Best Seed Starting Soil 2025 (Reviews and Comparison)

You may or may not be aware of the difference between soils, but one thing is for sure, seeds need a little extra help to grow. Growing a plant from a seed is a real gardening challenge and one that only the brave and passionate attempt to do.

Luckily for us, there are hundreds of methods and types of soil that are designed to get your seedlings growing. We have whittled down the long list of seed soil to just five of our favorites in order to help make your decision a little easier.

Below are our top five seedling soil for 2020 and a detailed description of what we do and don’t like about them. By the end of this review we hope you have a clearer idea of what soil you want to use for your precious seedlings.

Seed Starting Mix Comparison Table

PRODUCT	FEATURES	LATEST PRICE
1. Black Gold Seedling Mix	Great for established plants Light and fluffy texture Ideal texture for seeds	Check Price
2. Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix	Holds water well Helps with root development Easy to use	Check Price
3. Espoma Seed Starter Premium Potting Mix	Organic Great for vegetables Easy to use	Check Price
4. Jiffy Seed Starting Plugs	No mess Easy to use Easy to transfer	Check Price
5. Burpee Organic Eco-Friendly Seed Starting Mix	Full of nutrients Seeds grow quickly Good quality starter soil	Check Price

Best Seed Starting Mixes

Here are our reviews of the best soil for seedlings.

1. Black Gold Seedling Mix

Product Highlights

The Black Gold seedling mix contains Canadian sphagnum peat moss and a long list of other rich and fine ingredients that will hold moisture in the soil.

Features

• Retains moisture
• Promotes aeration
• Promotes root growth
• Organic
• Contains organic wetting agents
• 16-quart

What We Like About Black Gold Seedling Mix

A combination of watering from the bottom up (placing water in a tray and letting it soak into the soil from the bottom) and using this moisture-retaining soil really reduces germination time. The bag also contains enough soil to fill a number of trays if you are looking to plant a lot of seeds.

What We Don’t Like About Black Gold Seedling Mix

The ingredients in the soil may not be ideal for all plants, tomatoes struggle a little bit with this soil and sprout with discolored and damaged looking leaves. Also, if you let the soil dry out, it will suffocate the seedlings and stunt any growth.

2. Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix

Features

• Promotes fast root development
• Contains plant food
• Can use with root cuttings
• Perfect for seeds
• Use in containers

What We Like About Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix

Speeds up the seeds’ average germination rate as it is full of all the nutrients a seed needs. The soil is also really lightweight and doesn’t suffocate the seedlings.

What We Don’t Like About Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix

This mix contains a lot of ingredients that are too heavy for a seedling soil mix, such as sticks and wood chips. The soil also feels very dry for a seed growing potting mix.

3. Espoma Seed Starter Premium Potting Mix

Product Highlights

Espoma is an organic seed starting mix. It comes in an 8-quart or 16-quart bag, depending on what you need.

Features

• Made in the United States
• For seedlings
• Can be used with cuttings
• Promotes root growth
• Retains moisture

What We Like About Espoma Seed Starter Premium Potting Mix

Great for growing vegetable seeds such as lettuce, tomatoes, and hot peppers. It also improves the germination rate of the seeds so you will see results faster than expected.

What We Don’t Like About Espoma Seed Starter Premium Potting Mix

Due to its high moisture levels, it may promote mold growth or even arrive with bits of mold in the soil. This is very dangerous for your plants. If the instructions are not followed correctly, the seedlings will not germinate.

4. Jiffy Seed Starting Plugs

Product Highlights

Jiffy Seed Starting Plugs are perfect for starting seed growth in small pots indoors. Place a few seeds in each pallet.

Features

• Minimizes root damage
• Reduced transplant shock
• Reliable
• Easy to use
• Comes ready to use
• Low volume
• Transports easily

What We Like About Jiffy Seed Starting Plugs

The soil plugs hold moisture really well. They promote a ‘work smart, not hard’ policy for gardeners and make the process of germinating seeds more enjoyable. They also reduce the amount of mess you make inside attempting to sow your seeds.

What We Don’t Like About Jiffy Seed Starting Plugs

They do not work for every seed type. Some flowers require a different type of soil texture and the Jiffy Seed Starting Plugs can be a little too dense for some seeds.

5. Burpee Organic Eco-Friendly Seed Starting Mix

Product Highlights

Burpee offers an organic option that is great for vegetable growing.

Features

• Speeds up seed growth
• Good root aeration
• Contains organic plant food

What We Like About Burpee Organic Eco-Friendly Seed Starting Mix

The soil is really fluffy, an ideal texture for tomatoes to thrive and grow beautifully. You can use it to grow seeds inside your home, in a greenhouse, and outside in the garden.

What We Don’t Like About Burpee Organic Eco-Friendly Seed Starting Mix

During hot summer months, the soil struggles to absorb enough water and can result in the seeds being dehydrated and failing to germinate. Due to it being untreated, it attracts gnats which cause serious issues to unestablished plants.

Final Verdict

Out of the above list, we really liked the Miracle-Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix. It is really reliable and provides seeds with all the essential minerals they need to grow. If you’re still unsure about what soil you want to buy, you can check out these types of potting soil.