6,340 Garden Web Discussions | Growing from Seed

Ugh, I also just realized that beet seeds produce multiple viable seedlings from an individual seed, so I have some beet dividing to do also! I need to get some additional little pots tonight and give it a shot.

Wow, I have never heard that beets produce multiple seedlings. I just looked it up and apparently beet seeds are actually capsules with multiple seeds inside. Fascinating!

Thanks for sharing, lucilleclifton!

Think I solved the issues - lights were too close and were over heating soil-less-mix and frying the cotyledons - cool season seedlings like to be cool... -face palm-

Update - Turned out this was an old/batch of seed. Supposed to be receiving a replacement soon. Grrr

Wow! Thanks, Dave! You've been a big help! I am going to try again taking all your advice! It's amazing that the soil blocks are still too wet today, even after they have not been watered or covered for 3 days (and I live in a dry climate). I was definitely watering way too much! I was so worried about them drying out... I gave them a little spray everyday, when I should have been not watering them at all, and letting them dry out a bit.

If anyone else has any advice, I'll be checking back soon ;)

Digdirt is right on the money with is suggestions.

Though, I'm also wondering if the soil blocks make it a bit challenging to begin with. I have no experience with them but looking at your pictures, I am wondering if they tend to try out faster compared to seed starter trays. So, you end up watering more to prevent drying it out and end up watering too much.

You said, you have had success with starting seeds in the past. Have you used the blocks back than as well or is this a new method?

Thanks for the reply naturemitch!

The browning on the tips hasn't spread, which is promising. I think you're right; it's just some minor scarring from coming in contact with the bulbs. I picked up some Dr. Earth Organic Home Grown liquid fertilizer (4-6-2) at Sky Nursery here in Seattle. I'll apply a half dose today to give them a shot of nutrients. I also plan to adjust my watering schedule, basically finger test that the mix is dry a half inch or so down before watering again.

Will post an update with pictures in a few days.

I agree with naturemitch. It's most likely a bit of burn from getting too close to the light. Happens to my plants from time to as well when I forget to raise up the lights.

Curious if you have a noticed a change with your new watering schedule. Overwatering is definitely a common problem. But your plants look really good. So, I don't think you have done any major damage here.

It is not showing up well, but there is kind of a green moss starting to grow on the upper portion of the soil in the container. All of the damp off horror stories have me nervous.

Jeff

That is algae. It implies that the surface is a bit too wet but the seedlings are fine. You could carefully stir up the surface a bit with a table fork to let in a bit more air if you want to. But if there are more basil seeds to germinate yet you need to be careful.

Did you soak the seed? If they were soaked and then put into cold damp ground where they were unable to germinate they are even more likely to rot.

Hi,
I've had the same problem. So I started them indoors and transferred them to bigger containers before putting them in the garden. I would suggest always after the last frost before transplanting in the garden. I always do multiple containers as some of the seeds turn to mush. Bush beans are a difficult plant until they take off.

For me, that wouldn't work very well.

I have critters that have been bitten by irradiated spiders and that are coursing underground at high rates of speed so most direct-seeded plants in my back yard have a very short life indeed.

Zinnias can do well if you don't mess with their roots, so planting in blocks or cups or pellets can work with them if you're aiming to get them thick enough aforehand to be too much to gnaw on by little teeny mutant mouths.

BUT, the real question is why everything died, innit? What was different this year from last?

PS:

One, greenhouse kits and lights are not really an answer. They're tools to solve particular problems and not worth diddly if you don't know what the problems really be.

Two, ignore what the packets say about germination times and maturity dates. It's all hype and the guys who write that don't know squat about you or your (micro) climate.

Speaking of which, you're on a world wide site and you don't say where you are. It's 85 degrees here and other peeps are seeing ice...

I am sure Dave is right about the footprint, but practically speaking, two double lamp fixtures (4 bulbs) are what most people use successfully for 4 standard sized trays of seedlings. With the narrower t-8 fixtures, some of my shelves have 3 double bulb lamps, but I am not seeing a big difference in the plant health / size., Nor do I see much difference in the plants that are "between" the bulbs, as opposed to directly under them.

I second Mandolls' thoughts. Here is my set-up.

No issues with 2 sets of t8's lighting 4 standard and 1 half tray. The trays the peppers are in are smaller than standard trays so I can easily light 5 of those trays. I too don't see much difference in the plants that fall between light bulbs.

Don't overthink it :)

Are you using grow lights? I starts seeds in a looser mix, either seed starting mix or a potting soil vermiculite mixture, it makes it easier for the roots to spread. Usually leggy plants are stretching to get light, it is important to keep seedlings 2-3 inches under a florescent light.

They were under grow lights. not very far from the light, but I moved them outside before the stretching began. I now have maybe 4 seedlings that are alive. The others shriveled and died. i said screw it and planted new seeds straight into the ground.

Are these seeds that you saved yourself? If not, I wouldn't bother with fermentation. It is my understanding that fermentation is done when seed saving (i.e. the fall), not in the spring when planting. I have never fermented my seeds, although I don't save tomato seeds. If I did I would be fermenting in the fall.

That's my take.

They should sit in tomato "meat" and juice and gel and just add enough water that they don't dry out. It's possible that chlorine in the water would kill the organisms needed for fermentation.

Thanks a bunch! Yeah, I read that after I posted- I'll edit my post (now that I see we have that ability) so it's more relevant.

Thank you all for the information. I am learning a lot from this forum. I did use heat pads and domes. Didn't use lights and plants are still really pretty small. Added lights a few days ago and see improvement already. Im a newbie, what can I say. May have to buy plants again this year but hopefully next year I will be better prepared. Will for sure use basement and lights from the beginning.