Transplanting seeds only 4 days old

[greenthumbomaha]

I dropped my tray ... again. This time the seeds were very young. A few were peeking out of the soil last night and I decided to remove them from the heat mat and put them under lights for the overnight. The soil temp using only the light was 79F. This morning a few emerged and by the afternoon a few had sprung up and somewere showing their primordial loop.



I was able to sift about 8 babes from the mess on the floor. It took almost two hours. There were roughly 80 dense planted seeds, and many were all that I had of that variety in my collection.


Only time will tell and I'll be happy to grow any that survive, without knowing what they are in advance. I soaked the soil with Espoma Organic Start! Should I keep them on the cooler side until they recover? I have them under a T5 now, but not right up against the light. I placed some of the scooped up soil in another seed tray in case there are any seeds that are lurking in the Jiffy.

Oh dear, what a disappointment!

I hope your little ones make it, and you might be surprised at how many grow out of the mixed stuff; but not knowing which is what...

From your markers I think I have 5 or 6 of those varieties I can send you, if you want to start over with a new tray? And of course other kinds if you're not set on those exact kinds. PM if you want a seed delivery!

[Nan_PA_6b]

Oh, that's painful. Some folks say to give a little less light right after transplanting or trauma.

[loulac]

I made the same mistake twice...

[loulac]

I have suffered from such an accident and can sympathize with you.
If we can keep some soil round the roots transplanting will work most of the time. if the roots are naked we get heavy losses with such small plants.

Originally Posted by Nan_PA_6b

Oh, that's painful. Some folks say to give a little less light right after transplanting or trauma.

Itr certainl helps to keep transplanted seedling for 2 or 3 days in a warm place but far from sunlight.

[greenthumbomaha]

Time for another update. Loulac, I am hitting the wrong buttons too. In the post above, I copied from my computer and posted directly in the thread without using manage attachment. I can't see the photo, but perhaps some can. The correct posting method is used below.


It is obvious to me which seedlings were transplanted too early. They are in the two six pacs with the lighter color growing medium in the upper right of the tray. These are not as robust as where the seed germinated naturally mixed in a shallow tray with seed starter and up-potted when true leaves were presenting. One big mistake I made was to pot the weak 4 day old seedlings in miracle grow instead of repotting back in the seed starting formula. Too heavy a mix for something fragile. Shortcut was my fault, I know better but tried to save a step.



Select varieties were restarted, but KarenO and Marsha's True North Tomatoes were limited , and hopefully some are survivors of the fall. I started two seeds of Mark's MatSu from 2017, which were the last of that source, but restarted f6's are up and growing nicely. The last pl in the group, , Stupice, was restarted and you can never have too many anyway!


- Lisa

[Tomzhawaii]

Aloha,
On the good side, look at all the curious watching and wondering. I don''t want to make light of your situation, but adventure is the best travelled road . Mostly I am basically terrible at labeling seeds that get planted. I have gotten much better lately, but still have stray seeds pop-up and wonder "what happened here ? "Anyway, best of luck and enjoy the adventure.
Aloha,
Tom

[clkeiper]

Oh dear! thats sort of a disaster isn't it? I can send you a few big beef. thats the only one I think I have that I can read on your tags.
put up a list and I am sure many of us could replace them if you are out.

[MI Farmer]

Whenever I have a mishap (which is often), I always remember something my sister told me years ago... "Plants want to live."

Please let us know if your babies survive.

I feel your pain.
I also dropped a tray yesterday while shuffling my seedlings back to their partly shaded outdoor rack.
I put labels back as best I could after resettling the soil. And cursed my clumsiness.

[SpookyShoe]

Yes, we love plants so much on Tomatoville that they are capable of breaking our hearts. 2 years ago my husband cut down a 10 year old Pink Jasmine vine that blooms only a couple of weeks every spring, thinking it was a noxious vine growing on our fence. It took everything in my power to bite my tongue or else I would have been divorced for sure. I'm serious. It's taken two years for the Jasmine to come back but it's actually starting to bloom now.

[oakley]

Ouch. One of my pups took out a tray of potted up dwarfs and micros that
went unnoticed for hours. Only lost one though and I know the varieties by
sight thank goodness.

Cross your fingers. But I think you will get a successful grow.
I still would start another tray. Get replacements of your last seed varieties.

[greenthumbomaha]

This is absolutely the best place to lean your shoulder on
The casualty was actually a little worse but I didn't have the heart to post the full free fall, but now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel I will share it. This was just a med size permanest, but it had the selections which I had chosen to grow for myself.
I appreciate the offers of help, but between having an "emergency" seed left and making substitutions, I have completed a replacement tray. The exception is Esternia F1, for which I planted the remaining 4 from the Harris package. Why save one in this big pack when I will have to buy a new pack next year. Humph!Can't go without this one. I'll be traveling the country until I find a ready made plant!!


Photos below, might show out of order:
The meltdown photo
Replacement tray sown
The survivors in a small tray
The seed tray (very shallow, with about 3 plants popping up so far)
A few misc seedlings enjoying the sun
My leeks and onions, sadly not doing well and may have to order

Nice bunch of seedlings!

[greenthumbomaha]

I put out the spinach today, and it was immediately noticed by a robin. So much for my effort putting up a barrier for the rabbits.

The seedlings that came up naturally are far ahead of the early transplants. I am getting a few PL's , so there is hope some of the Matsu and True North varieties were saved. I let the seed tray go longer than usual, and they look good on transplant, despite them being sown a shallow tray. Pics to come in about a week, when they have a chance to adjust to the repotting.


- Lisa