I've been container growing for the past 30 years or so, including when I had the bamboo nursery. Containers and growing technologies have been a major part of my life. Ignore if you have amazing soil in the ground for gardening.
[ - ] Love240 1 point 1 monthMar 18, 2025 17:56:50 ago (+1/-0)*
Nice. I'm mixing up more potting soil for round 3 of indoor starts.
Round 1 was my first ever doing this; Still have some alive from it, lol.
The ones I already transplanted are doing okay. 4/7 made it so far.
Round 2 is looking much more promising now that I've got a better idea of the plants' water needs.
I'm hoping to start a few more 6-cells of more tomatoes, peppers and flowers; Yellow Brandywine | Sun Gold (expected) | Super Sweet 100, Hatch Green Hot | Red Bell | Green Bell California Wonder, Hatch Green Medium | Golden Greek Pepperoncini | Hungarian Hot Wax, Ancho “Poblano” | Anaheim "NuMex Joe E. Parker" | Cheyenne, Alyssum, Royal Carpet | Dwarf Pink/Rosie O’ Day | Basket of Gold
and I want to start another tobacco cell of Virginia Gold | Dark Burley | Cuban Criollo 98.
I have trays and 6 packs, but I'm thinking of using these for starts to see what happens. Just need to drill some drain holes and it's like a mini greenhouse.
My Burley tobacco seeds failed to germinate last year, but I'm going to try again. Have around 20 hot pepper plants going now (need to harvest a bunch!), and got a few super hots to add to the collection. Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Chocolate Scorpion, and a few others.
Not sure what else, because my space gets used up quickly. I have a bunch of weird/unusual plant seeds (i.e. balloon plant) I'd love to grow, but peppers and California flowers get first priority.
[ - ] Love240 1 point 1 monthMar 18, 2025 18:47:53 ago (+1/-0)
I hear ya, space is quickly becoming limited.
That egg carton should make for a neat lil' starter tray.
I've been using Dollar Tree planter pots at 12/$1.25 and cutting clear party cups to put them in; works perfectly, can fill it with ~2-4 oz. of water/nutrient and it doesn't water-log the soil and it will feed the larger plants perfectly for a day, plus it lets you see how much they're using at a glance.
My tobacco failed to germinate last round too, which is why I want to give them another shot, I just don't know if it's too late already.
I'm starting off with what we use a lot, Hatch peppers and tomatoes.
Really, I need to plant the potatoes and garlic. Use more of those than anything.
I like the weird plants but haven't tried to grow any yet, the Balloon plant flower looks beautiful.
I have many flowers that I really want to get going. I hope the Resina Calendulas make it.
[ - ] Sector2 [op] 1 point 1 monthMar 18, 2025 22:19:25 ago (+1/-0)
I have ginger growing in a 10 gallon that's doing well. If your climate is too hot and dry, I can see evaporation being a problem. I've only grown commercially in standard black plastic pots and hydroponically.
Standard pots don't work so well on unstable surfaces, and I have an area of river rocks where I'm putting some of these.
Mildew might be a potting soil issue? If you're still using the bags, a wrap of black plastic could cut the evaporation way down. I've sometimes cut plastic to lay on top of the soil in the pot, especially for indoor. The less exposed surface area, the less humidity released. Unless moisture retention is the problem. Then you might need a mix with more sand or perlite for drainage.
As for the roots growing through, it sounds moist. What you should see is "air pruning", where the tips of roots that start making it through become too dry and die back. The roots behind that get the energy instead and spread out in the interior. If you're putting them directly on soil, plastic underneath will prevent them from attaching themselves.
I've given grow bags a try and they certainly have some benefits, but I'm done with them. They absolutely do not stand up to the Georgia climate. So many have torn. They're fine for potatoes like...once then they're done for.
[ + ] Love240
[ - ] Love240 2 points 1 monthMar 18, 2025 17:32:02 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] Sector2
[ - ] Sector2 [op] 1 point 1 monthMar 18, 2025 17:43:28 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Love240
[ - ] Love240 1 point 1 monthMar 18, 2025 17:56:50 ago (+1/-0)*
Round 1 was my first ever doing this; Still have some alive from it, lol.
The ones I already transplanted are doing okay. 4/7 made it so far.
Round 2 is looking much more promising now that I've got a better idea of the plants' water needs.
I'm hoping to start a few more 6-cells of more tomatoes, peppers and flowers;
Yellow Brandywine | Sun Gold (expected) | Super Sweet 100,
Hatch Green Hot | Red Bell | Green Bell California Wonder,
Hatch Green Medium | Golden Greek Pepperoncini | Hungarian Hot Wax,
Ancho “Poblano” | Anaheim "NuMex Joe E. Parker" | Cheyenne,
Alyssum, Royal Carpet | Dwarf Pink/Rosie O’ Day | Basket of Gold
and I want to start another tobacco cell of Virginia Gold | Dark Burley | Cuban Criollo 98.
What are you starting this month?
[ + ] Sector2
[ - ] Sector2 [op] 1 point 1 monthMar 18, 2025 18:29:47 ago (+1/-0)
I have trays and 6 packs, but I'm thinking of using these for starts to see what happens. Just need to drill some drain holes and it's like a mini greenhouse.
My Burley tobacco seeds failed to germinate last year, but I'm going to try again. Have around 20 hot pepper plants going now (need to harvest a bunch!), and got a few super hots to add to the collection. Carolina Reaper, Trinidad Chocolate Scorpion, and a few others.
Not sure what else, because my space gets used up quickly. I have a bunch of weird/unusual plant seeds (i.e. balloon plant) I'd love to grow, but peppers and California flowers get first priority.
[ + ] Love240
[ - ] Love240 1 point 1 monthMar 18, 2025 18:47:53 ago (+1/-0)
That egg carton should make for a neat lil' starter tray.
I've been using Dollar Tree planter pots at 12/$1.25 and cutting clear party cups to put them in; works perfectly, can fill it with ~2-4 oz. of water/nutrient and it doesn't water-log the soil and it will feed the larger plants perfectly for a day, plus it lets you see how much they're using at a glance.
My tobacco failed to germinate last round too, which is why I want to give them another shot, I just don't know if it's too late already.
I'm starting off with what we use a lot, Hatch peppers and tomatoes.
Really, I need to plant the potatoes and garlic. Use more of those than anything.
I like the weird plants but haven't tried to grow any yet, the Balloon plant flower looks beautiful.
I have many flowers that I really want to get going. I hope the Resina Calendulas make it.
[ + ] bobdole9
[ - ] bobdole9 1 point 1 monthMar 18, 2025 20:19:43 ago (+1/-0)
Tried growing carnations in ones seemingly similar. Said "will not root through". They did.
Had mildew and moisture retention issues too. May be a concequence of Georgia humidity.
[ + ] Sector2
[ - ] Sector2 [op] 1 point 1 monthMar 18, 2025 22:19:25 ago (+1/-0)
Standard pots don't work so well on unstable surfaces, and I have an area of river rocks where I'm putting some of these.
Mildew might be a potting soil issue? If you're still using the bags, a wrap of black plastic could cut the evaporation way down. I've sometimes cut plastic to lay on top of the soil in the pot, especially for indoor. The less exposed surface area, the less humidity released. Unless moisture retention is the problem. Then you might need a mix with more sand or perlite for drainage.
As for the roots growing through, it sounds moist. What you should see is "air pruning", where the tips of roots that start making it through become too dry and die back. The roots behind that get the energy instead and spread out in the interior. If you're putting them directly on soil, plastic underneath will prevent them from attaching themselves.
[ + ] RabbiKinderschtupper
[ - ] RabbiKinderschtupper 1 point 1 monthMar 19, 2025 07:12:37 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] bobdole9
[ - ] bobdole9 0 points 1 monthMar 19, 2025 08:47:18 ago (+0/-0)
Do you use any containers? Which ones have worked the best for you?
[ + ] RabbiKinderschtupper
[ - ] RabbiKinderschtupper 0 points 1 monthMar 24, 2025 13:33:17 ago (+0/-0)
https://a.co/d/fDb3JkU
We'll see how it goes. I do have heat concerns.
[ + ] HelenHighwater
[ - ] HelenHighwater 1 point 1 monthMar 18, 2025 17:33:40 ago (+2/-1)
[ + ] Sector2
[ - ] Sector2 [op] 0 points 1 monthMar 18, 2025 22:26:14 ago (+0/-0)