Tomatoville® Gardening Forums


Notices

New to growing your own tomatoes? This is the forum to learn the successful techniques used by seasoned tomato growers. Questions are welcome, too.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old March 30, 2019   #1
ContainerTed
Tomatovillian™
 
ContainerTed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 6a - NE Tennessee
Posts: 4,538
Default Major Disaster at Muddy Bucket Farm

I can only think that I got a bad bag of Miracle Grow Seed Starting mix. When I woke up this morning and went in to look over the flats to see if there were any new babies, I was met with a gut-grabbing painful sight. Almost all of the little seedlings in the MG trays were down. Of 120 cells, there were less than 25 that were not decimated. Both of the 24 cell tray smelled like moldy sewage. And the 72 cell tray had only 9 cells with living seedlings left. I quickly as I could removed the few seedlings that appeared to be standing on their own and moved them to Jiffy plugs.

I've used MG Seed Starter for a lot of years and never encountered anything like this. I have more seed for most of the ones in the MG, but not all. When I have a full picture of the impact on varieties, I'll know what I might need to replace seeds for.

For Karen and Marsha, the only one I have concern for is Midnight Sun. The one that showed up is recovering in Jiffy mix. I still have half of the seeds sent to me, so I should not have a problem there.

For Steve in Norway, I have seedlings for all three you sent. I have plenty of seeds and seedlings for Altai Orange and the other two. I still have half of the seeds you sent for the other two. So, I don't see a problem there.

I've got a lot of repeat work ahead of me today and tomorrow.

Here's some pictures.

The two 24 cell flats with survivors removed.

DSCF0059.JPG

The 72 cell flat with survivors removed. Pink on the markers is where the survivors came from.

DSCF0061.JPG

Closeup of a section of the 72 cell flat.

DSCF0060.JPG
__________________
Ted
________________________
Owner & Sole Operator Of
The Muddy Bucket Farm
and Tomato Ranch





ContainerTed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #2
KarenO
Tomatovillian™
 
KarenO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Vancouver Island
Posts: 5,931
Default

Oh I’m sorry Ted, how disheartening
I’m glad you still have seed for most and it’s still early enough to resow.
KarenO
KarenO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #3
Worth1
Tomatovillian™
 
Worth1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
Default

Well that blows.
Worth1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #4
Labradors2
Tomatovillian™
 
Labradors2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ontario
Posts: 3,896
Default

That is awful Ted. Thank goodness that you were able to salvage some of your seeds and that you still have some seeds for the rest.

Linda
Labradors2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #5
Father'sDaughter
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: MA/NH Border
Posts: 4,919
Default

Sorry that happened. I personally abandoned all MG products a few years back because of problems with fungus gnats, rotting, etc.

I hope the ones you salvaged survive!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Father'sDaughter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #6
Wi-sunflower
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 2,591
Default

I know the feeling all too well. My seedlings were doing very well til about a week ago. Then for no reason I can figure out, some started showing damp off symptoms. I was using peroxide in my water so didn't expect that at all. I lost a whole lot of seedlings and some new-to-me stuff. Just not in the mood right now to replant even tho I have more seed for about 1/2 of it.

The best laid plans sure can go bad fast.

Carol
Wi-sunflower is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #7
Worth1
Tomatovillian™
 
Worth1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Den of Drunken Fools
Posts: 38,539
Default

Smokey my cat whom is driving me nuts right now took out a whole 72 cell tray when she was a kitten.
She still has a thing for tomato seedlings and starts.
Worth1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #8
guruofgardens
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: zone 5 Colorado
Posts: 942
Default

So sorry about the problems with this year's growth. Something similar happened to my peppers this year, only I decided to downsize instead of planting more.
guruofgardens is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #9
SueCT
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 1,460
Default

I am so sorry about loosing so many seedlings. That is aweful. It sounds like damping off, which I have heard about for years but have been lucky enough to avoid so far. I believe cool wet conditions encourage it. I saw one website that recommended using a heating mat and slightly warm water to help prevent it. I take my off the mat when they germinate but my house is warm. I am wondering if you have them in a cool area if moving them someplace warmer when you restart them and for the surviving seedlings would help.

Sorry, just noticed that they are on a heating mat, which makes it less likely obviously, that it was too cool for them.

Last edited by SueCT; March 30, 2019 at 02:16 PM.
SueCT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #10
retiree
Tomatovillian™
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 404
Default

I would be very upset. Sorry this happened to you. I think I'll go with a different brand of mix this year.
Hope they pull through.
Neil G.
retiree is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #11
Salsacharley
Tomatovillian™
 
Salsacharley's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 2,052
Default

Very strange for Jiffy mix to stink, especially so soon! Sorry you are dealing with this.
Salsacharley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 31, 2019   #12
ContainerTed
Tomatovillian™
 
ContainerTed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 6a - NE Tennessee
Posts: 4,538
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Salsacharley View Post
Very strange for Jiffy mix to stink, especially so soon! Sorry you are dealing with this.
Hey, thank you, SalsaCharley. But, it wasn't Jiffy. See the pictures in my next post.

It was Miracle Grow Seed Starting "KILLER" mix.
__________________
Ted
________________________
Owner & Sole Operator Of
The Muddy Bucket Farm
and Tomato Ranch





ContainerTed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 31, 2019   #13
Salsacharley
Tomatovillian™
 
Salsacharley's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: New Mexico
Posts: 2,052
Default

Oh my! Sorry for the "mix" up. I have some Margaret Curtain about 4yrs old, and Cherokee Chocolate. I'll send them your way if you wish.



Quote:
Originally Posted by ContainerTed View Post
Hey, thank you, SalsaCharley. But, it wasn't Jiffy. See the pictures in my next post.

It was Miracle Grow Seed Starting "KILLER" mix.
Salsacharley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #14
MdTNGrdner
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

So sorry, Ted! And things looked so good with your new setup and heat mat.

Best of luck with the survivors and restarts, and if you need any seeds just post... we're here.
  Reply With Quote
Old March 30, 2019   #15
Zana
Tomatovillian™
 
Zana's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,521
Default

What a bummer, Ted, after all that hard work.
__________________
Zana

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
There is a fine line between genius and crazy.
I like to use that line as a jump rope.

~Anonymous (but I totally agree with this! LOL)

Forgive and Forget? I'm neither Jesus or nor do I have Alzheimers.

~ Anonymous

Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.

-- Dr. Albert Schweitzer
Zana is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:09 AM.


★ Tomatoville® is a registered trademark of Commerce Holdings, LLC ★ All Content ©2022 Commerce Holdings, LLC ★