My neighbor told me my seed starting mix was too heavy for lettuce

I was using the same potting soil I use for my tomatoes. She said it holds too much water for lettuce seeds and they were damping off. She gave me a bag of her mix, which is half peat moss and half perlite. I tried it with a new batch of 'Black Seeded Simpson' last month. The germination rate went from about 50% to over 90%. The seedlings look way stronger now. What other light feeders do you guys start in a super light mix like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

avery9212mo ago

Dang, I was wrong. Works for carrots too.

sandralee1mo ago

Wait so are you saying the same trick with the paper towel or whatever worked for carrots too? Ive had trouble with carrot seeds being so tiny they just wash away when I water. What exactly did you do different that made it work? Im curious cause I always end up with a clump of carrot seedlings instead of them spaced out properly.

finley_lopez982mo ago

What about herbs like basil or cilantro? I had the same issue with my basil staying soggy in regular soil until I switched to a lighter seed mix. It made a huge difference for all my small seeds.