Seed starting hack for hugelkulture

This has been a very unusual year for us weather wise. Way more rain, and we need every drop. The temperature has been way lower for longer than I ever remember. In March we had a temp that was lower than it's ever been since they started recording the temperature.  So I would say we are 6 maybe even 8 weeks behind "normal".  This has made me quite impatient.  It also had me starting things in doors that I would normally direct sow.  
The other day I planted melons, cucumber and squash.  I started it inside not very long ago. I didn't harden them off properly and as you can guess a lot of them died.  Silver lining is knowing these seedlings don't like to be transplanted I started some of them in the peat disks things.  A couple of them must have had unsprouted seeds, because a few new seedlings have emerged. I just had one of those aha moments.  I don't normally use peat anymore, and never thought much of those peat disks, which is why I have a bunch of them.  I think they are a great thing to use to start seeds in a hugel. The seed will stay in the place I put it, and be lass likely to get washed down the hill.  
I'm going to soak some replacement seeds, soak the disks and put them in my hugelkulture.  I think it will increase the success of starting seeds in my hugelkulture.

Jen Fulkerson wrote:This has been a very unusual year for us weather wise. Way more rain, and we need every drop. The temperature has been way lower for longer than I ever remember. In March we had a temp that was lower than it's ever been since they started recording the temperature.  So I would say we are 6 maybe even 8 weeks behind "normal".  This has made me quite impatient.  It also had me starting things in doors that I would normally direct sow.  ...
I'm going to soak some replacement seeds, soak the disks and put them in my hugelkulture.  I think it will increase the success of starting seeds in my hugelkulture.

It's been down into the low 20s at night here in my part of New Mexico.  I always start seeds too early and so this year I waited and I'm glad!  I like your idea of using peat pots and I have some around here somewhere that I could use.  I've got a hugelkulture mound I can use, too.  I think I'll give your method a try!

Jen Fulkerson wrote:.

Hello....
If I may butt- in, perhaps you might like to watch this video? It's short (just a bit over 5 minutes). It talks about those peat disks.
I've found to be true! I am not a scientist but....just for the heck of it, I tried two methods:
#1. Planting whole seedling with the netting into the raised bed (tomatoes, squash, zucchini, Korean melon, cucumbers etc)
#2. Planting with removed netting .

The outcome at the end of growing season:

#1. Grew tall and lanky, not much "fruit"
#2. Grew a little better but still, had restricted root growth and not much of a "strong stalks" if I can describe it this way, more fruits on tomatoes but all else did a little better (growing season is short in my area) .

Once removed 2 years ago, the seedlings I planted seeds free peatmoss, in pots, did very well, and I got good harvest.
Last year, not so, but that was due to different matter (finally had a poplar tree removed few days ago which sapped all  the goodness out of my raised beds goodness with its roots)



I am NOT promoting any videos. It's just that I have few favorites that I like to share and I am NOT getting anything for it. Just wanting to make sure that it's understood . Also, some people are  better explaining things then me :-)

Temperatures and weather are weird here too (Northeastern Ontario. Canada, zone 3 to 4, depending which side of the house I'm trying to grow some herbs/fruits/ vegetables).
This Spring, I have been growing tomato seedlings and have to wait until the very end of May to plant them out because we still get frost until then. However, these seedlings are the best ever! I mixed worm castings in with peat moss growing medium only, which I was king of skeptical about (photo included).
I am hardening them off little at a time every day and.... hope for the best  this season :-)
Good luck to you :-)

Ela La Salle wrote:This Spring, I have been growing tomato seedlings and have to wait until the very end of May to plant them out because we still get frost until then. However, these seedlings are the best ever! I mixed worm castings in with peat moss growing medium only, which I was king of skeptical about

I tried starting seeds in toilet paper cardboard cores, but not a one of them sprouted. I have to wonder if there's something in the cardboard that inhibited them.  
I don't want to mess with peeling off those nets, but I could see from your video that indeed, lateral root growth was non-existent, which surprised me.  What about cutting holes in the mesh once they've been soaked and expanded?
I've also noticed that the mesh doesn't decompose and that's a bummer.  There's enough plastic polluting the planet.  I wonder about peat pots instead.  I suppose your conclusion, to just start the seeds in larger pots so the plants can grow larger, is the best idea.

Lif Strand

I don't bother with toilet paper cardboard cores (I tried those too) because from what I observed, they tend to unroll when damp, and then again, too small for roots (unless one wants to repot, and repot again, the seedlings. I don't), AND, who knows what some of the manufactures use as a glue? The glue could inhibit seed sprouting. I'm not one for supporting some conspiracy theories but, I've tried so many different ways just to see for myself. Eggshells are a no-no for me too (too shallow, need repotting, meaning more work).
So are the DIY pots made from newspapers (non toxic ink). I tried those too but, while they were somewhat O.K., they didn't work for my pimento peppers.
When I say somewhat, I mean they held too much moisture and didn't disintegrated (as advertised on some YT videos). Seedlings rotted.

I really think that what I have been using for the last few years container wise (beer plastic cups where I punched holes at the bottoms) are working for me and whatever seedlings I happen to seed in them. Those are reusable, I can write with a marker what's in them, and clean marker writings with rubbing alcohol, and reuse year after year.
I know plastics should be a no-no, but....if one is careful, there is no need to buy.

Some people will probably have better ideas. I'm just sharing what has been working for me, after trying many "ecological" ways that didn't

Ela thanks for sharing that video.  I'm glad you did, but kinda bummed too.  I don't start my seeds in the pellets for my garden. Usually I start seeds in the plastic cells, pots, or cups. I save and reuse them.  This year I tried soil blocks, with success with the 3/4", but not the larger one. I have just had some difficulty starting seeds in my hugelkulture, had the pellets and thought I would give it a try, and it worked well.  Now I'm wondering if I should dig them up before they get to big, and remove that mesh.  
I hate this type of plastic!  These companies say it's biodegradable, but who wants plastic in there soil, or compost?  Not me. We stopped drinking Red Roses tea because the bag has micro plastic.  
For me peat pots are just as bad as the mesh.  I had a tomato planted in one one year. It never grew well, didn't produce any tomatoes. At the end of the season I dug it up, to find the pot was still basically intact.  I thought it was because it's so hot and dry here. I never used them again. As an alternative I have tried cow pots, and they seem to decompose better than the peat.  I usually only use this kind of product if I'm starting something that doesn't like it be transplanted.
Anyway thanks for the info. Live and learn I guess.  Back to the drawing board.   Thanks

Jen Fulkerson wrote:Ela thanks for sharing that video.  I'm glad you did, but kinda bummed too.  I don't start my seeds in the pellets for my garden. Usually I start seeds in the plastic cells, pots, or cups. I save and reuse them.  This year I tried soil blocks, with success with the 3/4", but not the larger one. I have just had some difficulty starting seeds in my hugelkulture, had the pellets and thought I would give it a try, and it worked well.  Now I'm wondering if I should dig them up before they get to big, and remove that mesh.  
I hate this type of plastic!  These companies say it's biodegradable, but who wants plastic in there soil, or compost?  Not me. We stopped drinking Red Roses tea because the bag has micro plastic.  
For me peat pots are just as bad as the mesh.  I had a tomato planted in one one year. It never grew well, didn't produce any tomatoes. At the end of the season I dug it up, to find the pot was still basically intact.  I thought it was because it's so hot and dry here. I never used them again. As an alternative I have tried cow pots, and they seem to decompose better than the peat.  I usually only use this kind of product if I'm starting something that doesn't like it be transplanted.
Anyway thanks for the info. Live and learn I guess.  Back to the drawing board.   Thanks

You're welcome :-)
On a side note, I would (I have done it) removed netting after I planted my mature seedlings in the ground. Teased  out the roots, and it worked out well but not as great as I was hoping . I think it was either  because my plants might have been too big and the short growing season here, the roots didn't have enough time to fully form good root ball.
Or, because I had this poplar tree which root mass invaded my raised beds, or perhaps....combination of both. This season will "enlighten me" (I hope :-) Although I'm leaning towards the fault of invading roots of that poplar tree.
I'm speculating on that part, since I don't have scientific degree, just  basing  my findings on observations and taking notes.

Hügelkultur in my area is iffy because while I have tons of "sticks and rotting wood" , the soil is almost non existent (ton's of rocks and leaves). I had to buy soil in bags and mix with peatmoss (which is not as bed as the media portrays, depending where the peat is harvested from) to create raised beds and grow things in containers.

Also....You know what? While I totally get the idea of bad plastic, tea begs and so on, I also have to say "stop" to myself. If I was rich enough, I would forgo many  bad-man-made-crap but...there are times when I realize I can't save the whole world, and often, I don't really have a choice.
While I care, clean other people's garbage dumped in "my" forests....recyclables flying from other people's bins onto my property, so many just plainly don't give a shit (forgive me for using derogatory term) and my little rant.