I use miracle grow (which has fertilizer in it) and have never had a problem. A lot of people swear by Promix (I can't find any near me). Those are the two most common types used. As long as it is a decent potting mix that won't turn into a chunk of cement it should be okay.

I'm not sure why people told you not to use with fertilizer. I use with fertilizer, altho I prefer not, as you say it is hard to find without.

In any event, once the sprouts emerge, they do need some fertilizing unless they are going immediately into the ground.

I can't find promix either.
I bought something called "Sta-green" at my box garden store, cuz it was the only thing they had besides M-G.
I do not recommend Sta-green - it has large pieces of wood in it. well not that large, but it is not very "clean".

The only good thing I can say about it is - it is not Miracle Gro which is owned by Scotts which is owned by Monsanto - Monsanto is the company trying and close to succeeding in taking over the seed supply of the entire world, so I do not support them!

If you do a search, there are quite a few threads on this forum about "soil". There are some others that people like, but I do not recall.

Just do not use Hydropex, which turns into cement.

ellen

I've been using miracle grow potting mix (not the one with moisture control) for 7 years to WS and wouldn't use anything else.

I have near 100% germination every year with it.

I have problems purchasing promix also and from what I understand, you need to mix it with water before you can use it.

Miracle grow is ready to use out of the bag, put in the containers, wet the soil, sow the seeds and done.

I can't imagine why you where told not to use anything with fertilizer either, unless what was meant was not to use anything that says "weed free". that would be a problem because the soil would have ingredients in it that could or would prevent seeds from germinating.

What you don't want to use is just plain on cheapest top soil or Hyponex. Both will turn into nothing but adobe bricks with little to no see germination, heavy on the no germination.

Ellen, Scotts is not owned by Monsanto. That has been a misnomer for many years.

In fact, Scotts purchased "Monsanto Co.'s Solaris division's lawn and garden products business. and marketing rights for US and European markets of Monsanto's residential-use Roundup herbicide. Solaris, which has annual revenues of over $200 million with its Ortho brand of pesticides, Weed-B-Gon and Rose Pride, has manufacturing facilities in Fort Madison, WI and Corwen, England. Monsanto, which has recently been acquired by American Homes Products Corp., will continue to produce the compounds for Roundup and sell it to agricultural markets."

Here is a link that might be useful: Scott purchase of part of Monsanto

Thank you guys so much. I am so impressed with the intelligent information I am getting from this forum as well as your willingness to share with everyone. Now I know I am really going to do things right--and it looks like I had better get a move on as I feel it in my bones that spring is getting close! Mary

This year I have been using Scott's Premium Potting Soil; daughter picked some up for me at HD, wanted MG. Lot cheaper but a lot heavier. It doesn't have much junk in it but some, last MG I was always picking out twigs. So I got a bunch of that again.

But because it looks heavy, I've been mixing some seed starter which appears to be basically peat, perlite and something else I don't know, very light when dry. That's more work. So MG probably is better.

You couldn't pay me to use that Hydroponex or whatever it is from Walmart because it's so compressed, probably have to add lots of water. Pro Mix is probably expensive, don't know if there's any around here, haven't looked.

One thread somebody posted a bag of dirt lol. Also some use compost, put in a 5 gal bucket and pour hot water on it to kill weed seeds.

So I'll see what I get with mine and may go back to MG or something else. I'm going through so much now and still large planters to fill I have to go cheaper. My last was $3.77 a bag; MG was about $8 or a little more. HD is closest for me.

The Pro Mix probably is finer and breaks apart better may have an inhibitor for fungal problems. I suppose you could order it online and pay for shipping. You'd save on sales tax usually, depending. The bottom line is that we work so hard to get our seeds together, some pretty pricey for no more than you get, so you want the best shot possible or it's all a waste of a lot of time and effort if only a few or none germinate. I expect to get some failures no matter what I use or what sowing method I use.

Sometimes the seeds aren't any good.

Just so you know, the Scotts rep came to the store last week. Their "Moisture Control" uses coir rather than those water holding crystals. Lots of potting mixes use coir these days. It's a better alternative to peat, and it holds water while releasing it back into the roots that grow into it as it's needed. The soil itself has to dry out for the moisture crystals to release the water they hold. Just thought you might want to know.