no compost growing, suggestions please

[weekendwellies]

Has anyone any tips for growing mediums for seeds or seedlings other than compost?
Having recently finished a bag, and unable to get to the GC for more, the question crossed my mind.

I have a dalek but that is for the garden, not seedlings as it is nowhere near fine enough and I am far too lazy to sift it, and dont have a sifter anyway.

[FionaH]

I moved this so people can respond

[elsie-scot]

would think too many bugs in dalek even if was sifted.

stealing some from any other pots you have? Could tip some pots out, fill bottom with your Dalek compost, soil, few more crocks.

[Welsh Wizard]

Baked garden soil can work. Stinks though while you are cooking it.

[Jeanied]

Can't you try the supermarket? Sometimes they sell compost - or growbags.

[Bigmallly]

Agree with above, Asda, Tesco, Wilkos, Instore. I would be tempted to buy a bag especially for seeds & seedlings.

[arknor]

wilkos have started to cut the price of alot of gardening stuff already they probably have compost on offer by now

[tamsin]

I'd just use soil out of the garden, seeds germinate quite happily in it all the time, you might just get the odd extra weed. Or sow direct. Or germinate on kitchen roll then pop the seed out in the ground.

[Rhona]

I've just germinated a tray of various things (pumpkins, lettuce and celeriac) in top soil as I ran out of compost - all fine and no different to compost as far as I can tell. Only ones that didn't work are my tomatoes (AGAIN!) - I've been growing them for years, no problems, but this year I've only got to look at a tomato seedling for it to wither and die.

[weekendwellies]

I moved this so people can respond

Thanks Fi. Much appreciated. I posted it but then it disappeared so I thought it was another post lost in the ether.

[weekendwellies]

Thanks everyone, I will see if the garden soil can be crushed up a bit and used. Didn't want to put them out directly in the soil as the slugs just love juicy new seedlings and I like to keep an eye on new sowings to see how the germination rate is.

[weekendwellies]

The trouble with supermarkets is I hate going to them. I have to just go in and get what I want as quickly as I can and leave again fast. Will make a special trip to Wilkos early morning one day next week. Thanks guys.

[Lazgaot]

My local Co-op shop has grow bags and compost, so you don't have to venture out to the massive supermarkets. You could always order online and get them to deliver?

Rhona: Opposite for me this year. I got some Tom seeds from the Real Seed Co. and planted 9 seeds, 3 of each variety. 8 germinated and have gone into their new raised bed in my GH. I usually overdo it with Tomato seedlings but I'm practicing some restraint this year.

[weekendwellies]

So I gather from the answers that soil of one form or another is the only or preferred choice and there is no other weird and wonderful medium that anyone else uses or has tried.??

[Jeanied]

It is still soil but I have used molehill earth before now! It has a certain, um, pre-sieved quality!