Veg seedling problem. Leaves turning grey.

Posts

• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  April 2023 edited April 2023

  I think the compost is quite likely to be part of the problem - if not all of it.
  It either dries out too quickly, and/or doesn't absorb water well, or it stays too wet for too long. Staying wet too long is hopeless for seedlings.
  I don't use it for seed sowing now, having had no toms germinating this year, and quite poor germination with other easy seeds. I use my own mix now -old compost or soil mixed with grit or Perlite.
  However, any sun hitting windows where leaves touch them,  can cause damage, so you have to be quite careful where you site them. The opposite can also affect them - too cold a temp at night, for example. Too cold at night is the most common reason for young plants struggling at this time of year.
  
  Your toms are quite spindly looking - that's down to lack of good light, but they look ready to pot on and you can bury those deeper when you do that. Keep turning them through the day too 

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

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• Sazz101 Posts: 248

  April 2023

  Thanks so much @Fairygirl. I think you are right with the compost. So disappointing but the compost wasn’t specialist. I thought it being ‘new’ would do the job. 

  
  

  It’s a SW facing window in SE England.. still not enough sun  
  
  Will get them in the greenhouse asap. 

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• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  April 2023

  It's quite difficult to judge sometimes. Any MPC is normally fine for any seed sowing at this time of year, but there's been a lot of problems in the last couple of years, especially with the peat free ones, and commercial compost, in general, has been poorer - probably due to higher demand through the pandemic. Sylvagrow seems to be reliable, but it isn't available everywhere. Once you move them on, it might be worth using a tiny amount of slow release food if you're still using the same stuff, and don't have anything else to try.
  
  However, just be aware that your greenhouse will give more light, and for longer, but the temps at night will be far lower than your house, and during the day, any small amount of sun will send the temps soaring.  I wouldn't put anything out in it too soon, especially plants which aren't hardy - which those aren't 

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

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• Sazz101 Posts: 248

  April 2023

  Thanks @Fairygirl. Great advice. Will harden off first.

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