1. sift seed mix 2. use smaller pot 3.bottom watering 4. add fertilizer to seed starting mix 5. take advantage of newer grow light technology Thank You !

@roadmap5351

2 ай бұрын

Hi there! Thanks for all your great info. I didn't add fertilizer to my seed starting mix so is there a way to get them what they need without transplanting into soil that has it?

@irenehwang558

Ай бұрын

@@roadmap5351try liquid fertilizer

@HeatherThompsonSocially

Ай бұрын

​@@roadmap5351get a liquid fertilizer thats like a 3-2-3 and then dilute it a ton with water and use that - thats what I've been doing and it works. I am going to try to bottom water next year

@kellyoliver1943

Ай бұрын

Thank you for the break down!! 😅

@karolinaj5045

Ай бұрын

@@roadmap5351 Maybe try some water soluble fertilizer

I always honor a man who's willing to admit that they were wrong and changed the way they think. A man that's growing to become better and better walking in integrity. Keep up the good work, Brother.

@bignico1990

28 күн бұрын

Yea I cought that ….respect

I've noticed that you use different sized pots and seed cells. Maybe a video on how to decide which size for which seed? Appreciate all your videos!

@crocketp

2 ай бұрын

Yes!🎉🎉

@lindazelms6741

2 ай бұрын

I always learn something new!

@aileenbell6750

2 ай бұрын

@@lindazelms6741 O 5:14p I’m😅 lol

@AylaGrassrootGardens

2 ай бұрын

I would find this helpful as well!

@toliver1468

2 ай бұрын

I agree🙌🏾

Well first there’s the fact that you can remember 15 years ago and what you did!😂 Good info to have. Thank you!

@aphillips5376

2 ай бұрын

I'm a second year gardener who took some notes last year (my first year) and I can't remember what I did😂

@beckymartinez9926

2 ай бұрын

I don’t know how your seedlings can live in the small cell for so long. My tomatoes were going root bound in solo cups after 6 weeks

@aphillips5376

2 ай бұрын

@beckymartinez9926 I use cell pots from vego garden. They air prune the roots. It''s awesome!

Informative video, thank you. The 'armchair scientist' in me really wanted to see the difference in each variable, pot size, sifted mix, watering, fertilizer, grow lights. Probably a pain to do all those different pots! Interesting experiments nonetheless.

@too_tricky5759

Ай бұрын

This. "I changed 6 things and here is the amazing difference comparing two variations of 36".

I like to use bigger containers but I also use a syringe to water a small amount more often until they get established

Great info. I am 100% convinced that fertilizer in the seed start mix of any kind helps to give the seedlings a head start. Fine seed start mixes are great, but the seed leaves pop up with the seed husks on the tips. Once over the soil level, they get dried out, hard to come off. A little more resistance could help the husk to get off of the seed leaves. It would be really interesting to see how each variable compares to method from 15 yo ago as controlled sample, have the other variables introduced one at a time. What makes the biggest difference, the fertilizer in seed start mix? The pot sizes, or the lights?

@katharine5606

2 ай бұрын

It's interesting that you mention the seed coat not coming off some seedlings because I've had a couple seedlings this year that seemed to have a stuck seed coat, like for a few days, and felt like they were suffering so I carefully removed them. I'm like am I micromanaging? Probably!

@cyhomer

2 ай бұрын

..my thoughts exactly.

@paulnora8425

Ай бұрын

I was also curious which of the individual changes have the most impact. I imagine (and am hoping 😅) fertilizer and lights have a bigger impact than pot size.

@loisbowman8418

Ай бұрын

I think I will share these questions with my granddaughter. She likes gardening; this would be a great science project for her.

@sl5311

Ай бұрын

what fertilizer to you use, I assume it is granlular?

You should make a video of you viewing some of your old videos and commenting what you would do differently

I learned bottom watering from Greenhouse Frank, who ran the biology greenhouse. When us landscapers got a chance, we'd sneak inside and hang out with him. He always kept a bathtub around and would just plunk all of the pots that needed watering in there!

As for the fertilizer, mixing about 10-15% worm castings in with the seed starting mix has made a huge difference for me.

@thefilamentcorner

2 ай бұрын

My first year adding them to the bottom of my seed starting trays. I had used them before for growing or grown plants but never seed. The only reason i didn't mix them into my seed start mix, was the castings I got had pest seeds in them. Placing them at the bottom of the tray helped keep some of those seeds from sprouting.

@colvinvandommelen2156

Ай бұрын

@@thefilamentcornerthis is genius, I’ve had some problems this year with unwanted seeds sprouting in my mix and this would solve that problem

@C3Voyage

Ай бұрын

Add castings later at transplant. Seed-starting is safest and better in my opinion if everything is sterile--pots, mix, and even seed should be treated. In this way, you get no disease potential or bugs which is in almost every type of store-bought mix.

@joanies6778

Ай бұрын

​​@@C3VoyageAgree 100%! I put my seed starter mix in an oven bag, poor boiling water over it and mix it well, then I nuke it in the microwave for 90 seconds. It may be overkill, but once you get fungus gnats and realize how hard it is to get rid of them, that extra step is worth its weight in gold. This year I washed all my potting materials with a little bleach in soapy water. Last year I had some weird stuff going on with a few plants in the seedling stage... not taking chances. I don't treat the seeds unless they are being sprouted in a baggie and it looks like mold. Some hydrogen peroxide takes care of everything.

@lindsay3357

Ай бұрын

@@joanies6778you are microwaving your starter soil?

now I can say I have 15+ years of gardening experience 😎

Thank you for showing me everything I have been doing wrong. I have been so frustrated trying to start seeds ❤. I now feel hope.

These tips are gold! I’m in my second year of gardening peppers mostly, and my first year starting from seed. I’ve definitely made lot of these ‘mistakes’ and I say it like that because one thing I love about gardening is that you can enjoy it how you want. You don’t have to min/max and you will still see results because life generally finds a way. That being said, I remember last year I bought transplants from a nursery, planted them in 5 gallon buckets, and they struggled a lot in the beginning to establish their root system. Even in summer heat I was only watering some of them once a week which told me the buckets were too big for the size of the plants, soil was staying wet, there wasn’t enough aeration, and soil was getting compacted from top watering. I had a lot of fun in my first year, but there were so many improvements to be made! This year I decided to start from seeds to I could get different pepper varieties and a head start to the short growing season we have in Vancouver. I had pretty good success germinating and just transferred about half of my seedlings from their cell trays to 3.5 inch pots. The advice on bottom watering is fantastic, as well as sifting your mixes. I found the compost I bought has a lot of small pieces of wood and I even found a rock which I’m not too happy about. I’ve also been using grow lights in combination with a south facing window which I feel has made a noticeable difference in seedling growth. Do you have any advice on bottom watering seedlings? Do I just always keep water in the tray or should I let the water be absorbed and even have the soil dry out a bit?

@TheMistyBlueLounge

2 ай бұрын

I think for bottom watering it's best to partially fill a tray with water, then place the seedling cells in the tray for about 20 minutes, then drain the excess water. The leftover water can be used for watering other plants, or save it until needed because it likely has some extra nutrients since a bit of soil will mix with it during bottom watering. Leaving the plants in the water too long will over saturate the soil and can lead to root rot. For most plants it's good for the soil to dry a bit between watering, but don't let it get bone dry. Most of us will be more likely to over water than under water!

@TheMistyBlueLounge

2 ай бұрын

I find judging the weight a good way to tell if things need to be watered. Feel how heavy it is just after watering, and note how it gets lighter as it dries, and you'll get a good feel for when they need to be watered. I used to think the soil always needed to be damp, bit it can be good to have a dry top layer, just check the weight to make sure they're not totally dry.

Thank you for updating your information as you learn more. I find this so useful.

Luke I've watched your videos for about 8 years and appreciate all the tips...Thank you so very much 💐

The thing I changed this year was to water my seedlings with water from my fish tank. It was such an improvement in my plants' growth.

A year ago you did a vid about adding white sides around your seed starting station. The difference that one change made in my seedlings was astounding! I'll never go back!

@toliver1468

2 ай бұрын

What video or tip was that?

@ChristieAdams-pb2ti

2 ай бұрын

What is adding white sides around the seed station ?

@lisacihlar9662

2 ай бұрын

Add white painted cardboard around your grow station to bounce the light back at the plants

@lisacihlar9662

2 ай бұрын

One year ago. The name of the vid was: Increase the efficiency of your grow lights by 75% with these simple tips

Now I wonder what the seeding in the 4" pot might have looked like is some water soluble fertilizer was added to bottom watering? And proper lighting. I guess what I'm wondering is if the pot size does really matter? Hmmm.

@treyleon8112

11 күн бұрын

I look at it like a houseplant & you don’t plant a houseplant in a huge pot compared to the roots because the plant can’t soak up enough of the water which can lead to root rot. You’ll be wasting water as well.

Would love a video on which seedlings like to stay moist and which ones don't! Then I could plan out my trays better on how much the entire tray needs to be bottom watered. My trays are mixed seedlings because my garden is smaller, so I don't need entire trays of each type of plant.

@peachykeen7634

Ай бұрын

I can tell you to err on the side of dry. Damp off is AWFUL. Brassicas hate being moist at all. Always bottom water brassicas and let them dry out between waterings. ❤better to maybe use a syringe or basted to water individual plants that seem droopy rather than soak the whole tray. Speaking from Years of tragic experience.

@ashleyfeinberg2988

Ай бұрын

@@peachykeen7634 I've had so many damp off this year. I started using a spray bottle but a syringe is a good idea!!

Hi Luke! Thank you for these rookie learning videos. I just learned a ton from this video. I watched it this morning and it happens to be the day I'm starting my tomatoes! Boy, did you save me some time! Thank you so much. I'd love to see you do more videos like this, showing us what you used to do and how you've changed over the years. This was just AWESOME! God bless you!

thanks for explaining bottom watering and how it works. others have brought it up but have not explained it well. keep up with the great videos!!!

Just found you and already learned new things and also enjoy how transparent you are.

This is really good information thank you. I was planning on sowing my tomatoes in bigger pots to save time on potting on. I also knew about giving them a liquid feed every so often but wouldn't have thought to add a long acting fertiliser. I've made the decision not to grow other than my perennials this year because we are finally just about ready to put our house up for sale. I'm saving your video for next year though when I hope to be in our new house with our new garden I can run with.

I watch your vids. Stopped for a while for illness. I am semi back, no garden yet I love it. Not only do your seedlings grow better, the potting mix vid was awesome. But I have watched you grow as well. Thanks for continuing. I know how hard it is to be, producer, camera person, editor etc. I really appreciate the work you have done over the years! Mitch respect uncle Dan

I was putting my seeds in a big seed cell so not too have to move again later. I wa😅do that anymore. Thanks for your video.

I'm 2.5 minutes in and THANK YOU SO MUCH! wow. I have been doing it all wrong.

Great info as always! And speaking of old videos, one of my favorites is still that one video that you did about multi-sowing beets, and your reaction when you stumbled onto that one especially massive beet. 😂

Thank you for this video I planted my tomato seeds 2 days ago🤦‍♀️and used raised bed soil and didn’t sift it and I am using 4” pots🤷‍♀️ pray for my seedlings 🤣

I’m growing onions in 200 cell trays this year. As opposed to planting seed like grass in a tray. So far. So good

@GetFitEatRight

Ай бұрын

Why in cells, I just did them as a full flat. So just wondering.

@greenthumbprepper8653

Ай бұрын

@@GetFitEatRight Normally that’s how I do it. Full flats. So it looks like I’m growing grass. Last year I did about 750 onions that way. The problem I have is I’m only able to get to the garden on the weekends. And last year, after I planted all those onions, we had a freak heat wave and temps hit 40c. And those bare rooted onions just fried in that heat because I was unable to get there to water them. So. This year, I’m trying them in the cells. I’m hoping that soil plug will provide them a bit of protection if the weather goes sideways on me again.

Great info I never thought about sifting the seed starting mix. My seedlings are doing great now but they struggled in the beginning and now I know why! Thanks😊

Great information! I just bought new grow lights to replace my flourescent shop lights.

It is my first year trying to start a more bigger food producing garden, and I am starting to get sprouts right away, and they look healthier! What a pro tip on the sifting the mix- I notice there is always this really woody stringy just crunk in the mix, that actually makes it a lot more hydrophobic it seems. But I have been using worm castings. I noticed the ratio on the fertilizer you used in the video is kind of high, and I remember a lady at the garden center I went to telling me that any fertilizer above a certain number like 1 or 3 meant it is probably non-organic, meaning like closer to a synthetic thing. It looks like though, you maybe make your own. I use light, and I have fertilizer, now just to implement the other tips! Thank you.

Great reminder to always keep learning and updating your methods. More comparison videos of how you used to do things compared to how you have grown today would be a great series

Thanks for sharing! Just starting pepper and tomato seeds for the first time, and I see I'm only a couple hours South near Toledo. I appreciate the fast cut to the information with just the right amount of context. Have a great season!

Super helpful! I have had a fungus gnat problem the last 2 years. Never before that for 14 years. I was afraid to do the bottom watering, but I will switch to it! I will start sifting soil. You were spot on with the tomatoes. Mine look like the wimpy one and I don’t get tomatoes until the 1st week of April!! You know your stuff!! Thank you!!

Thank you for going straight to the point.

I’ve been swearing by adding Trifecta to my seed starting mix for at least a decade. It doesn’t flush out with just the spraying of the soil, but it’s there right when they need it! Thanks, Luke! :)

This is a HUGE help! I love it that you are willing to share these secret pointers. I took notes and taped them up in my grow room. Thanks MI Gardener!

Can you do an update on the seedling please. Thanks. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Thank you so much for answering many questions I have had and for getting me on the right track ❤

Brilliant. Thank you. Having a massive problem with damping off

I’ve been learning right along with you, glad you are a step ahead though! I share information with friends! Thank you!

This is my second year gardening and i always watch your videos as you put them out to learn when and how you are doing things because i wantbto learn all i can to grow a garden that will put food on my table, shelves and freezer i am canning to i live in Michigan zone 5 so i have almost the same growing time i have the best time gardening it's work but it seems to be a different kind of work because i enjoy this it's a stress reliever i just love growing everything i can

Totally agree about bottom watering. So far this year, no fungus gnats. Also, I love chunky vermiculite on top.

Thanks Luke. I was going to use the larger pots for my seed tomatoes, but not anymore.

You’re an amazing teacher, Luke! I’m in zone 6b, NE Ohio. I grew up “doing chores” in my parents garden and somewhat learning from them & my Grandma. I’ve loved gardening with flowers 🌸 and planting a few veggies🥒🍅 in the past 9 years…This is the first year that I’ve planted from seed indoors with heating mats and grow lights. Thank you for providing us with your knowledge!

@margaret2222

2 ай бұрын

HI neighbor. I am in NW Ohio. My first year to start things inside too. I grew up on a farm and we planted things outside direct. We never started things inside so this is all new to me. Love your videos Luke and have learned a lot.

@alriiightythennn

2 ай бұрын

Hi fellow 6b-er! I too learned most of what I know from growing up with grandparents and parents who gardened. Learning so much from MIGardener

I must have watched an old video of you saying no fertilizer for seedlings. I’m glad I keep growing and learning with you, Luke. I’ve got my Trifecta, now pray I can stay well enough get my seeds started!

Yep, second-year rookie here. I made most of those mistakes. I did learn to use the smaller cell trays this year. I will apply your tips to the next batch of seeds I start. Thank you!

The biggest thing I've learned over the years is hardening them off. My job doesn't give me time to do it during daylight very often. Instead, I got some 360nm flourecent tube blacklights to supplement my LED growlights. I let them cycle with the grow lights from sprouting to planting and my plants bounce back from sun shock much quicker.

I’ve learned from you and a few others on seed starting and a better way to grow my plants. Thank you so much.

Thank you for more great information ❤

Great Video! I am going to replant my tiny 4 week old tomato seedlings like this and hope they do better.

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us so that we can benefit from what your have learned over the years!

Hi Luke, I just been growing 5 years yes the watering thing makes sense. Last two years such a problem with snapdragons and petunias. Put a few seeds in 3 inch pots. They died. This year I bought 5x5 incerts seem with small seeds to over plant leave them alone. Strong plants up pot them I plant by color. Oh well I try and try again and take notes. Been on your channel a long time.

I have enjoyed watching your growth in gardening as well as growing into manhood. Keep up the good work and continue to grow.

Thank you for this. Too late for me this year, but will definitely use this information for seed starting next year.👍

Started on my growing fruit and veg journey only a week ago and your video was very helpful, thank you

Because lights used for growing seedlings have changed so much, I would like more specificity about which grow lights, how far to keep them from plants, etc. I am still doing best with flourescents (cool & warm) from Big Box stores versus "LED grow lights" from those same stores. Going for the true "grow lights" that cannot be found in most Big Box stores is not in my budget. So, why are my seedlings that are growing under "LED grow lights" not doing as well as those under flourescents? I imagine it has something to do with the space between the plant and the bulb, but I've not hacked that one yet. If the bulb is too close the plant leaves suffer, if they are too far away (6+ inches) the seedlings get leggy. Do you have a video already that parses through the current options and how to use them? Also, launching into soil blocking these past few years. Thanks. Love your info.

Very informative. Thank you, Luke!

My whole mini garden is in my living room 😂. Bottom watering is so the way to go! Fungus knats drive me bits. Thanks for another fun and informative video ❤

@cynsationalcontainergarden4911

2 ай бұрын

The fungus gnats were a BIG issue because I have a LOT of plants and soil in my grow room . The yellow sticky gnat traps are GREAT. I use the ones you stick in the soil AND hang the ones that are shaped like a ball in my mini greenhouse and in the room. I have ZERO flying insects now. Amazon and even Temu sells them. MI gardener vids are the best.

@AylaGrassrootGardens

2 ай бұрын

@@cynsationalcontainergarden4911 I'll come check out your channel! I use the little sticky traps too, been a lifesaver.

I use worm castings in my home made starter mix( 2-1 ratio peat moss and vermiculite) - after first set of true leaves, I use water soluble every 2 weeks-Steve zone 6 b.

Excellent video! So helpful. Thank you !

I found something similar this year, I started most of my tomatoes in soil blocks. I started a few in pots. The ones in the soil blocks did so much better, they are at least 2-3x the size.

@ChristieAdams-pb2ti

2 ай бұрын

Was your soil in the blocks and the soil in the containers the exact same? Did you add fertilizer to either of the soils? I have a soil block I purchased last year, have yet to use it. I thought they would get too dried out or the opposite too wet and fall apart.

Getting sticks out of your soil is key. Add perlite to your soil mix, bottom water with liquid fertilizer or add fertilizer, don’t transplant until roots are probably 3-4in. Or have 4-5 leaves. If you have large pots you can put 3-4 plants in each pot, then once they get larger you can separate & give them their own pot.

Great video. Did most of what you talked about this year for an early Florida crop. Will be starting to harvest peppers next week and tomatoes the following week and everything is lush and green. By the way, your Migardener large cherry tomatoes are going gangbusters. Hope they taste as good as they look. Hopefully the Florida heat and pests don't screw things up.

From someone who is just starting out - your video is extremely helpful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. May God abundantly bless and reward you!

I remember some seeds you started growing maybe in 2013-14? (I cant remember when i first started watching your channel) and they looked like the ones in the smaller pots here. I believe you had already changed how you were starting them bc i tried starting seeds that year and was not having much luck haha. And then switched to your method. Your advice here is spot on. I have some different opinions on fertilizer at the start (germinating)as it’s actually pretty hard to control it in smaller pots i have found. But waiting a week or so after germinating and then fertilizing or maybe fertilizing in the next mix you up pot into has worked well for me.

Excellent information! Thank you for sharing!

Hahaha, I feel called out 😂 I did all these things. Hi, I am a first time seed starting gardener 👋 I love learning and bettering myself through experience and people like Luke and Brian Lowell and Jess Sowards are the best kind of teachers ❤

For tomato seedlings, I started using the double solo cup method and only fill the cup part way with seedling mix. This way, as the plant grows taller, I can add soil to the top to get more root growth along the stem. My LED shop lights have the right lumens and kelvin to produce the needed light at a fraction of the cost of marketed grow lights. But I am also taking my young seedlings out sooner for a little natural sunshine each day when it's warm enough. Don't forget to have a fan with low settings on the plants to mimmick gentle breezes, which also helps prevent dampening off. A little cinnamon sprinkled on the top, a fan, and a covered bottom (bottom cup) keeps the fungus gnats away.

Thanks for the tips! No wonder I’m not getting much results with my tomato seedlings. I should’ve sift the seed mix and use a smaller pot.

We've always added fertilizer to our seed mixes in the past. Our best results though happened this year, when we a) withheld fertilizer from the seed mix and b) added liquid organic fertilizer only after the first true leaves appeared. We're seeing more robust root growth, more compact vegetative growth, and greater resilience to environmental and/or pathogenic elements.

Thank you so much. I now know where i can improve and make healthier plants.

I am going to go smaller with my next phase of planting based on this video and the other recent video. Thanks for sharing your experience 👊🏻🌻👊🏻

This is so true! Thank you because I will approve the way I do things now.

Thank you for this video. It definitely helps

So good refresher course. Thank you.

Excellent video!

Great comparing, thank you!

I want to thank Luke for such a great notification system. I received my alerts that certain bare roots were available and was able to run over and put in my order. Totally stoked as I can't find any of those locally. Super happy. Love me some MIGARDENER!!

Thank you for this!

Omg I am watching this and I think you just fixed my problem! My pepper seedling problem!! Too much water I think bc of the larger pot

When I started gardening eons ago I remembered my teachers growing plants under fllorescent lights in the classroom, so I used basement florescent shop lights to start my seedlings, and I have to say they worked perfectly, and don't peter out like the grow lights do!

@leagueleaders

2 ай бұрын

I use $15 4' shop lights for years to start my plants on a metal shelf.

All great tips…some of them I follow and see great results! I’ll be saving this video for future reference. Thank you Luke!

This is very helpful, thank you.

Thank so much for this video! I am a newbie to gardening and just started doing my own seed starter trays last year. Yep, I have too big of pots and have been top watering. I also just saw a fungus gnat. I am going to repot the plants again. Lessons learned:)

Great info!

Thank you so much! Very timely! My tomato seeds just started coming up and they look like the one from 15 years ago lol at least I know what to do now.

Fantastic video! Thank u

Great simple tips. Thank you!

😂when I seen what you sifted out I wondered where the plastic, stones, glass and cigar tips were. Decided to get Promix BX and totally different so far.

STOP IT! I JUST finished watering my lil guys. My tomato seedlings are 14 days old today and they look exactly like the bad one. And here I was so proud T_T

I may have done some of the things right by accident, then again, others not necesarily. This was very informative and useful! Many thanks for that :)

I ordered your trifecta for the first time and I’m excited to see the difference in my plants 😊

Thanks for sharing. Would love to know what type of grow lights you prefer.

I like the sk8er Luke doing the seed saving videos. lol. I can only get peppers to germinate in a small cell, specifically with humidity dome.

Thanks for the much needed info.

Great video thank you.

Have new grow lights this year, our seedlings are going INSANE, loving it.

@eunicedeoliveira1974

2 ай бұрын

Which grow lights do you use

@RyanMercer

2 ай бұрын

@@eunicedeoliveira1974 some Spider Farmer lights on one rack and the other has Barrinas

I really appreciate this video and the accountability/learning process. So many channels and influencers parrot the same incorrect information for the sake of content so the viewer fails. This was super refreshing