Uh-oh. Sudden problem with seedlings

natural · March 16, 2009

Hi all,

Today I discovered a problem with all of my seedling flats of tomatoes. The seedlings are 14 days old, with just a few showing signs of forming 1st leaves.

Today, the cotyledons have turned yellow with the ends of the leaves turning brown. Also, many of the remaining green leaves are shriveling.

I have never had this problem before. I have changed this year from my normal Fafard mix to a Promix PLUG mix. My suspicion is overwatering (maybe the plug mix retains water more than the other mix).

I have been on painkillers for the last week due to having surgery to remove a mass in my head (insert joke here), thus I am not as "with it" as normal.

Any thoughts or ideas? If it is overwatering, will the plants recover if the cotyledons die with no over leaves yet developed? (I suspect not).

Thanks,
Bill

**nctomatoman** · March 16, 2009

Hi there - I've seen this in the past with my seedlings - some of the possible issues: overwatering, need for sunshine (rather than artificial light), and variety (you are describing what we call here CRUD for lack of a more scientific term - some varieties like heart shaped ones, Mortgage Lifter and Kellogg's Breakfast, are particularly prone). Yes, the plants can recover without the cot leaves, but when I see this happening, I try to get them into the sun and transplanted quickly, burying the stem well.

natural · March 16, 2009

Thanks Craig.

I agree that it is overwatering and maybe some CRUD, although, it is happening on most cells in my 50 cell trays.

I think that I can rule out light because I use 4X40 watt flourescent tubes 1-inch away from the plants like I always do (daylight is always better though). Wow, it is a little early to transplant, but I'm sure that it will help. My wife isn't going to like this.

Thanks again.
Bill

newatthiskat · March 17, 2009

Bill I hope everything is ok?

Gardening and painkillers is not a good combo

Kat

natural · March 18, 2009

Thanks Kat. I am learning that lesson.

I've never had trouble with seedlings before. There is no telling what I have been doing the last several days while on the painkillers. I do know that I placed an order over the phone the other day and have absolutely no recall as to what I ordered. I had called to order Tomato Tone, but I also had a tomato seed catalogue out while ordering. I *think* that I started blindly ordering seeds from the catalogue.

I'm afraid to see what is coming in the mail.

As for the okay part, I'll find out tomorrow what the pathology report says. WHatever it is, it sure was a large mass!

(Wow, I just realized that I am more concerned about my seedlings than I am my head)

Bill

newatthiskat · March 18, 2009

Bill I sure hope everything turns out ok. Keep us posted on that! Sorry you are probably going to be in the poor house due to indescriminate buying while drugged! It takes a pretty strong painkiller to take care of pain in the head area. I am sure we will see the fruits of your buying when we are all wanting to trade with you this fall

Kat

stormymater · March 18, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by newatthiskat

Bill I sure hope everything turns out ok. Keep us posted on that! Sorry you are probably going to be in the poor house due to indescriminate buying while drugged! It takes a pretty strong painkiller to take care of pain in the head area. I am sure we will see the fruits of your buying when we are all wanting to trade with you this fall

Kat

<snort!>

ContainerTed · March 18, 2009

Bill, send me a list of what you're trying to start this year. Since we're only about 35 miles apart, and since I have plenty of very healthy extra seedlings, I'm offering to be your backup plan. I was wondering what I might do with extras this year and your situation seems to fit the bill. I planted about twice as much as I can grow and that includes the ones for my community seniors. If you take me up on the offer, you can choose any or all from my list, and to make it even easier, I'll deliver.

So, relax and take care of yourself and focus on your recovery.

Ted

Penny · March 18, 2009

Hope everything works out and very nice of you Ted to offer seedlings, just in case.

natural · March 19, 2009

Well, my DSL service is working again(for now).

Thanks Ted for the offer. I'll be following up with you during the "Seedling watch". If enough of mine survive, maybe we can swap some.

Thanks Kat and Penny. Got the biopsy results back today. They had to send it to the Mayo Clinic to get a diagnosis. Turns out the mass is some kind of very rare thing (that I still don't quite understand). Seems to be benign, but with a 10% history or recurrence in a malignant form. I'll take those odds

Still waiting on the inevitable seed shipment

Bill

ContainerTed · March 19, 2009

Bill, I'm glad to hear your modem is back on line and also that the medical news is good.

The seedlings offered are here when you decide. But don't wait too long. These babies are getting bigger and wanting to go play outside. Some are approaching 6 inches tall. I'll be transplanting some of the larger seedlings into gallon pots in the next few days.

Ted

fourtgn · March 19, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by natural

Well, my DSL service is working again(for now).

Thanks Ted for the offer. I'll be following up with you during the "Seedling watch". If enough of mine survive, maybe we can swap some.

Thanks Kat and Penny. Got the biopsy results back today. They had to send it to the Mayo Clinic to get a diagnosis. Turns out the mass is some kind of very rare thing (that I still don't quite understand). Seems to be benign, but with a 10% history or recurrence in a malignant form. I'll take those odds

Still waiting on the inevitable seed shipment

Bill

Glad to hear the mass is benign! Can't wait for you to tell us what you ordered......

fourtgn

newatthiskat · March 19, 2009

Bill I am so glad that it is benign! As a fellow sufferer of a rare or orphan disease welcome to the club! Those are great odds at 10%. 90% chance nothing happens. Hopefully the pain is getting some better?
Kat
PS I want to know what you ordered as well. Remember seed cataloges do not just sell seeds. I would call my card and make sure it ws not maxed out!

stormymater · March 19, 2009

Congrats on your biopsy results - big sigh of relief - now to focus on those baby tomaters!

troad · March 20, 2009

Bill,
Hope all turns out well with your seedlings. Also I'm sure your recent unintended buying spree and the recent upswing on Wall street are just coincidental----

March 16, 2009	#1
natural Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North GA Posts: 530	Uh-oh. Sudden problem with seedlings Hi all, Today I discovered a problem with all of my seedling flats of tomatoes. The seedlings are 14 days old, with just a few showing signs of forming 1st leaves. Today, the cotyledons have turned yellow with the ends of the leaves turning brown. Also, many of the remaining green leaves are shriveling. I have never had this problem before. I have changed this year from my normal Fafard mix to a Promix PLUG mix. My suspicion is overwatering (maybe the plug mix retains water more than the other mix). I have been on painkillers for the last week due to having surgery to remove a mass in my head (insert joke here), thus I am not as "with it" as normal. Any thoughts or ideas? If it is overwatering, will the plants recover if the cotyledons die with no over leaves yet developed? (I suspect not). Thanks, Bill

March 16, 2009	#2
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Hi there - I've seen this in the past with my seedlings - some of the possible issues: overwatering, need for sunshine (rather than artificial light), and variety (you are describing what we call here CRUD for lack of a more scientific term - some varieties like heart shaped ones, Mortgage Lifter and Kellogg's Breakfast, are particularly prone). Yes, the plants can recover without the cot leaves, but when I see this happening, I try to get them into the sun and transplanted quickly, burying the stem well. __________________ Craig

March 17, 2009	#4
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	Reply Bill I hope everything is ok? Gardening and painkillers is not a good combo Kat

March 18, 2009	#6
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	Reply Bill I sure hope everything turns out ok. Keep us posted on that! Sorry you are probably going to be in the poor house due to indescriminate buying while drugged! It takes a pretty strong painkiller to take care of pain in the head area. I am sure we will see the fruits of your buying when we are all wanting to trade with you this fall Kat

March 18, 2009	#8
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Bill, send me a list of what you're trying to start this year. Since we're only about 35 miles apart, and since I have plenty of very healthy extra seedlings, I'm offering to be your backup plan. I was wondering what I might do with extras this year and your situation seems to fit the bill. I planted about twice as much as I can grow and that includes the ones for my community seniors. If you take me up on the offer, you can choose any or all from my list, and to make it even easier, I'll deliver. So, relax and take care of yourself and focus on your recovery. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

March 18, 2009	#9
Penny Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 948	Hope everything works out and very nice of you Ted to offer seedlings, just in case.

March 19, 2009	#10
natural Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North GA Posts: 530	Well, my DSL service is working again(for now). Thanks Ted for the offer. I'll be following up with you during the "Seedling watch". If enough of mine survive, maybe we can swap some. Thanks Kat and Penny. Got the biopsy results back today. They had to send it to the Mayo Clinic to get a diagnosis. Turns out the mass is some kind of very rare thing (that I still don't quite understand). Seems to be benign, but with a 10% history or recurrence in a malignant form. I'll take those odds Still waiting on the inevitable seed shipment Bill

March 19, 2009	#13
newatthiskat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: texas Posts: 1,451	Reply Bill I am so glad that it is benign! As a fellow sufferer of a rare or orphan disease welcome to the club! Those are great odds at 10%. 90% chance nothing happens. Hopefully the pain is getting some better? Kat PS I want to know what you ordered as well. Remember seed cataloges do not just sell seeds. I would call my card and make sure it ws not maxed out!

March 19, 2009	#14
stormymater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleasure Island, NC 8a Posts: 1,162	Congrats on your biopsy results - big sigh of relief - now to focus on those baby tomaters!

March 20, 2009	#15
troad Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Des Moines, WA. Posts: 358	Bill, Hope all turns out well with your seedlings. Also I'm sure your recent unintended buying spree and the recent upswing on Wall street are just coincidental---- __________________ There's a fine line between gardening and madness.