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Garden Gate:  I am a Tomato Murderer...  |
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Norskema
True Blue Farmgirl
98 Posts
Candace
Central Indiana Area
USA
98 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 4:03:15 PM
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not to mention all the other plants I seem to be torturing to death! grrrr!
We are finally going to get to move to the farm we've been working on for a year and I can have my first garden in 13 years. In my zeal, I planted a lot of things indoors to get a head start. In the past, my efforts had been thwarted by cats who managed to eat off the top of lovely seedlings. Now I have a vacant bedroom and can keep my seedlings in their own room. How lovely, right?
I have a grow light and have been careful to not over water, etc., and everything came up so nicely. Tomatoes, peppers, some flowers and now they are "croaking" - looks like damping off to me - and I will probably have to replant but at this point it might be better and just wait a couple of weeks and direct sow even though it is still chilly out.
What do you think I'm doing wrong??? I wanted to save some money doing it myself rather than buying plants plus the satisfaction of starting my own. Help!
Every way of a man seems right to himself but the Lord is the tester of hearts. Proverbs 21:2 |
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Huckelberrywine
True Blue Farmgirl
1607 Posts
Michelle
Rosalia
1607 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2007 : 5:26:01 PM
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How's the air circulation in the room? If the door is shut to keep the nibbly cats out, then the lack of air movement might contribute to unhealthy seedlings. Sure sounds like you are doing everything right, and your hunch about dampening off could be it. I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. At least it is early enough to get seeds in the ground. :) A sudden frost last night nipped the seedlings I so carefully started too. I feel your pain. Good thing we've got more seed.
We make a difference. |
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ThymeForEweFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
705 Posts
Robin
An organic farm in the forest in
Maine
USA
705 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 04:03:24 AM
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I think it's an air circulation problem too. You can turn a fan on and let it blow around them gently. Air current serves a couple of purposes. In a natural setting the seedlings would be moving in the breeze. This strengthens cell walls which strengthens the plant. It also helps keep disease under control.
Robin
www.outdoorwriter.wordpress.com
www.thymeforewe.com
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 9:05:07 PM
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I agree that a fan may help. I don't like starting them in the house - I start mine in a cold frame (a wooden box with a glass door laying on top) cuz
I kill them in the house. I'm not good a hardening them off before they go out. You have my sympathies, its so frustrating. |
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sweetproserpina
True Blue Farmgirl
535 Posts
meg
Vinemount
Ontario
Canada
535 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2007 : 10:41:16 PM
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I can't help much on the topic, but I love the thread name! "I am a Tomato Murderer..."  *giggles* The "..." seemed especially omnious so I had to check it out!
"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive--it's such an interesting world."
http://theprimroseway.blogspot.com/ |
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Kim
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
Kim
Pflugerville
Texas
USA
146 Posts |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2007 : 05:40:29 AM
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I had some tomato plants I thought were goners a few years back, and I put them in the ground anyway when it came time to plant outdoors, giving them a little corner space. Lo and behold, they strengthened and lived! I was shocked. If you are planting soon, maybe you could give it a try.
Psalm 51: 10-13 |
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Garden Gate: I am a Tomato Murderer... |
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I am a Tomato Murderer...
