How much is too much?

18 years ago

Out of approximately 70 containers, I have germination in 36 of them. There was a LOT of germination in March, but the last couple of weeks, it's been very little. The last couple of days I've lost some sprouts in several containers. I don't think it was frost, since it was in the upper 20's, which is normal for us and the sprouts that died have been fine with those temps all along. There is still condensation in the tops of the containers, so I don't think that they are too dry. So the only other explaination I have is that they got too hot. I removed the tops on quite a few of them today, but they don't look any better than before.

If you look at the right side, there is an open spot. That used to be full like the other side.

Here is a group of sprouted containers. The one on the far right in the middle row, had several healthy sprouts, now there is only four or five sickly looking ones left.

{{gwi:383416}}

(the two on the bottom row with the yellowing leaves are Alyssum, and those are just the cotyledons, not the true leaves that are yellow, so those are okay I think)

They are in the sun from the time it comes up, until about 2:30 or 3:00 pm. This is on the southeastern side of the house. The only other relatively safe spot for the containers is on the northwest side of the house. There they would get about 5 hours of late afternoon sun, instead of 8 hours of morning to mid afternoon sun. I'm just not sure if that would be better or not, and there is simply NO shade here (high desert, on a mesa, new subdivision, no trees).

So how much sun is too much, and does that only apply to germinated containers, or can the seeds fry too? I'm beginning to worry about some of the ones I WS in January that have zero germination in them, when things I sowed more recently are already up.

I know I sound like a worried newbie, but this is my second year, and I had some casualties at about this same point in the process last time too. I really need to figure out a way to keep things alive and healthy long enough to get them planted out. Even though I'm sold on wintersowing, I have to admit that losing sprouts is discouraging.

Thanks for any ideas or suggestions,

Bonnie

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Comments (8)

vera_eastern_wa
18 years ago
You Alyssum is fine...cotyledons do that because they are no longer needed :D For the most part they all seem to look pretty good to me! The first scares me though somewhat given the fact the way you lost the seedlings in one single locations rather than random losses around the container. Was probably a good thing you removed the top...just in case a fungal attack was underway!
For the last 5 years mine have always been in sun from start to finish or until temps are 75+. Only non-germinated ones get moved from the S.W. location and go to afternoon shade at that point. I have VERY little shade as well and normally by middle of May everything I have is planted out. Right now as it is I only have 7 containers completely topless: Mustard, Collard, Broccoli, Rudbeckia hirta, Penstemon, Golden Marguerite and one of 3 containers of Calendula with all it's seed germinated. Only thing I'm worried about now is the dips down to mid 20's were are expecting...so in come the Marigolds, Cosmos, and a single container of Brandywine Tom's.

Vera
lillyjane
18 years ago
I'm glad you posted these pics. I am having the same problem!?! What kind of fungus could it be ? Does it spread? How do we stop it? I had that happen to some balsam impatients :( & a couple of others jugs also, I took the top off of mine & they seem to be doing better. I sure hated to lose my babies, but over all I have sooo many that are fine :) Same as you, the ones I had planted in Jan haven't came up yet but the ones I did in March & even early April have came up ?!? Right now I have about 80 percent germ so I feel real good about that, with this being my 1st year at WS. I am having a blast!
Just lovin it ")
Jan
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vera_eastern_wa
18 years ago
I wonder if some Botrytis spores found their way into the vents? Botrytis thives in warm damp cloudy conditions with high humdity where air circulation is poor. From my experience in the greenhouse (while completing my degree) over crowded seedlings or too closely spaced containers on benches were always prime for attack. Spores are windborne and the fungi overwinter on decaying plant matter.
highalttransplant
Original Author
18 years ago
Vera, what is the treatment for Botrytis?

I felt like I needed to do something, and I have heard of using weak chamomile tea as a preventive for damping off, so I made some and misted the containers. If it doesn't help, I hope it at least doesn't make things worse.

Bonnie
lynnem
18 years ago
Your containers look very dry, so dry that the soil is pulling away from the sides..
vera_eastern_wa
18 years ago
Botrytis needs warm or cool (depending on species) cloudy days/rainy days and high humidity to flourish. If you take ones of those away it can't grow :D
It is VERY resistant to fungicides so prevention is the best defense! Widening the vents can prevent too much condensation on leaf surfaces and lower the humidity.
highalttransplant
Original Author
18 years ago
Vera, that surprises me that I would have a problem with it here, since our humidity is very low. I guess next time, I will be braver about removing the lids once I have germination.

Lynne, I believe the repeated freeze & thaw cycles are what cause the soil to pull away like that, since some of the ones that are doing it are moist to the touch, and have condensation in the tops.

With the high winds we have had all weekend, I don't see how any fungus could grow in there! If the uncovered sprouts survive these winds, I may just plant them out this week, because they must be pretty hardy.

Bonnie
farfaraway
18 years ago
I have several containers that also look weird; the leaves are purple, and the seedlings don't seem to be thriving. They also don't appear to be growing much, either. I've got it in one jug of California poppies (while the other two jugs of Cal poppies were just fine), lavender, and some coreopsis. I don't seem to be losing any sprouts, they just don't seem to be thriving.