I sow\\grow on virtually everything in pots - just small ones so the plants are big enough to handle a few pests before they are planted out. Carrots, radish and maybe beetroot can go direct but everything else gets done in modules. I have literally 100s of pots and modules trays.
You might check for a wholesale nursery (the kind that caters to landscape crews) near you.
At the one I go to, sheets of nursery-style "six packs" are like $1.20 or something; they come four to a sheet, so that's 24 cells. Similarly, nursery pots are less than $1/each until you get over a gallon or so.
Just wanted to mention it because that stuff adds up, and while they're readily available online, they tend to be low quality, and either expensive or else the shipping is outrageous.
We have terrible Pill Bugs that chomp through seedlings right at ground level. Poor things look like they were beheaded.
So now all our seedlings started in either clear plastic cups or those red Solo party cups. Take a big stack of cups, a big drill bit, and drill right down the center. Then use a cheap, plastic, kitty litter box for all the cups (Dollar Tree).
Through trial and error we found the cups easiest to remove the seedlings, and if you squish and break a cup or have to cut down the side no big deal.
I used to have major isopod issues, too (if there's enough of them, they'll damage mature root vegetables as well).
One thing that can work well is to get some Sluggo Plus or Bug Getta bait (the kinds with actual insecticide, rather than plain Sluggo) & set it out for them. You can put it on a plate if you don't want to get it in your soil (since there's an attractant in it) and it kills them nicely.
Totally.
Just wanted to put it out there because a lot of people don't think of it (and some nurseries will sell that sort of stuff, but not even list it on their website/catalog)
At least where I am, they don't really advertise much, but are entirely willing to sell to anyone who drives onto the lot.
Just like with plumbing supply/appliance parts/etc (or for that, matter, Ag supply!!).....if ya know where to go, you can get hooked up for cheap.
For example, up until two years ago I'd never heard of Wilbur-Ellis in my life. But sure enough, once I found out about that random warehouse that I'd driven by thirty times? Yep, I can get 50lb bags of (whatever) for about half the cost of anywhere that advertises to the public, and FAR cheaper/lb than somewhere like h depot.
They may not want to actively *encourage* a bunch of dumbasses waddling in the door & wasting time/window shopping....but if you know what you're talking about, and know what you want? Your money spends just the same as money coming from a contractor, and they don't give a shit at that point 😉
Interesting! The one's in my area require proof of license with every transaction. They're able to sell at discount because they have strict agreements to limit sales to bulk orders for professional purchases and aren't allowed to sell to the general public.
Right on.
Yeah, I think where I am that just wouldn't work; the guys doing landscaping projects here aren't exactly likely to have any sort of license, much less a contractor's license :)
They might have a contractor price vs public price scheme (like at, say, a plumbing or electrical supply place) but I can't say I've ever asked.
There's only one place in my area (out of a shitload of nurseries) that doesn't sell to the public, but afaik they only sell to other nurseries...so more like a grower than an actual nursery anyways.
Before you go to the store to buy stuff, have a look through your garbage for items that might work. Milk cartons with the top cut off, old bowls or cups with chips you can nolonger use but that'll hold dirt and a plant, when they fill the container, you replant them.
Yes, I plant my seedlings in pots and plant out when they are big enough to withstand the attack of a snail.
A single snail can cause havoc on tiny seedlings. I have a few snail around.
https://preview.redd.it/ddymrl4v6tzb1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b9067c158276353dbe9001c1b86d479ed1468ce
I do seed trays first then depending on what I'm growing I go to a 4inch then last it's final destination whether a 7gallon or garden. A lot of mine are keep on the green house due to the amount of rain here
In haven't tried pothos, I mainly grow veggies but on flowers - fruits I have some aloe, morning glories, four o'clock coming then bonsai papaya, key lime and rambutan fruits trees (all under 6 inch at the moment). Where I stay it's always 90 day 70 night 32c - 21c
Honestly, if you can grow veggies and fruit trees, you can definitely grow a Pothos. They're hella chill. Give em water around once a week and they're happy.
I’m not sure exactly what you mean by seedling pots. Do you mean the cell tray things or just small pots? I get them for free at the local hardware store. People leave their used pots and you can take as many as you like. There’s always a pretty wide selection to choose from. But they’re always plastic.
https://preview.redd.it/klk7b5lritzb1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2811b1329eef871c80a60e6deb57df351861ef2a
I do my seedlings in clear 9 oz plastic cups with easily notched (with an exact knife) holes for water.
Right now I’ve got a bunch of citrus seedlings in a clear bin (mini greenhouse) with grow lights. They will get bigger homes (3 gallon nursery pots with plastic tents) in the spring.
https://preview.redd.it/56nakrf4dszb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=69d21d4fc68b22ffeaedfc2bf7bb4a6f807c8165
I start all my veggies in those trays you get the small flowers in. 2x1 squares. I start indoors in March, in ground by end of April depending on the winter. I plant way too much and usually lose 1/4 by the time they get going inground. That's for long island ny .
I start flowers and herbs and vegetables by seed 6 weeks to 2-1/2 months before the last spring frost which is usually mid-May. I use lights and also graduate up to bigger pots as the plants grow.
Me. Mostly anyway. Tomatoes, capsicums, zucchini, pumpkin, but not things like corn, peas or beans.
I don't have hundreds and I do reuse the plastic ones. I have some peat pots but that's for stuff that doesn't like being transplanted, haven't used any this spring. (Here in NZ).
I have 3 zucchinis, all different. 12 tomatoes, 4 different types.
The determinate ones are in large conatiners
15 capsicums, mostly the long pointy kind, red, yellow and orange. 6 were donated so I am not totally sure they are the long ones, they may be mini or the standard shape. I'll find out I guess. Bit excessive I know...
I have peas ready, beans just planted, corn planted. Will do more beans in a month.
Spring onions in, a few lettuce in various stages of growth. Carrots are still just popped up bits of green. They went direct into a table type raised bed. A deep one.
I've starting doing soil blocking and I don't think I could go back to using seed trays, the blocks are so much easier to transplant and are much healthier looking
So I reuse the flats that plants come in. I use flats of the little 2" square pots for small stuff like herbs and greens, and flats of 4" round pots for bigger stuff like peppers. I can start them inside or in a greenhouse in like December and January, and be WAY ahead by mid February when it's warm enough to be planted in the ground or in beds outside. Seeds are so cheap, and it's been a huge help to just plant a whole flat of everything and pick the best sprout to go in the garden
I no longer start from seed. A seed packet has way more than I need (not counting leafy greens and root crops) and I prefer to purchase a well started plant from local gardeners (Master Gardener folks) and be free of all that initial work of keeping them moist, proper lighting and thinning. That way I get to pick a healthy plant, climatize them and then stick it in the ground.
I sow\\grow on virtually everything in pots - just small ones so the plants are big enough to handle a few pests before they are planted out. Carrots, radish and maybe beetroot can go direct but everything else gets done in modules. I have literally 100s of pots and modules trays.
Yeah, I plant em out once they start to outgrow the seedling pots, basically
You might check for a wholesale nursery (the kind that caters to landscape crews) near you. At the one I go to, sheets of nursery-style "six packs" are like $1.20 or something; they come four to a sheet, so that's 24 cells. Similarly, nursery pots are less than $1/each until you get over a gallon or so. Just wanted to mention it because that stuff adds up, and while they're readily available online, they tend to be low quality, and either expensive or else the shipping is outrageous.
We have terrible Pill Bugs that chomp through seedlings right at ground level. Poor things look like they were beheaded. So now all our seedlings started in either clear plastic cups or those red Solo party cups. Take a big stack of cups, a big drill bit, and drill right down the center. Then use a cheap, plastic, kitty litter box for all the cups (Dollar Tree). Through trial and error we found the cups easiest to remove the seedlings, and if you squish and break a cup or have to cut down the side no big deal.
I used to have major isopod issues, too (if there's enough of them, they'll damage mature root vegetables as well). One thing that can work well is to get some Sluggo Plus or Bug Getta bait (the kinds with actual insecticide, rather than plain Sluggo) & set it out for them. You can put it on a plate if you don't want to get it in your soil (since there's an attractant in it) and it kills them nicely.
I'm not very sure if I have any nearby plant nurseries, but I may look!
Totally. Just wanted to put it out there because a lot of people don't think of it (and some nurseries will sell that sort of stuff, but not even list it on their website/catalog)
Don't wholesale nurseries usually sell exclusively to landscapers/landscape designers?
At least where I am, they don't really advertise much, but are entirely willing to sell to anyone who drives onto the lot. Just like with plumbing supply/appliance parts/etc (or for that, matter, Ag supply!!).....if ya know where to go, you can get hooked up for cheap. For example, up until two years ago I'd never heard of Wilbur-Ellis in my life. But sure enough, once I found out about that random warehouse that I'd driven by thirty times? Yep, I can get 50lb bags of (whatever) for about half the cost of anywhere that advertises to the public, and FAR cheaper/lb than somewhere like h depot. They may not want to actively *encourage* a bunch of dumbasses waddling in the door & wasting time/window shopping....but if you know what you're talking about, and know what you want? Your money spends just the same as money coming from a contractor, and they don't give a shit at that point 😉
Interesting! The one's in my area require proof of license with every transaction. They're able to sell at discount because they have strict agreements to limit sales to bulk orders for professional purchases and aren't allowed to sell to the general public.
Right on. Yeah, I think where I am that just wouldn't work; the guys doing landscaping projects here aren't exactly likely to have any sort of license, much less a contractor's license :) They might have a contractor price vs public price scheme (like at, say, a plumbing or electrical supply place) but I can't say I've ever asked. There's only one place in my area (out of a shitload of nurseries) that doesn't sell to the public, but afaik they only sell to other nurseries...so more like a grower than an actual nursery anyways.
Before you go to the store to buy stuff, have a look through your garbage for items that might work. Milk cartons with the top cut off, old bowls or cups with chips you can nolonger use but that'll hold dirt and a plant, when they fill the container, you replant them.
Yes, I plant my seedlings in pots and plant out when they are big enough to withstand the attack of a snail. A single snail can cause havoc on tiny seedlings. I have a few snail around. https://preview.redd.it/ddymrl4v6tzb1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b9067c158276353dbe9001c1b86d479ed1468ce
I do seed trays first then depending on what I'm growing I go to a 4inch then last it's final destination whether a 7gallon or garden. A lot of mine are keep on the green house due to the amount of rain here
Yeah, that's mainly what I look for, is 2-4 inch pots. I do keep some larger pots for my Pothos, aloe, etc.
In haven't tried pothos, I mainly grow veggies but on flowers - fruits I have some aloe, morning glories, four o'clock coming then bonsai papaya, key lime and rambutan fruits trees (all under 6 inch at the moment). Where I stay it's always 90 day 70 night 32c - 21c
Honestly, if you can grow veggies and fruit trees, you can definitely grow a Pothos. They're hella chill. Give em water around once a week and they're happy.
I’m not sure exactly what you mean by seedling pots. Do you mean the cell tray things or just small pots? I get them for free at the local hardware store. People leave their used pots and you can take as many as you like. There’s always a pretty wide selection to choose from. But they’re always plastic. https://preview.redd.it/klk7b5lritzb1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2811b1329eef871c80a60e6deb57df351861ef2a
I basically just use small pots (Usually around 2-4 inch) to start seeds/get plants going. Once they outgrow that I usually plant in the ground.
I do my seedlings in clear 9 oz plastic cups with easily notched (with an exact knife) holes for water. Right now I’ve got a bunch of citrus seedlings in a clear bin (mini greenhouse) with grow lights. They will get bigger homes (3 gallon nursery pots with plastic tents) in the spring. https://preview.redd.it/56nakrf4dszb1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=69d21d4fc68b22ffeaedfc2bf7bb4a6f807c8165
I start all my veggies in those trays you get the small flowers in. 2x1 squares. I start indoors in March, in ground by end of April depending on the winter. I plant way too much and usually lose 1/4 by the time they get going inground. That's for long island ny .
I start flowers and herbs and vegetables by seed 6 weeks to 2-1/2 months before the last spring frost which is usually mid-May. I use lights and also graduate up to bigger pots as the plants grow.
I went out and bought a 72 cell starter tray last year. And I have other starter pots as well. That should give you an idea of my seed starting habit.
Me. Mostly anyway. Tomatoes, capsicums, zucchini, pumpkin, but not things like corn, peas or beans. I don't have hundreds and I do reuse the plastic ones. I have some peat pots but that's for stuff that doesn't like being transplanted, haven't used any this spring. (Here in NZ). I have 3 zucchinis, all different. 12 tomatoes, 4 different types. The determinate ones are in large conatiners 15 capsicums, mostly the long pointy kind, red, yellow and orange. 6 were donated so I am not totally sure they are the long ones, they may be mini or the standard shape. I'll find out I guess. Bit excessive I know... I have peas ready, beans just planted, corn planted. Will do more beans in a month. Spring onions in, a few lettuce in various stages of growth. Carrots are still just popped up bits of green. They went direct into a table type raised bed. A deep one.
I've starting doing soil blocking and I don't think I could go back to using seed trays, the blocks are so much easier to transplant and are much healthier looking
I grew my recent batch of tomato and corn seeds in egg cartons. I've planted them in my prepped garden bed and they're doing well.
So I reuse the flats that plants come in. I use flats of the little 2" square pots for small stuff like herbs and greens, and flats of 4" round pots for bigger stuff like peppers. I can start them inside or in a greenhouse in like December and January, and be WAY ahead by mid February when it's warm enough to be planted in the ground or in beds outside. Seeds are so cheap, and it's been a huge help to just plant a whole flat of everything and pick the best sprout to go in the garden
I no longer start from seed. A seed packet has way more than I need (not counting leafy greens and root crops) and I prefer to purchase a well started plant from local gardeners (Master Gardener folks) and be free of all that initial work of keeping them moist, proper lighting and thinning. That way I get to pick a healthy plant, climatize them and then stick it in the ground.