Damping off and seed rot

ARgardener · February 21, 2017

I'm losing a lot in my garden to damping off (? Or is it just drowned seedlings?)...
How on earth do I prevent damping off in the garden? We've had two days of solid rain and 2" have fallen. Worried my seeds in the ground may rot... How much does it take for seeds to rot?

KC.Sun · February 21, 2017

Doesn't take a lot to rot. What do you have growing?

Cole_Robbie · February 21, 2017

Rotting happens the fastest in unimproved clay, because the oxygen content is the lowest. As you improve your soil with organic material, it will hold more air, and that oxygen slows down anaerobic bacteria that cause rot.

The other thing you can do is grow in raised beds or ridges. I grow in ridges of compost-laden soil with drip tape and black plastic mulch. After years of improving it, my soil is so light that green beans grow down into it like carrots. They don't seem to rot, though. I think it is from the soil being so light.

Here's a pic after a heavy spring rain. The spot between the high tunnel and greenhouse gets their runoff, so it's extra wet. I get standing water between the rows, but the plants don't mind.

ARgardener · February 21, 2017

I've got beet, spinach, radish, kohlrabi, carrot, lettuce, and chard in the ground.
We've gotten 2'' of rain over 2 days... it's been non-stop.

Cole, I do plant in raised rows. They're about 4-6" up, and the soil is sandy loam with quite a bit of manure and bedding, so that's working for me.

Unfortunately, I planted my beet and carrot in homemade seed tapes made of paper towel; I'm hoping that won't make things worse

brownrexx · February 22, 2017

Sometimes you just have to replant. We can't control the weather and 2" of rain is a lot. Your seeds are probably washing away or rotting although some seeds, like spinach, can be soaked in water for a day or two before planting so they may be OK. Don't give up too quick.

KarenO · February 22, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownrexx

Sometimes you just have to replant. We can't control the weather and 2" of rain is a lot. Your seeds are probably washing away or rotting although some seeds, like spinach, can be soaked in water for a day or two before planting so they may be OK. Don't give up too quick.

very true. let things dry up a bit and see how it looks. nothing you could have done to prevent this. Weather is either our best friend or worst enemy as gardeners.
KarenO

February 21, 2017	#1
ARgardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: steamy southern Arkansas Posts: 155	Damping off and seed rot I'm losing a lot in my garden to damping off (? Or is it just drowned seedlings?)... How on earth do I prevent damping off in the garden? We've had two days of solid rain and 2" have fallen. Worried my seeds in the ground may rot... How much does it take for seeds to rot?

February 21, 2017	#2
KC.Sun Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: 6a Posts: 322	Doesn't take a lot to rot. What do you have growing?

February 22, 2017	#5
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	Sometimes you just have to replant. We can't control the weather and 2" of rain is a lot. Your seeds are probably washing away or rotting although some seeds, like spinach, can be soaked in water for a day or two before planting so they may be OK. Don't give up too quick.