Seed starting disaster! Seed tray invaded by something.

gggeek · February 4, 2013

I got the jump on my seed starting this year. Everything was going great minus a few donated tomato seeds not germinating. Then, I went out to my garage this morning and DISASTER!

All of the seedlings were cut off at the stem and multiple seeds had been dug up. My first suspicion was a mouse or vole, but then I thought maybe cut worms. However, neither make a lot of sense.

In seven years of gardening I have not ever had an issue starting seeds. Sure, I lose some to damping off or no germination, but never this.

On with some theories?

Mouse/Vole Theory
This would account for the digging I could see in a few of the seed cells. It would also account for the seedlings having been strewn all over the area. Also, I’ve had vole issues towards the end of the previous season. The garden and vole infestation was next to my garage. However, I have the seed starting area encased in a large plastic dome with no entry or exit points except for about a 1 inch overhang. I find it hard to believe a rodent got in by cliff hanging.

Cutworm Theory
This would account for the “cut down like tree’s in a forest” pattern of most of the damage.However, cut worms generally don’t devour entire seedlings, make little holes, or throw seedlings about. Also there are some plants where only the cotyledons were nibbled at the tip.

Other theories?

Slug? No silvery trails.
Bird? Not ruling it out completely but I assumed that I’d notice a bird trapped in my garage.

Basically it is starting over at square one tonight. /sigh

Fusion_power · February 4, 2013

mouse. It has happened before. They get hungry.

DarJones

gixxerific · February 4, 2013

Sunds like mouse etc to me. Sorry to hear hope you next run works out much better.

I had a bunch of plants in the basement again this year. And lost most to disease, in the frickin basement none the less. Moral is to man up and try again. It sucks having to deal with these issues but in gardening nothing is certain.

Good luck

Farmette · February 4, 2013

I agree with Darrell & Gixxerific...definitely sounds like mice. Don't underestimate them, they can climb and cliff hang. There are definitely stunt performing mice out there. I probably don't have to tell you how I know.

Stvrob · February 4, 2013

Sounds like the scene from Duck Soup:

Firefly and Mrs. Teasdale hear music coming from downstairs
Mrs. Teasdale: "What's that?"
Rufus T. Firefly: "Sounds to me like mice."
Mrs. Teasdale: "Mice? Mice don't play music."
Rufus T. Firefly: "No? How about the old maestro"?

Sun City Linda · February 4, 2013

Here its rats and I assure you they can get in places that would amaze you. Get yourself some poison baits and/or traps because now they know where to find tasty treats.

gggeek · February 4, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sun City Linda

Here its rats and I assure you they can get in places that would amaze you. Get yourself some poison baits and/or traps because now they know where to find tasty treats.

Oh I have plenty of those ready from my vole experience.

peppero · February 4, 2013

yup, it sounds like mice. they got me last week. the wife just got me four traps,

gggeek · February 6, 2013

And that is one down.

Sun City Linda · February 6, 2013

Looks like an ugly RAT to me.

b54red · February 6, 2013

Get the bait out and ready for them because they will return. Probably tonight.

I now keep bait out all the time in my greenhouse so I don't forget. It only takes one night for them to wreck havoc on seedbeds.

barbamWY · February 6, 2013

eeek! I should not of looked. I was in my garage getting out my tote of pots last week and there was one looking up at me. My husband had to take care of it. The mouse was in a trap but must of caught it's leg or tail. Ick.

February 4, 2013	#1
gggeek Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SC Posts: 64	Seed starting disaster! Seed tray invaded by something. I got the jump on my seed starting this year. Everything was going great minus a few donated tomato seeds not germinating. Then, I went out to my garage this morning and DISASTER! All of the seedlings were cut off at the stem and multiple seeds had been dug up. My first suspicion was a mouse or vole, but then I thought maybe cut worms. However, neither make a lot of sense. In seven years of gardening I have not ever had an issue starting seeds. Sure, I lose some to damping off or no germination, but never this. On with some theories? Mouse/Vole Theory This would account for the digging I could see in a few of the seed cells. It would also account for the seedlings having been strewn all over the area. Also, I’ve had vole issues towards the end of the previous season. The garden and vole infestation was next to my garage. However, I have the seed starting area encased in a large plastic dome with no entry or exit points except for about a 1 inch overhang. I find it hard to believe a rodent got in by cliff hanging. Cutworm Theory This would account for the “cut down like tree’s in a forest” pattern of most of the damage.However, cut worms generally don’t devour entire seedlings, make little holes, or throw seedlings about. Also there are some plants where only the cotyledons were nibbled at the tip. Other theories? Slug? No silvery trails. Bird? Not ruling it out completely but I assumed that I’d notice a bird trapped in my garage. Basically it is starting over at square one tonight. /sigh

February 4, 2013	#4
Farmette Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 985	I agree with Darrell & Gixxerific...definitely sounds like mice. Don't underestimate them, they can climb and cliff hang. There are definitely stunt performing mice out there. I probably don't have to tell you how I know. Last edited by Farmette; February 4, 2013 at 06:49 PM. Reason: credit

February 4, 2013	#2
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,251	mouse. It has happened before. They get hungry. DarJones

February 4, 2013	#3
gixxerific Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: in the gutter, with my mouth Posts: 123	Sunds like mouse etc to me. Sorry to hear hope you next run works out much better. I had a bunch of plants in the basement again this year. And lost most to disease, in the frickin basement none the less. Moral is to man up and try again. It sucks having to deal with these issues but in gardening nothing is certain. Good luck

February 4, 2013	#5
Stvrob Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,413	Sounds like the scene from Duck Soup: Firefly and Mrs. Teasdale hear music coming from downstairs Mrs. Teasdale: "What's that?" Rufus T. Firefly: "Sounds to me like mice." Mrs. Teasdale: "Mice? Mice don't play music." Rufus T. Firefly: "No? How about the old maestro"?

February 4, 2013	#6
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Here its rats and I assure you they can get in places that would amaze you. Get yourself some poison baits and/or traps because now they know where to find tasty treats.

February 4, 2013	#8
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	yup, it sounds like mice. they got me last week. the wife just got me four traps,

February 6, 2013	#9
gggeek Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: SC Posts: 64	And that is one down.

February 6, 2013	#11
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Get the bait out and ready for them because they will return. Probably tonight. I now keep bait out all the time in my greenhouse so I don't forget. It only takes one night for them to wreck havoc on seedbeds.

February 6, 2013	#12
barbamWY Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: North West Wyoming Posts: 466	eeek! I should not of looked. I was in my garage getting out my tote of pots last week and there was one looking up at me. My husband had to take care of it. The mouse was in a trap but must of caught it's leg or tail. Ick.