Can I Put Vegetable Plants Into Coarse Peat Moss?

Peat Moss Only

• Peat moss, used alone, makes a wonderful growing medium for growing vegetable seeds or starter plants. Growing plants in this soil-less medium makes for a less messy, lighter alternative to soil. Peat moss as a singular growing medium lends itself nicely to container gardens and raised bed gardens. The moss must be thoroughly moistened in order to grow plants effectively. Once the moss is moist (never soggy), seeds may be dropped in and starter plants planted just as they would be in regular soil. Peat moss offers excellent drainage for plants that require it, such as root vegetables.

Peat Moss Mix

• Try a mix of peat moss in soils that are too heavy or dense. Often, soils do not offer enough drainage for containers or raised bed gardens. Even actual field soil may prove too heavy sometimes. Work peat moss into the soil at a ratio of 1 part peat moss to 1 part soil for a well-drained, fertile soil mixture for vegetable plants. Again, be sure to thoroughly moisten the peat moss mixture before adding plants, otherwise it proves to be much too dry for the plants growing needs.

Fertilization

• Peat moss not only acts as a growing medium, it also makes for an efficient and natural fertilizer. When worked into the soil, peat moss adds a slow-release form of nutrients vital to young vegetable plants. As a fertilizer, peat moss lacks the chemical ingredients found in synthetic fertilizers, making it an ideal choice among organic gardeners. Peat moss even makes a useful compost ingredient, decomposing and adding valuable nutrition to any compost mixture.

Seed Starter

• Whether or not peat moss is used in or as garden soil, it finds yet another use as a seed starter. Vegetable seeds require a moist, clean growing medium to germinate and begin their life. Peat moss offers just that when lining growing trays or placed into plastic baggies. The moss must be moistened thoroughly, until it is soft, wet and pliable. Seeds are placed directly into the moss and provided with further moisture, light and heat and allowed to grow into seedlings. Once the seedlings are large enough to transplant into a garden, the seedling along with its peat moss base may be transplanted in its entirety.