Innes for seeds a month ago. Planted Onions, Broad Beans and Earl Peas and not one of them has germinated. It must have been a dud batch.

AVOID B&Q JOHN INNES!

[Nozebleed]

i used a mix of aldi/lidl seed sowing compost and john inns. filled pots with the cheap aldi stuff and put about an inch of the light/sandy john inns on top..works very well. the seeds were having trouble breaking through the aldi soil..kinda turned to cardboard when drying..

[56K Natas]

My broad beans and peas took a good 4 weeks to come up so don't loose hope yet.
I was told it's a good idea to soak the seeds in water for 24 hours before planting as it helps them come up faster,
I was told this after they were in the ground 3 weeks