Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[dan conine <dconine@bertramwireless.com>]

I also use a sterile mix for starting, but it is a fine peat-based mix, 
in very small cells. I transplant either directly to the field or to 
larger cells in coir mix.
Mostly, I do it for the easy handling of the fine starter mix, and would 
simply switch to a soil mix (solar sterilized) if I can't obtain it any 
more.

I highly recommend that if you are doing anything for sales, that you 
make your own germinating box. I built one many years ago, but mine is 
too big for most small holders. It consists of racks inside an insulated 
box, and a water pan in the bottom that has a water heater element (a 
220v element running on 110v)controlled by a bulb thermostat. I can set 
it to any temperature and it holds it accurately, at 100% humidity. 
Broccoli will be 1" tall in about 10 hours if I'm not careful (it needs 
more light in it).
I also made racks in my basement with lights for starting onions early 
in the year. I use both of these less than I needed to initially, as I 
am a little better at managing starts in the greenhouse now. I would 
love to do more with cold frames and hot frames, but my addled brain 
needs automated control systems or I kill everything.

Dan C.
Belgium, WI