tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post2736011227777199259..comments2023-05-03T05:50:58.630-04:00Comments on PLEASE NOTE: MY BLOG HAS MOVED TO WWW.WILLIAMKRUIDENIER.COM AS OF FEBRUARY, 2014. SEE YOU THERE!: Growing ThingsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-49038055688607283962010-06-03T08:49:50.165-04:002010-06-03T08:49:50.165-04:00Jen,
Starting mix: Right now I'm using a mix ...Jen,<br /><br />Starting mix: Right now I'm using a mix of organic potting soil, some "rougher" potting soil I've had for a while and am using up, and peat moss. I buy organic potting soil (excellent) from 7 Springs in 40# bags. I mix 80 percent potting soil and 20 percent peat moss, and even a little sand.<br /><br />Fertilizer: If I was starting seeds for transplants, I wouldn't worry too much about building fertilizer into the potting mix since I'd be transplanting the starts out of the trays. But since I'm going to leave the lettuce in the trays for permanent growing I mixed up a fertilizer mix of all the usual products: kelp, alfalfa, azomite, greensand, rock phosphate, calcium, etc. I then mixed a "scoop" of this into a five gallon bucket of the potting soil and mix it well, then put the whole mix into the trays. (I don't have accurate measurements on any of this -- sort of touchy-feely.)<br /><br />Trays: The black trays I'm using are wheatgrass trays. They're available lots of places online, but I think I bought mine here: http://tinyurl.com/25lhuol<br />The important thing to know about these trays is to use them in sets of two. They are sold with drain holes and without, so you have to buy a pack of five (about $8-9) of both kinds. You put the potting soil mix into the tray with holes, then set that tray into a tray without holes. That lets the top tray drain into the bottom tray.<br /><br />That's the setup I've used for years with wheatgrass and was what I had on hand so decided to use it for the lettuce.<br /><br />Hope that helps!William Kruidenierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876781186110498994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-12093361999854840522010-06-03T06:54:38.946-04:002010-06-03T06:54:38.946-04:00what kind of seed starting mix do you use? Do you ...what kind of seed starting mix do you use? Do you mix it yourself or buy it in bags? Where did you get the trays?Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10458727145514193538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-18476566929062555362010-06-02T10:09:08.097-04:002010-06-02T10:09:08.097-04:00My goal in using the trays is (ultimately) to grow...My goal in using the trays is (ultimately) to grow greens indoors during the winter -- or year 'round out of the trays instead of transplanting outdoors.<br /><br />I've been noodling on an idea for using that large metal rolling shelf system -- six shelves on wheels, four trays per shelf = 24 trays of salad/other greens. Since it's on wheels I could keep it in the garage at night, roll it outside to sit in the sun during the day, and roll it back into the garage at night for protection from the freezing nights. <br /><br />Even if I don't do that, growing the trays indoors would be a nice way to keep salad greens coming during the winter -- or anytime. There are so may unique Asian/other greens that I see in catalogs that I'd love to grow for salads, so having lots of small trays of a variety would be nice. 'Course, the mesclun mix packs accomplish that goal as well.<br /><br />I used sand to cover the seeds because the soil in the trays is pretty "rough" -- chunks of wood fiber, etc. -- didn't want tiny lettuce seeds to get "stuck" under something. The sand is much easier to break through. Since I'm misting to keep it moist a couple of times a day, no danger of it drying out. The seeds in the first tray germinated well within a couple days; we'll see how the second tray does.William Kruidenierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07876781186110498994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-364400881495627497.post-13237712180567985872010-06-02T09:56:02.306-04:002010-06-02T09:56:02.306-04:00So, are you going to harvest the lettuce from the ...So, are you going to harvest the lettuce from the trays or will you transplant? I love seeing that wheat grass growing again. I like the idea of using sand to cover the lettuce seeds instead of soil. What led you to do that? Does it prevent damp-off? Is it easier for seeds to germinate through? It can't hold moisture as well...<br />Looks great,<br />DanielDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03595041171266234580noreply@blogger.com