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Date parsed: 01/02/2008 20:04:56
Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2008 04:04:56 -0800 (PST)
I sow seedlings in small pots of plastic trays,and although very
careful with watering,I always seem to get problems with damping
off.It starts with just one or two then spreads quickly.I have sown
onions and lettuce to date,and briefly describe what I do to minimise
the problem.I make up a compost with multipurpose,John Innes and grit
sand in varying proportions.Then fill up the pot or tray to within 1/2
inch,flatten gently and place in water until water soaks up to about
3/4 of the surface.I then sift a little compost onto the surface,and
sow the seed reasonably thinly.The tray or pot is then placed in a
heated propagator to encourage good germination.I always achieve good
germination,and at this stage put a little perlite on the surface to
encorage dryness.Since the seed tray or pot has been on the heated
propagator for about a week or so,I am concerned that the soil at the
bottom is becoming dry,and hence place in water again briefly to make
sure that this bottom soil becomes damp again.
The only thing I do not do is to put copper sulphate solution onto the
compost or seedlings at any stage.If this helps when is the time to
use it?
If anyone can spot anything wrong in what I am doing as described
above,I would be very pleased to receive a reply.
Michael
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Date parsed: 01/02/2008 22:18:27
Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2008 06:18:27 -0800 (PST)
On 2 Feb, 12:04, michael <michael.ibbot...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
> I sow seedlings in small pots of plastic trays,and although very
> careful with watering,I always seem to get problems with damping
> off.It starts with just one or two then spreads quickly.I have sown
> onions and lettuce to date,and briefly describe what I do to minimise
> the problem.
(snip)
Why do you add the perlite on the top? It expend twice it's size and
that's where you go wrong I think. The water get logged there, at the
stems of your seedlings and creates a wonderful moist place for
bacterias. I would mix the perlite with the compost you make and
wouldn't water again from below, but from above once you see the
surface dry. Also you might have confused vermiculite with perlite -
vermiculite gives air to the compost and maximise aeration for the
seedling growth. Perlite speeds up rooting but mixed in with compost,
not put on the top only. I've never use copper sulphate.
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Date parsed: 02/02/2008 14:14:34
Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2008 14:14:34 -0000
michael wrote:
> I sow seedlings in small pots of plastic trays,and although very
> careful with watering,I always seem to get problems with damping
> off.It starts with just one or two then spreads quickly.I have sown
> onions and lettuce to date,and briefly describe what I do to minimise
> the problem.I make up a compost with multipurpose,John Innes and grit
> sand in varying proportions.Then fill up the pot or tray to within 1/2
> inch,flatten gently and place in water until water soaks up to about
> 3/4 of the surface.I then sift a little compost onto the surface,and
> sow the seed reasonably thinly.The tray or pot is then placed in a
> heated propagator to encourage good germination.I always achieve good
> germination,and at this stage put a little perlite on the surface to
> encorage dryness.Since the seed tray or pot has been on the heated
> propagator for about a week or so,I am concerned that the soil at the
> bottom is becoming dry,and hence place in water again briefly to make
> sure that this bottom soil becomes damp again.
I can't see anything particularly wrong with that. If the propagator has a
cover, perhaps leave it off for a few hours a day to allow decent
ventilation. I do sometimes wonder that if the propagator gets too warm,
damping-off is increased.
>
> The only thing I do not do is to put copper sulphate solution onto the
> compost or seedlings at any stage.If this helps when is the time to
> use it?
I spray with Cheshunt compound as soon as the seeds have been sown. I must
say I am not altogether sure that it makes that much difference.
>
> If anyone can spot anything wrong in what I am doing as described
> above,I would be very pleased to receive a reply.
>
> Michael
--
Jeff
(cut "thetape" to reply)
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I had almost the same problem but I did what I always do if something doesn't work out in my garden. I drive around and check out some of the florists UK has to offer and squeeze them for information and most of the time it works out just fine. :)
Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential. - Winston Churchill
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