Don't let it happen like last year!!

[miniroots]

Hello,
I'm having a bit of a panic.  I've been doing really well with my tomato seedlings and they've reached that 2 - 3 " stage with true leaves developing nicely - but just over the past few days they've started looking a bit poorly.

I've not underwatered them, I don't think I've over watered them.  They're in 3" paper pots in John Innes 2. compost.

Is it time to give them a little bit of feed?  Help!
This happened last year and they all just kealed / keiled (SP?) over one by one... and I had to buy mini-plants from Wilkos.

SOphie

[miniroots]

[Robert_Brenchley]

Keeling over sounds like damping off. Can the air circulate freely round them?

[Melbourne12]

It does sound like the dreaded damping off.  Are the stems discoloured (or slightly mouldy) at ground level?

We bought one of those "mini greenhouses" to raise seedlings last year, and it was particularly prone to this problem.  This year we're using the frame indoors, but not the cover, to avoid too high a humidity.

Lessons learnt: Don't overwater.  Don't allow the humidity to build up.  Do use clean seed trays/pots and compost.  Don't sow too early.

Certainly don't feed them! Nitrogenous fertiliser will make plenty of soft growth which the fungi will just love.

They do say that if it's a particular problem, you can use a fungicide in the compost before sowing.  I haven't tried this myself, though.

Edit: I just remembered: If it is indeed damping off, don't attempt to sow new seeds in the same compost (as I'm afraid I did  ::) )  Disaster - guaranteed not to grow.

[HappyCatz]

Thanks for the tip about the mini greenhouse.  Lost most of my seedlings last year to the cats nibbling them! So have bought a mini greenhouse for my seedlings this year, will have to make sure I open the cover regularly to reduce the humidity and make the most of the lovely sunshine  :)

[greyhound]

and make the most of the lovely sunshine 

You've done it now, you realise that?  ::)  Guaranteed to be orrible tomorrow now.

[miniroots]

I don't think it's damping off...

The stems are the most healthy thing about them... They just don't look as green as they did and the tips of the leaves are drying out - I first noticed it on Sunday - and already one has dried out from the top down and died.

The compost is not completely dry, but also hasn't been really wet at all - HELP!!
I don't have my digital camera at the moment, or I would take a picture.

They look hungry!

[Tee Gee]

I've not underwatered them, I don't think I've over watered them.  They're in 3" paper pots in John Innes 2. compost.

As always I look for clues in a query and the ones I see here are;

3" paper pots I get the impression these are quite dry or I think you might have mentioned it if they were disintegrating.

If I am right then I think your plants might be on the dry side.

John Innes 2. compost

I think this might be a bit strong at this stage of development so I would say they do not want feeding!

Are they in full sunlight??

With this unseasonal weather they might be getting too warm &  dry.

Tomatoes do not take kindly to physiological changes I think it is better to grow them in partial shade all the time at this stage rather than high sunshine one minute and shade the next.

[JIS]

How are you watering them? bottom or top?
Cheshunt compound may help if it is damping off, try experimenting with one.
I'd also pull apart one of them and see what its like in the pot as it does sound like they are too dry.
Try putting some vermiculite as a mulch on the pot, I have found this works very well for retaining the moisture in the pots (really coat the entire surface of the soil on top of the pot with it).

What other plants have you got near them?

[miniroots]

I think it might be the physiological changes - They are on a windowsill (double glazed) in the house - so in the cold weather it can be chilly and then in the evening I put the heating on...

I don't have much choice about where I raise seedlings  - all my outside cold frame space is taken up with Sprouts / other brassicas.  And the house is small, so it's hard to keep one room at a different temperature to the rest...

I'm watering from below and the paper isn't disintegrating - but then it's not dry either.  And the only things nearby are other seedlings.

I might try separating them out to give them more air and putting them in different rooms to give them a chance. 
I just don't think I've got very green fingers...

[David R]

"and then in the evening I put the heating on..."

that'll do it. Its you or the toms   :(

[miniroots]

Thanks for the tips!

I'm giving them some breathing space and hopefully I can cut down on the heating for a few weeks...

[zorro]

Dapping off can be reduced by watering with chestnut compoud added to the water

[zorro]

above should read damping off and chestnut compound, sorry

[libby]

think you was meaning cheshunt compound ;D

[triffid]

above should read damping off and chestnut compound, sorry

Would that be sweet chestnut or horse chestnut?  ;)

[zorro]

dont know triffid it comes in a tin

[zorro]

Sorry libby the label was over the up tail on the H

[miniroots]

Cheshunt compound - I've been looking for this all over -
Do I have to trek to a decent garden centre?