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coolbythecoast

Fertilizer in seed trays

18 years ago

I have been having excellent success in starting tomato seeds in standard 72 cell starting trays with clear covers under florescent lamps.

I make a mix of approximately 70% peat/30% perlite so it is fairly sterile though rather void of nutrients. Sprouting is near 100% and I rarely have any damping off.

But at some point plants need nutrition. The warming mat I use when weather is cold came with a teabag of worm poop. The tea didn't seem tasty so I fed it to my tomatoes.

Comes the question: When to add fertilizer and how much?

Would it be bad to add say a tablespoon of worm poop directly to the mix when it is first prepared?

If that is too soon and might burn the emerging seedling roots, should I use worm poop tea, how strong and when?

What about minerals? I read at least one post that indicated that anemic, purple sprouts really benefited from a little dilute Ironite liquid.

I have noted that my sprouts transplant best when I allow them to have significant root systems, but by that time they are light green with purple veins, just begging for fertilizer.

Recommendations?

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