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The HUGE Seed Starting Mistake You Must AVOID! (Fungus Gnat Prevention Guide)
In @Gary Pilarchik

Gary Pilarchik: The HUGE Seed Starting Mistake You Must AVOID! (Fungus Gnat Prevention Guide)



Fungus Gnats & insects are the number one problem when starting seeds indoors. Fungus Gnat eggs are common in peat based seed starting mixes. Here is how to sterilize your seed starting mix and stop Fungus Gnat out breaks. You want a sterile seed starting mix.

0:00 How to Stop Fungus Gnats & Sterile Seed Starting Mix Intro
1:16 Sterilize You Seed Starting Mix – Boiling Water
4:19 No Soil Life is Needed for Growing Seed Starts – Sterile is Key
5:35 How to Stop a Fungus Gnat Infestation – Use BTI not BT
6:28 Mix Recipe and How to Use BTI for Fungus Gnats
7:56 How Often Should I Use BTI for a Fungus Gnat Infestation
10:00 Garden Seeds $1.50 at My Shop https://www.therustedgarden.com/

4 Ways to Manage Vegetable Garden Fungus Gnats: Sterilize, Trap, Barrier & Drench https://youtu.be/umOlqdQ3iME

A Complete Guide for Starting Seeds Indoors (Lighting, Seed Mix, Cells, Watering, & Fertilizing) https://youtu.be/e2f0kU6gG4k

Need a Garden Mentor?
Join Perk Memberships ($3.99 a month) to get access to my (5 Monthly) 1 hour Live Chat Garden Mentoring Q&A’s: https://bit.ly/4jM0jKA

Thanks So Much for Supporting The Rusted Garden!
Cheers & Thanks, Gary

Visit My Seed and Garden Shop:
Tomato & Pepper Seeds $1.75 & All Other Seeds Only $1.50
The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: https://www.therustedgarden.com

Visit My New Blog:
The Rusted Garden Journal
https://therustedgardenblog.com

My Books:
The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-Sufficiency in Any Size Backyard
Available Now https://amzn.to/40rfkIb

Growing An Edible Landscape: How to Transform Your Outdoor Space Into a Food Garden https://amzn.to/41tfno2

My Amazon Garden Store Front:
Just use my… The Rusted Garden Amazon Influencer’s Storefront link anytime you shop at https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden .
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Products I Use and Recommend and I have an affiliation with them:

GreenStalk Vertical Gardening Towers
Use the Discount Code THERUSTEDGARDEN on GreenStalk ‘Vertical Tier Systems’. Use this link and enter my code for the $10 discount https://greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=therustedgarden

AgroThrive Organic Bio-Fertilizers
Use my affiliate link and my code TRG10 to save 10% on your first order: https://agrothrive.com/?ref=M5o6fjdAruq_S

Vegega Metal Raised Beds
Check out all the metal bed design & colors (dozens) at Vegega. Here is my affiliate link use my code TRG to save 10%: https://www.vegega.com/?ref=le64f3gm30
My code does NOT stack when current sales are active and equal to or above 10% off.

Popular Items from My Seed and Garden Shop…
Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop
Sign Up Here: https://bit.ly/4aarkDD

The Rusted Garden T-Shirts & Other Merchandise: https://bit.ly/3TSd2kc

Organic Pest Management Oils:
Neem Oil: https://bit.ly/43IJl9C
Peppermint Oil: https://bit.ly/43IJl9C
Rosemary Oil: https://bit.ly/43IJl9C

Fabric Containers:
100 Gallon Fabric Pots (approximately 100 Gallons): https://bit.ly/3PMoZ9S
#20 Gallon Fabric Pots (21.32 Gallons): https://bit.ly/43Hz9OA
#10 Gallon Fabric Pots (10.44 Gallons): https://bit.ly/3J5lEyK
#5 Gallon Fabric Pots (4.3 Gallons): https://bit.ly/3J5lEyK

Seed Starting Supplies:
Seed Starting Standard Plastic Flats: https://bit.ly/4cF326m
Seed Starting Cells/Containers: https://bit.ly/3PMaCT1
2 1/2″ Square Seed Starting Containers: https://bit.ly/43GOQWv
Seed Starting Flats with Drainage Holes: https://bit.ly/4aJJ6O2
‘No Potting Up’ Large 6 Cells for Seed Starting: https://bit.ly/3xiLBIK

Tiny Tim Tomato Indoor Growing Kit – All the Supplies: https://bit.ly/3J9ExAF

Seed Packages:
10 Cool Weather Garden Crops for Spring & Fall: https://bit.ly/3xw3Ji5
10 Leafy ‘Greens’ Varieties for an Easy Greens Garden: https://bit.ly/4akuHIl
10 Warm Weather Garden Crops for Summer: https://bit.ly/4cHqIap
All Discounted Seed Collections: https://bit.ly/3vzDlUd

The Rusted Garden Heirloom Tomato Seed Selections: https://bit.ly/49towQK
The Rusted Garden Pepper Seed Selections: https://bit.ly/3U1G1TM

My 2nd YouTube Channel Geared Towards Brand New Gardeners
My First Vegetable Garden: https://bit.ly/3POOjMq

My Podcasts
The Rusted Garden Homestead… All About Growing, Cooking and Sharing Food: https://bit.ly/443SSGL

Follow The Rusted Garden:
Instagram: https://bit.ly/4aiMQ9l
Meta: https://bit.ly/49tP2cF
Threads: https://bit.ly/49tPesp
TikTok: https://bit.ly/4cFGQZR

Join me in my Private Meta Gardening Group: The Rusted Garden Homestead: https://bit.ly/3xlvSbH

#gardening
#growing
#garden
#vegetables
#vegetablegarden
@THERUSTEDGARDEN

21 Comments

  1. @THERUSTEDGARDEN

    Visit My Seed and Garden Shop:
    Tomato & Pepper Seeds $1.75 & All Other Seeds Only $1.50
    The Rusted Garden Vegetable Seeds & Home Garden Supplies: https://www.therustedgarden.com

    Need a Garden Mentor?
    Join Perk Memberships ($3.99 a month) to get access to my (5 Monthly) 1 hour Live Chat Garden Mentoring Q&A's: https://bit.ly/4jM0jKA
    Thanks So Much for Supporting The Rusted Garden!
    Cheers & Thanks, Gary

    Visit My New Blog:
    The Rusted Garden Journal
    https://therustedgardenblog.com

    My Books:
    The Modern Homestead Garden: Growing Self-Sufficiency in Any Size Backyard
    Available Now https://amzn.to/40rfkIb

    Growing An Edible Landscape: How to Transform Your Outdoor Space Into a Food Garden https://amzn.to/41tfno2

    My Amazon Garden Store Front:
    Just use my… The Rusted Garden Amazon Influencer's Storefront link anytime you shop at https://www.amazon.com/shop/garypilarchiktherustedgarden .
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Products I Use and Recommend and I have an affiliation with them:

    GreenStalk Vertical Gardening Towers
    Use the Discount Code THERUSTEDGARDEN on GreenStalk 'Vertical Tier Systems'. Use this link and enter my code for the $10 discount https://greenstalkgarden.com/?rstr=therustedgarden

    AgroThrive Organic Bio-Fertilizers
    Use my affiliate link and my code TRG10 to save 10% on your first order: https://agrothrive.com/?ref=M5o6fjdAruq_S

    Vegega Metal Raised Beds
    Check out all the metal bed design & colors (dozens) at Vegega. Here is my affiliate link use my code TRG to save 10%: https://www.vegega.com/?ref=le64f3gm30
    My code does NOT stack when current sales are active and equal to or above 10% off.

    Popular Items from My Seed and Garden Shop…
    Earn 15% and become a TRG Affiliate for our seed & garden shop
    Sign Up Here: https://bit.ly/4aarkDD

    The Rusted Garden T-Shirts & Other Merchandise: https://bit.ly/3TSd2kc

    Organic Pest Management Oils:
    Neem Oil: https://bit.ly/43IJl9C
    Peppermint Oil: https://bit.ly/43IJl9C
    Rosemary Oil: https://bit.ly/43IJl9C

    Fabric Containers:
    100 Gallon Fabric Pots (approximately 100 Gallons): https://bit.ly/3PMoZ9S
    #20 Gallon Fabric Pots (21.32 Gallons): https://bit.ly/43Hz9OA
    #10 Gallon Fabric Pots (10.44 Gallons): https://bit.ly/3J5lEyK
    #5 Gallon Fabric Pots (4.3 Gallons): https://bit.ly/3J5lEyK

    Seed Starting Supplies:
    Seed Starting Standard Plastic Flats: https://bit.ly/4cF326m
    Seed Starting Cells/Containers: https://bit.ly/3PMaCT1
    2 1/2" Square Seed Starting Containers: https://bit.ly/43GOQWv
    Seed Starting Flats with Drainage Holes: https://bit.ly/4aJJ6O2
    'No Potting Up' Large 6 Cells for Seed Starting: https://bit.ly/3xiLBIK

    Tiny Tim Tomato Indoor Growing Kit – All the Supplies: https://bit.ly/3J9ExAF

    Seed Packages:
    10 Cool Weather Garden Crops for Spring & Fall: https://bit.ly/3xw3Ji5
    10 Leafy 'Greens' Varieties for an Easy Greens Garden: https://bit.ly/4akuHIl
    10 Warm Weather Garden Crops for Summer: https://bit.ly/4cHqIap
    All Discounted Seed Collections: https://bit.ly/3vzDlUd

    The Rusted Garden Heirloom Tomato Seed Selections: https://bit.ly/49towQK
    The Rusted Garden Pepper Seed Selections: https://bit.ly/3U1G1TM

    My 2nd YouTube Channel Geared Towards Brand New Gardeners
    My First Vegetable Garden: https://bit.ly/3POOjMq

    My Podcasts
    The Rusted Garden Homestead… All About Growing, Cooking and Sharing Food: https://bit.ly/443SSGL

    Follow The Rusted Garden:
    Instagram: https://bit.ly/4aiMQ9l
    Meta: https://bit.ly/49tP2cF
    Threads: https://bit.ly/49tPesp
    TikTok: https://bit.ly/4cFGQZR

    Join me in my Private Meta Gardening Group: The Rusted Garden Homestead: https://bit.ly/3xlvSbH

    #gardening
    #growing
    #garden
    #vegetables
    #vegetablegarden
    @THERUSTEDGARDEN

  7. @Enig_Mata

    Thanks for your advice. What do you think of using vermisterra standard for seed starts – the premium version is not available.

  9. @nancycongiusti7526

    Listen to this warning!! I didn't know any of this last year and I ended up with an infestation
    BOILING WATER TO MOISTEN SOIL, USE MOSQUITO BITS!! and Neem oil and vermiculite.
    JOIN THIS CHANEL!! Gary gives great advice!!!🎉

  10. @birddawg1989

    Any tips for seed starting in an unheated garage? I’m in zone 7b and plan on starting mid March with shop lights

  11. @kele1264

    I have a leftover (sealed) bag of Jiffy Seed Starting Mix. Need to sterilize? Thanks, Gary! Love to see new plants starting!

  13. @ceecee-thetransplantedgardener

    This is a 1000% spot-on. Been following Gary for more than a minute (close to 9- 10 years?) – and I successfully seed-start around 300 plants every season. Using his advice, never had a problem with fungus gnats. And I mean – never.

  14. @shaneswing2016

    Just thought of something. I've not had luck with starting plants in sterile soil then fertilizing them until they are ready to go outside. I think I'll try non-sterile soil and if I see fungus gnats, I'll try to spray boiling water on them and see if they die. Experimentation!

  16. @coconutstout

    Hi Gary. For years I’ve used a 10lb block of coco coir + 1 large sealed bag of compost from big box store, and a healthy amt of perlite. Mix it all in a wheel barrow. I’ve never had any bugs, I feel like all 3 sources aren’t really able to hold bugs or viable eggs. Thank you for all of your content!

  19. @Lori-b9p

    I have baked my seed start soil in the oven, 350* for 30 min. Is that as good as boiling water???

  20. @keyphabenyisrael3219

    Hilarious! I was just thinking. 'Gramps' has been making these videos for well over a decade now, & then I IMMEDIATELY get to the part in the video where you actually mention it LOL. Mosquito bits was such an awesome addition to my indoor winter garden, I've been successfully using them for years after having a couple of seasons suffering annoying fungus gnat infestations, followed by an absolutely horrible fungus gnat takeover several years back. So far I haven't had to buy a new jug, the one I have is years old & still viable, thankfully. 2025 seems to have been a great year for you & your growing family, so let me be the 1st, or one of the 1st to wish you and yours a happy 2026, Gary!

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