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coarse vermiculite

Hi,

I'm new to this list, so let me introduce myself before I ask my first
question of the group.  I recently moved to the Sandia Mountain area
outside of New MExico (elev. approx. 7000 ft).  We have 5.5 acres of land
with a nice L-shaped garden left by the previous owners (800 sqft or so).
I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA (which is actually in the same USDA zone as
where I am now!) and my mother is a botanist, so I learned a lot about
growing from her.  This is my first piece of land that's all my own, so
this year will be my first solo gardening effort.  Gardening in NM is a
challenge because of the arid climate, but also the short growing season
and sometimes harsh conditions in the mountains.  I think I'm up to it,
and sqft gardening has been recommended as a successful method for this
region.

Now to the question - I took Mel's suggestion to use vermiculite for seed
starting to the extreme and bought 4 cu yds. of it at Home Depot.  When I
opened it to start some seeds (in flats) this weekend, I found out that it
is the coarse type (particle sizes about 1 cm across).  I used it anyway,
for lack of other options.  Does anyone have any idea if this is going to
be a disaster or if I'll be ok to leave the seedlings in the vermiculite
until they have true leaves? (I planted basil, chives, tomato, and
yarrow).

Thanks!
Sara

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Sara J. Gottlieb	       		gottlieb@cbl.umces.edu

              	WWW:http://cbl.umces.edu/~gottlieb
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"To be yourself, in a world that tries, night and day, to make you just
like everybody else - is to fight the greatest battle there ever is to
fight, and never stop fighting." 
-e.e. cummings 

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