Seed Problems

AlittleSalt · June 15, 2017

I planted 12 cells of Big Beef F1 that I got in a swap. 4 germinated and look good. 5 didn't germinate. 3 are stunted or something's wrong. Do any of you have any idea/s on what is happening? They were planted around two weeks ago and have been in dappled shade with high temperatures in the 80s and lower 90s.

Worth1 · June 15, 2017

My wild guess would be too darn hot.
Worth

AlittleSalt · June 15, 2017

Adding comparison pictures. The ones in the containers are Grape F2, Campari, Japanese Pink Cherry, and Sweetie Cherry.

Starlight · June 15, 2017

I agree with Worth. I think it is because of the heat too. I started some more seed to have for a fall crop and only had about half of what I planted germinate. The other half didn't emerge. Of the ones that came up even under shade cloth and under a shade tree, only one or two survived. The others looked stunted and just looked sick. I didn't even bother to try and save them. I pulled and pitched the sick ones and only kept the ones doing well.

If they don't look good, I pitch. No sense wasting time and energy trying to grow a malformed plant that will probably croak along the way or possibly infect the good plants.

Normally, Beginning of June is a good time to start for fall crops, but the heat and humidity so bad. Too many days of being in 90's and 70's at night. Already had a bunch of blossom drop from heat and plants are under shade. Just too hot. I'm doing another batch of fall seeds and this time I am going to start them in house and keep them on rack by window. That way they can get some sun to keep from stretching, or I'll turn on the lights, but at least it a bit cooler inside. I'm hoping that about the time they get ready for transplant, that they will be a good enough size and temps a tad bit cooler.

Your other babies are looking good though. : )

Worth1 · June 15, 2017

You will note that the ones doing good are small fruited.
They aren't as ""Sensitive"".

Worth

Gardeneer · June 15, 2017

I started from seed about 12 varieties, all germinated fine except Purple Bumblebee. And Our weather has been in mid to high 90s . That is for the highs. But I kept mine in partial sun/shade.
Today I potted the up . You have to keep them moist all the time .
I treated my cuttings the same way. Now they have roots coming out of the bottom holes. This is 12 days after start.

AlittleSalt · June 15, 2017

Sensitive... that's got to be it

I caught this basket of:

Amish Gold x2
Campari x2
Grape F2
Porter x2
Rebel Yell
Sungold x2
Sunsugar x2

making fun of the tray of Big Beef F1. They were calling them Big Wimp

Now being serious - I began starting tomato seeds outdoors in July of 2014. I quickly learned not to use the dome. Also not to let them get full sun. The green basket of tomatoes were started in mid May when it wasn't so hot.

oakley · June 15, 2017

I would say heat and humidity. Like mentioned above.
Much better outcome than mine, lol.

I had a six pack, 2 seeds per cell, sprout then perish...covered in white fluff i'm
guessing too wet moldy soil sitting in a damp barn. Along with another tray of stuff.
(melons, mini baby this and that Fall squash that are hit or miss)

The other 6 pack started inside in nice barely damp clean soil are gorgeous. Just potted
up last night. Some broken tips by a garden helper and some suckers i cloned/potted
up did great outside in the shade.

Unexpected heat hit us hard.

June 15, 2017	#6
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,909	I started from seed about 12 varieties, all germinated fine except Purple Bumblebee. And Our weather has been in mid to high 90s . That is for the highs. But I kept mine in partial sun/shade. Today I potted the up . You have to keep them moist all the time . I treated my cuttings the same way. Now they have roots coming out of the bottom holes. This is 12 days after start. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

June 15, 2017	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	My wild guess would be too darn hot. Worth

June 15, 2017	#4
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	I agree with Worth. I think it is because of the heat too. I started some more seed to have for a fall crop and only had about half of what I planted germinate. The other half didn't emerge. Of the ones that came up even under shade cloth and under a shade tree, only one or two survived. The others looked stunted and just looked sick. I didn't even bother to try and save them. I pulled and pitched the sick ones and only kept the ones doing well. If they don't look good, I pitch. No sense wasting time and energy trying to grow a malformed plant that will probably croak along the way or possibly infect the good plants. Normally, Beginning of June is a good time to start for fall crops, but the heat and humidity so bad. Too many days of being in 90's and 70's at night. Already had a bunch of blossom drop from heat and plants are under shade. Just too hot. I'm doing another batch of fall seeds and this time I am going to start them in house and keep them on rack by window. That way they can get some sun to keep from stretching, or I'll turn on the lights, but at least it a bit cooler inside. I'm hoping that about the time they get ready for transplant, that they will be a good enough size and temps a tad bit cooler. Your other babies are looking good though. : )

June 15, 2017	#8
oakley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: NewYork 5a Posts: 2,303	I would say heat and humidity. Like mentioned above. Much better outcome than mine, lol. I had a six pack, 2 seeds per cell, sprout then perish...covered in white fluff i'm guessing too wet moldy soil sitting in a damp barn. Along with another tray of stuff. (melons, mini baby this and that Fall squash that are hit or miss) The other 6 pack started inside in nice barely damp clean soil are gorgeous. Just potted up last night. Some broken tips by a garden helper and some suckers i cloned/potted up did great outside in the shade. Unexpected heat hit us hard.