Just an update on this. The afflicted plants still have curly leaves, but the plants are now pushing 2 ft tall. I still suspect the compost - peas planted with it died. But I think I am struggling to get watering right too. I think watering from the bottom just doesn't work with this compost. The compost in the bottoms of the pots gets soggy but doesn't seem to permeate up the pot where the compost remains totally dry. My seedlings are now big enough for top watering so I guess that's the way to go. Not sure, now what I did last year. If this possibly odd fixation wtih bottom watering is a new thing. I need to make detailed notes.
I water from the top - and by that, I mean in at the base of the plant, as soon as they're big enough to be pricked out. I don't water from below except when I've sown seeds [of any kind] in a tray, and I only do it after that if they're very dry. I mostly use a sprayer bottle, until they germinate. Once germinated, it depends how much space there is around them, but I can usually get a small watering can nozzle in between the seedlings. Tomatoes, in particular, are quite sturdy little seedlings. Much harder when people sow too densely though, and that's when watering from below can be easier, but I'd rather remove some seedlings if that's the case.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
What I was doing was using a spray bottle when they were very tiny, then watering from below. I don't sow densely. I just seem to be really off kilter with my gardening this year. (A lot of other stuff on my mind... mainly my rapidly deteriorating mother.) The next lot of seedlings will be treated more appropriately. Most have been fine, though. Little harm done. (Although I still need to work on growing non-floppy calendula and cornflowers! I imagine direct sowing would help with this.) Still don't know what is causing the leaf curl, given that most of my tomato plants, treated identically, are fine, but the curly plants may yet earn a place in big pots (rather than being thrown away).
It sounds like it's been a lot to do with the compost. Not good if your peas died off. The level of watering seems to be one of the biggest problems people are having, but the quality of some of these products also seems to be very variable, and that's being kind. I've seen a lot of complaints generally on the forum about the conditions of some of these composts. There was a thread recently about Homebase compost - that seems to have a real problem of some kind. I wonder if there's been chemical content that hasn't properly been eradicated - possibly not been treated enough to get rid of it or something. Lack of heat? I don't know. Considering what folk are paying, there really needs to be better regulation of it. They just won't buy it if it's rubbish. Rubbish being the operative word. I'm considering mixing my own stuff, but I haven't got round to that yet. Sieved garden soil, composted bark, grit, bit of slow release food etc. A lot of faff, but might be a better product. Small wonder you're feeling a bit off though, if you're worried about your mum. The garden becomes less important in those circumstances.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The chemical aspect is my suspicion. We have no idea where they are getting the raw materials from. I suspect local authorities sell it off. If it contains grass cuttings from enough lawns that have weed killer on ithem... I don't think it can be eradicated by treating it. It just stays there for a long time. I gather among the things that are susceptible to weed killer even in tiny amounts are tomatoes and peas. It's a pain as I have about 6 bgs of the stuff and don't trust it now. The quality of the other brand (Westland) I have some of leaves a lot to be desired too. Just full of cr*p. It used to be reliable. Quality seems to have gone down since lockdown I. Not sure why. Increased demand leading to short cuts being taken? Gardening is an astonishingly good analgesic for (mother/all) worries, but I have not exactly been on the ball over the last four months (was about to say three - symptomatic thereof!) I could have helped myself by taking on less to do, though!
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I still suspect the compost - peas planted with it died. But I think I am struggling to get watering right too. I think watering from the bottom just doesn't work with this compost. The compost in the bottoms of the pots gets soggy but doesn't seem to permeate up the pot where the compost remains totally dry. My seedlings are now big enough for top watering so I guess that's the way to go. Not sure, now what I did last year. If this possibly odd fixation wtih bottom watering is a new thing. I need to make detailed notes.
I don't water from below except when I've sown seeds [of any kind] in a tray, and I only do it after that if they're very dry. I mostly use a sprayer bottle, until they germinate. Once germinated, it depends how much space there is around them, but I can usually get a small watering can nozzle in between the seedlings. Tomatoes, in particular, are quite sturdy little seedlings.
Much harder when people sow too densely though, and that's when watering from below can be easier, but I'd rather remove some seedlings if that's the case.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The next lot of seedlings will be treated more appropriately. Most have been fine, though. Little harm done. (Although I still need to work on growing non-floppy calendula and cornflowers! I imagine direct sowing would help with this.)
Still don't know what is causing the leaf curl, given that most of my tomato plants, treated identically, are fine, but the curly plants may yet earn a place in big pots (rather than being thrown away).
I've seen a lot of complaints generally on the forum about the conditions of some of these composts.
There was a thread recently about Homebase compost - that seems to have a real problem of some kind. I wonder if there's been chemical content that hasn't properly been eradicated - possibly not been treated enough to get rid of it or something. Lack of heat? I don't know. Considering what folk are paying, there really needs to be better regulation of it. They just won't buy it if it's rubbish. Rubbish being the operative word.
I'm considering mixing my own stuff, but I haven't got round to that yet. Sieved garden soil, composted bark, grit, bit of slow release food etc. A lot of faff, but might be a better product.
Small wonder you're feeling a bit off though, if you're worried about your mum. The garden becomes less important in those circumstances.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Gardening is an astonishingly good analgesic for (mother/all) worries, but I have not exactly been on the ball over the last four months (was about to say three - symptomatic thereof!) I could have helped myself by taking on less to do, though!