Moldy potting mix ok to use?

[Your Letters 2]

High time to sow the kitchen garden seeds! Hoping upon hope I still had seed-starting mix and yes! There it was in the corner of the shed. Baccto planting mix, sphagnum peat, sand, & perlite limed to 5.5-6.5 ph, so says the bag. Uh-oh. Sitting undisturbed in the closed bag, it has developed what looks like a greenish-white mold in in few places.  What do I do? Can I use it?

- D.D. -

[Diane in Waterville 0]

Update: I looked online and actually found my favorite seed starter here locally, FoxFarm Light Warrior Grow Medium--great stuff! The store was even open so I donned mask and gloves and ventured out to claim two bags. Not cheap, but worth it. After I posted my lament about the moldy potting mix, i thought twice. Here I am taking care not to catch a virus myself AND sterilizing last year's seed pots... why would I take a chance on moldy mix compromising a plants' health when I'm counting on food for the table? That said, I would like to hear if someone has experience "correcting" the mold. With perlite, I didn't think baking it would be an option.

[Janet Macunovich 32]

Kudos! I spoke with Patty Walton of Bogie Lake Greenhouse (White Lake. MI) about the moldy potting mix, anyway. Curious what the pros do!

Patty and husband Mark Walton have been growing tens of thousands of annuals and perennials every year for 30+. Patty says, "I would use it, especially if you can't buy more. Dry it out first and then be careful not to overwater. If there were powdery mildew spores in there that much moisture would give them a chance to splash up onto the plants."

 

Patty and I talked about the challenges of growing when you cannot sell. "We are trying to hold the plants back a bit and stilll keep them healthy and hope that if we can't go back to business as usual in May we will be ready to take orders for curbside pick up. Tell our regulars - we love our customers! - to check in with us May 1. Give a call or watch our website

www.bogielakegreenhouses.com

so we can get you your plants."

-Janet -

There's Patty: