Major Disaster at Muddy Bucket Farm

ContainerTed · March 30, 2019

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

KarenO · March 30, 2019

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

Worth1 · March 30, 2019

Well that blows.

Labradors2 · March 30, 2019

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

Father'sDaughter · March 30, 2019

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

Wi-sunflower · March 30, 2019

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

Worth1 · March 30, 2019

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.

guruofgardens · March 30, 2019

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.

SueCT · March 30, 2019

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.

retiree · March 30, 2019

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.

Salsacharley · March 30, 2019

Very strange for Jiffy mix to stink, especially so soon! Sorry you are dealing with this.

March 30, 2019

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.

Zana · March 30, 2019

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

Sherry_AK · March 30, 2019

Ted -- How awful! I'm so sorry this happened to you.

Sherry

oldman · March 30, 2019

The heat mat can encourage the growth of bad bacteria as well as the good. I usually let my flats warm up for a few days and soak seed overnight before planting them. The unpleasant odor seems to indicate a bacterial problem. Adding more peat to the mix might help.

Sorry you're having a setback, but I'm glad you have enough seed to try again.

March 30, 2019	#1
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	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

March 30, 2019	#9
SueCT Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,460	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 01:16 PM.

March 30, 2019	#13
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	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

March 30, 2019	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	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

March 30, 2019	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Well that blows.

March 30, 2019	#4
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,895	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

March 30, 2019	#5
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	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

March 30, 2019	#6
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	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

March 30, 2019	#8
guruofgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: zone 5 Colorado Posts: 942	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.

March 30, 2019	#10
retiree Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 404	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.

March 30, 2019	#11
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	Very strange for Jiffy mix to stink, especially so soon! Sorry you are dealing with this.

March 30, 2019	#12
MdTNGrdner Guest Posts: n/a	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.

March 30, 2019	#14
Sherry_AK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alaska Zone 3/4 Posts: 1,857	Ted -- How awful! I'm so sorry this happened to you. Sherry

March 30, 2019	#15
oldman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Kansas 5b Posts: 198	The heat mat can encourage the growth of bad bacteria as well as the good. I usually let my flats warm up for a few days and soak seed overnight before planting them. The unpleasant odor seems to indicate a bacterial problem. Adding more peat to the mix might help. Sorry you're having a setback, but I'm glad you have enough seed to try again.