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homestead - Re: [Homestead] Leggy Basil Seedlings

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  • From: Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Leggy Basil Seedlings
  • Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 08:10:18 -0700


The only thing I can figure, is since it is just a peat tablet, there is no
nutrition for the plants.

Seed starting medium needs to retain moisture but be well drained, support roots, and offer a bit of nutrition. I make my starting soil from sifted forest humus, garden soil and sand. The prime problem is damping off disease, which is a generic term for a multitude of seed and seedling diseases. Damping off can largely be avoided by the simple, though smelly, expedient of baking the starting soil on a cookie sheet in the oven. For serious gardeners this is very time consuming and even homesteaders may be forgiven for buying sterilized starting soil.

If heat and seedling soil are adequate, the primary reasons for seedling failure is inconsistency of moisture and inadequate light. You can't start seeds and go on vacation.






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