Harry,

For just starting in small cells, you can just mix peat moss and perlite (70/30). That would be the simplest way to go. I would pre soak it with 1/3 strength water soluble/liquid fertilizer solution And when the seedlings have 3 or more true leaves then repot them.

When it come to potting, use any commercial potting mix.

BTW: I make my own mix , with the following:

==== Pine bark fine (5)

==== Perlite (1)

==== Floor Dry , DE (2)

Here is a sample

Another option is to buy a small bag of seed starting mix. It is jut basically peat moss (~80% ?) with some perlite and vermiculite , plus some nutrients.

Sey

Straight peat. It works for me here but YMMV. You can start seeds in anything, but in hindsight it seems to me that a good rule is the simpler the better. Don't use dirt and keep the nutrition weak (if any); plants need it, not seeds.

2/3 peat moss

1/3 parboiled rice hulls (PBH)

PBH is a source of soluble silicate that improves the growth of some plants, although, to my knowledge, not tomato. PBH visibly degrades at approximately the same rate as peat moss. And, if you can avoid shipping costs, PBH is less expensive than peat moss or perlite.

I just buy a bag of jiffy, or whatever plain 'organic' is available at the local big box store. When I used do a lot of indoor gardening, I used to mix my own. Now it's just easier to have 1 bag of seed starter, and 1 bag of transplant mix. I always have a little left over from the year before, and almost always have to go back to get another bag, but I get tired of the clutter from having a bunch of bags around.

It's probably 'better' to mix your own, but meh, it's just temporary. Mine go outside into the ground. Any boost from a FANTASTIC head start isn't a big enough difference from a good head start. If I was growing in containers, I would probably still mix my own of both.

I just buy a good container mix for the potted tomatoes that I grow on the deck. (Pro Mix with ferts is one that does well for me). I usually have enough left over that I can start my seeds in that in the spring. No point in buying "special" seed starting mix when it's only the regular stuff - sifted!

Linda

Whatever seed starting mix is available in whatever store I'm shopping at. I use to buy the organic mix but it can have big chunks of wood and those seedlings are really tiny. Looks to me as if they can't sprout very well when there is a big chunk of wood in the way. I guess I could sift it a little but that is too much trouble and the organic brands are pricey... I will say that from now on I will be very careful to seal the bag tightly after I use a seed starting mix. Last year, there was a lag time of a couple of weeks or so between uses of my mix and I had left the bag open and outside. My tomatoes sprouted fine but, weeks later, when I tried to start my melon seeds, only one of the 12 sprouted and that one was sickly and soon died. I had to seed the melons in place in my garden and that isn't the best way to do it in my climate. I didn't get very good melons....

I have used plain old potting mix with decent results for tomatoes. Though for the sake of being simple I tend to use straight coir most. It tends to be more user friendly for me anyway. It is all I will use for starting peppers. They are picky in the first couple of weeks after they sprout. Tomatoes provided one does not leave them soaked in standing water tend to do well in most any medium one can get them to sprout in.

Seeds can be germinated even in air, zip bag, coffee filer, in glass jar ... Seeds have the needed nutrients for the embryo to grow the initial roots and leaves. The best example is chicken egg. The embryo has all the nutrient it needs to grow and hatch. Once the chick comes out then it needs food. Same applies to tomato seed/seedling.

The medium's role is to maintain a moisture level in the germination stage and hold nutrient once seedling has used up the nutrients in the seed. So it is better for the medium (starting mix) to have some nutrients. And that is why all the starting mixes come already with some nutrient. JMO

Sey

My usual garden supply centers did not yet have anything. I tried K Mart. They had Greenworld Seed Starter and Herb Soil. Described as a mixture of sphagnum peat moss and bark fines. It has slow release fertilizer derived from composted turkey litter and hydrolyzed feather meal. Pretty expensive at $6.99 for 8 quarts.

Thanks for your help.

Harry

Harry, keep in mind that if you go with 'seed starter', very little is needed per seed. I use 72-space 'plug trays' and I can fill about 3 or 4 flats with a small bag.

Even if it was only 3 flats, if my math is correct, that's 3 1/2 cents per plug. Not too bad.

Keep in mind though, that 'seed starter' is different from the 'growing medium' into which those plugs would be transplanted. That's an entirely different cost factor.