For my basic seed starting mix I use organic peat, vermiculite, perlite, and compost. I want a little nutirtion that won't overwhelm the plants which is why I use a little compost. The vermiculite and perlite are light ingredients that will help create good drainage. Both are mineral based ingredients that are safe to add to your soil.
My typical recipe may vary slightly (I'm not a strict measurer when it comes to soil ingredients). Sometimes I may not have an ingredient on hand like vermiculite or perlite and have to make do with only one or the other.
Basic Seed Starting Mix Recipe:
- 1/3 Peat or Coir (if you can find it cheaply enough)*
- 1/3 Compost (well composted compost of course!)
- 1/3 Vermiculite and Perlite mix
There are many seed starting recipes that can be used successfully but this is what I typically use. All of the above ingredients are listed on the OMRI lists and are safe to use for organic gardening! For more on seed starting check our the Seed Sowing 101 series I wrote a while back. Happy Seed Starting 2014!