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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] clean starting trays

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  • From: Matt Cheselka <mcheselka AT yahoo.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] clean starting trays
  • Date: Mon, 9 Jan 2006 09:06:22 -0800 (PST)

Andy,
 
I've done a lot of experiments with this, and I can say that if I don't clean my seedling trays before I start new seeds, the result is either no germination or poor germination followed by very unhappy plants.  If I take the same seed tray and spray it with a mixture of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, leave it for an hour, and then thoroughly rinse, the results are incredible: nearly perfect germination and very happy plants.
 
My guess is that unwelcome things (mold, fungi, etc.) grow in the seedling trays and don't leave just because the seedlings have been moved elsewhere (transplanted).
 
So I find cleaning with bleach to be mandatory.  I want to look into using other, more "enviro-friendly" cleaners other than bleach, but sofar I haven't done that.
 
Cheers,
 
Matt Cheselka
Cosmic Lettuce

"Andrew R. King" <andrew.king2 AT worldnet.att.net> wrote:
My starting mix is 40% compost. You can see the life in it. Is there any reason to use bleach to clean starting trays when your starting mix is full of life?



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