Jiffy seed starter has worked well for me over the years, it's usually

available at Lowes or home depo near their seed racks.

I like Miracle Gro SEED starting, not the potting soil. I get it at Home Depot.

I question why we really need all of the specialized seed starting supplies they market but I'm sure gardengal or someone will point out how wrong I am while basically not answering the question.

I just get a large bag of ProMix soil like ...

ProMix Organic Pro Seed Starting Mix

the regular organic bag is not much different if that is all they have.

People do like the Jiffy soil, and I bought a bag of Burpee coir based seed starter last year from a big box store but seedlings need repotted quicker.

Go to your local independent nursery and chat with the people there. That said, I tend to use Miracle-Gro or Coast of Maine. You can add some dilute fertilizer to potting soil.

When Jiffy Seed Starter Mix is sold out then Miracle Grow seed starter is a good 2nd choice.

I won't use Miracle Gro, and a trip to Lowes is an hour. And there are no qualilty nurseries at all anywhere around here, which is one of the reasons I start my own plants. I didn't know Coast of Maine had a seed starting mix and I will see if I can order it through a local independent hardware store. I know C of M is a quality product.

Sterile is the reason for the seed starting mix. I usually put regular potting mix at the bottom and the seed starting mix on top The seed sprouts in the sterile mix as it grows, the roots reach down into the potting mix that has fertilizer.

Not sure how many claim to be actually sterile on the bag, beyond a vague idea. Some "premium" brands claim to have beneficial bacteria and fungi, which should not be sterile. So, what is best? I want to avoid Miracle grow type products. I think the seed starting kits with the Jiffy pellets, plastic covers, and biodegradable peat pots that take too long time to degrade are not worth the time and money, but there are many different ways to grow.

I've been using Pro-Mix potting mix for several years, with great results.

PRO-MIX potting mix

Lacey, I am sorry your Miracle Gro is not good. Mine here has always been fine. The only one I did not like was the one with the water retaining in it. That might be fine in a desert, but here the plants drowned!

Sherry, as an organic gardener, I never use Miracle Gro products. My local hardware store just ordered Coast of Maine seed starter mix, so I guess I'm set.

Really feeling the loss of the old Gardener's Supply. They've been my go to for many products for many years.

I never use chemical pesticides, but have no problem with any fertilizer. Besides MG make an organic line. There are no pesticeds or fertilizer in the MG seedinarting mix.

Funny you posted this, I was just looking at Gardeners Supply website to see what they have for potting soil. I had no idea they got bought out; they were an employee-owned company, and I've gotten some good products from them over the years. Not saying I won't order from them again -- just saying it strikes me as sad.

I'm not as pleased anymore with the potting mix I've gotten at the local nursery for as long as I can remember. I tried the ProMix potting mix but end up with grasshoppers in the house (I made a thread on it...); I used up the rest outside. I'd like to try Vermont Compost but the shipping is cost prohibitive.

I did see that the Gardeners Supply has the seed starting mix in stock: Seed Starting Mix with Mycorrhizae | Gardener's Supply

I'll have to look into Coast of Maine.

There's Ferti-Lome that I can get locally -- anyone know anything about that?

I've used Jiffy seed starting mix, it does work well, but really I'm more in need of a good potting mix. I use Jiffy pots or the potting mix for seed starting for the most part.

^^ That's too bad, reliable companies are like old friends in a way, you know you always rely on them and in some ways it feels like a bit of a personal loss, doesn't it?

I'm going to be switching everything over to raised beds in the next year or two (still planning, and DH is going to DIY once he retires), and I hope they still carry those corner connectors when the time comes for him to start building. I used those for something at my other house, is an excellent product. I was also interested in some of their crop cages, since I'm still not sure what I'm going to do with my blueberry bushes once the current fenced-in vegetable plot is completely dismantled. (I'm sure the critters would much enjoy a blueberry buffet...)

This cart is from Gardeners Supply; I saw it in the catalog and it was the perfect height and narrow size for this spot under my bay, love it because I can see the flowers out the window:

They really do (did?) have some good stuff; I hope it stays that way.

ETA: I see A*n has Coast of Maine. It's listed at ACE hardware, but IDK if the locations by me have their stuff out yet, I can look next time I drive by there.

Nice cart, porkchop.

@porkchop_z5b_MI I have a deal for you, Simpson Strong-tie. You will find them at any lumber yard or hardware store but few carry the full line. Go to SST website to get part # so retailer knows which you are looking for when you call them.

Hey thanks, klem. I went to the S.S.T. website -- wow all kinds of connectors and associated doo-dads. They've got some nice decorative pieces, straps and such. This lead might come in quite handy when DH eventually gets to work on the project :0)

I like Miracle Grow. It hydrates well unlike some fluffy mixes.

I picked up a bag of Jiffy Mix at the big box, it always works well and isn't too expensive. I've got some cuttings to start this weekend, and it's ready to go when it's time to start the seeds. I like the Jiffy pellets for some things.

I can order the Coast of Maine and have it delivered free to the local ACE, I just haven't done that yet; the need for potting soil for transplanting seedlings isn't here yet.

ETA: I went ahead and ordered the Coast of Maine. I'm looking forward to trying it. I got the Bar Harbor mix. The 2 cu ft price was on par with what I usually get at the local nursery; if I don't like it for the seedlings I'll use it up outside, so it won't go to waste.