beginner questions

10 years ago

As it says I am new to this and was hoping for a bit of advice with a couple questions i have got please.

1 - is peat pots any good I put seeds in a propagator in peat pots but I have my doubts if these are any good so hoping bit advice.

2 - I am currently using a slow release plant feed a long with a liquid feed they are Mircale gros fruit feed and all purpose slow feed are these ok to use?

3 - what would be best to use as a beginner a full glass greenhouse or a poly tunnel from one the diy centers maybe with.

4 - I bought a couple plant from a diy center are these ok to buy and I bought some seeds separate.

5 - when should I move my plants from propagator to a window sill and can you go from a seed tray or peat pot to a final pot 6" or do they gotta go in stages.

I know it a bit a hassle but I have been growing herbs doing ok and was wanting try these see if I have any success also can anyone recommend a good book to read during the next couple of months

Thank you in advance and sorry to ask

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

habjolokia z 6b/7
10 years ago
Kevin welcome to GW. To answer your questions, I will give my opinion as will others.

1 peat has never been good to me as a beginner, then as an avid pepper grower still has not been good and I would steer anyone away from using them.

2. Depends on the NPK and micro nutrients if any. Also the stage which the plant are at. Are you talking store bought or seedling you sprouted?

3 I will leave this question to those who have green/hoop houses

4 yes plants are ok to buy, but if they are hybrids don't count on saving seeds as they will not grow true.

5 as soon as they sprout they need a light source. I use T12 floro/shop bulbs rather than a window. I like to use three stages when transplanting 1 seedling pot, 2 solo cup, 3 final pot. But I am sure you could go to a final pot and be fine.

Depending on your zone it may be a bit too late to start from seed.

Mark
Djole
10 years ago
I use peat pots with great success, HOWEVER, peat pots i can get here are very thin (Windhager, Austrian brand), and roots can easily penetrate.
Over at the Tomato forum i had a discussion about it and from what they told me, peat pots in the US are a lot thicker and therefore a bad choice since it can lead to bound roots. Not sure what you have in the UK, just keep in mind not all peat pots are the same (some of them aren't even peat but cardboard instead).

Djole
Related Professionals
Fillmore Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Otsego Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Eagle Landscape Contractors · Forest Hills Landscape Contractors · Lemoore Landscape Contractors · Midland Landscape Contractors · North Canton Landscape Contractors · North Potomac Landscape Contractors · Raleigh Landscape Contractors · Vacaville Landscape Contractors · Vancouver Landscape Contractors · Washington Landscape Contractors · Woodland Landscape Contractors · Chicago Ridge Landscape Contractors · Shenandoah Landscape Contractors
habjolokia z 6b/7
10 years ago
If I lived in the UK I would invest in that Tunnel/hoop house. I am in Zone 7 MD where it gets hot and humid so different growing conditions. I usually have outdoor growing season May-Oct. as Djole said, the peat pots available here in the US are thick and hard for roots to penetrate and hold a lot of water that's why I don't use them.

Mark
judo_and_peppers
10 years ago
correct me if I'm wrong, but did you just say a 6" pot would be the final pot? I switched out of 6" pots while they were still seedlings. there's no way in hell I'd use a 6" as a final pot. my 12" pots are still way too small.
margowicz
10 years ago
what is the size you need

This post was edited by margowicz on Sun, Jun 16, 13 at 7:57
tsheets
10 years ago
Most people use 3-5 gallon containers.
woohooman San Diego CA zone 10a
10 years ago
I say nothing less than 5 gal, preferably 8-10.

JMO.

Kevin