Hi,

This is a pic of the zinnia seedlings which have a similar fate'

Anirban

Looks like sun scald....did you recently put them out without hardening them off

I agree, looks like sun or wind burn. Occurs when the seedlings have not been slowly introduced to life in the real outdoors after getting their start in a calm, windless, artificially lighted setting. Something most of us learn the hard way, trying to rush it a little ;)

I'd also place some blame on the clayish garden soil in those containers. Roots struggle like crazy in that kind of container soil.

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. The seeds were planted and germinated in containers outdoors, so it was always exposed to similar sun and wind conditions. However I had applied Nitrogenous liquid based fertilizer recently. Could that be the cause?

Anirban

If they were started indoors and are now outdoors, the above responses have the answer.

If you're not happy w/ those responses, consider this one: Ran short of water even though may have been for a brief time. (In other words, see above paragraph.)

Thanks Jean

Could it have been over watering as well? I regularly water the containers till the water starts flowing out through the holes at the bottom

-Anirban

What kind of "soil" is in those pots? It appears to be a clay garden soil instead of a potting, or seed starting, soil. If so the soil may well be too wet and those seedlings cannot get the nutrients from the soil they need.