I had 15 Butternut sprinter plants - about 5" tall that were growing in a conservatory (north west facing) put them into the green house and pretty much over night the leaves became mottled - 3 days later the mottled leaves have died - there may be some tiny leaves on some of them that were not damaged that may come through but they are not looking good. What did I do wrong?
Was it too much of a shock going from conservatory (min 16deg max 25 ) to a greenhouse (min 7 max 28) - I thought these plants loved sun?
Watered the night before - Could it have been water on their leaves scorching?
I tend to over water rather then underwater.
Got a great crop last year (without greenhouse) so am gutted.
Also, is it too late to plant some more seeds?
thanks
jeremy
Jeremy I am not sure what has caused your problem with your plants but you are not too late to plant some more seeds now. Mine have only been sown a week and are just coming through, there is still enough time if you get them started soon. I hope someone comes along who can answer your first question.... T.
Jeremy
it sounds as if they have been over-watered and then got slightly colder than they were used to, but I also wonder if they are possibly under-fed?
If they are in small-ish (3" or so) pots and have been there since they germinated they probably need potting on and feeding. Any small green leaves should then thrive.
similar thing happened to me last week - went away for a few days and thought id bag them up in a clear polythene bag to stop them drying. On my return half were mush. They were in a clear bag, in the window of a potting shed, full sun most of the day. I think the combination of humidity and heat did it as they had been growing unprotected in the potting shed window alone.
I re-sowed, and am not too concerned about not getting a crop as there is still loads of time until the autumn frosts 8)
thanks for your replies - Have planted another 15 so hopefully it wont be all lost.
How should I avoid this problem in the future? They were planted on the 9th April in 20deg propagator, Taken out into the conservatory a week after germinating and then into the light green house a week or so later. They're in 4" pots. I've never given much thought about feeding until they are in the ground - how soon after germinating should I be feeding?
I do use the cheapest compost I can find - should I mix sand to help drainage as most things get irrigated on a timer so difficult to control over watering.
This is the first year I've owned a greenhouse and am finding it difficult with the extremes of heat - would a large cold frame have been better? How do other people use greenhouses for getting things going?
Also, I dont really understand potting on - why can't I just put them in a big pot and then into the ground?
lots of questions!!
jeremy
Funnily enough Jeremy, ive got squashes and pumpkins galore very happily growing away in the conservatory and only today, i said to hubby, that i am dreading moving them and hardening off to plant out as i would be so upset if i lost them, its a scary time isnt it? But all part of gardening fun ;D
I've got about 30 squashes & cucs all doing really well in the cold greenhouse - no b****y idea what I'm going to do with them all now though. ;D
Quote from: Marymary on May 04, 2007, 20:03:14
I've got about 30 squashes & cucs all doing really well in the cold greenhouse - no b****y idea what I'm going to do with them all now though. ;D
Marymary
Yup, that's my dilemma too! :o ;D
Methinks a few friends
WILL be growing some 8)