I use Mircale Grow potting soil and it works great for sowing seeds.

However, I was rewarded by the fastest, most complete germination that I've ever had!

What percent germinated in what time? 70% of mine germinated in 5-6 days, 10% more within a week afterwards. These percentages were fairly consistent with 6 tomato varieties. I planted in a mixture of 2/3 peat moss and 1/3 parboiled rice hulls (PBH) from Riceland.

I didn't count, and my seed was of varying age. I planted Kotlas, Stupice, Husky Cherry Red, Early Wonder, Basket King, and Sweet Baby Girl. I had some of the seeds (Stupice) and Basket King for three years.

I am used to the fastest germinators being a week and most by 10-12 days using Jiffy Mix. (No bottom heat with night time temps around 66 and daytime under lights at apx. 80.) In addition, my "new" eggplant seed germinated starting in a week, and I'm used to ten days up to two weeks for egg plants.

Unless someone posts a more plausible explanation, I'm going to assume that the plants don't have to "work" so hard putting their roots through the porous media as opposed to the relatively firm media of J.M. If that is true then most finely divided, porous media should do well. I have more plants to start, so seems like a good experiment in the making.

I've never heard of using rice hulls -- do you live close to a Riceland processing plant? Doing a little search, I see that they are sold on eBay. What is the difference in horticultural use between milled and un-milled?
-WC2K8