Basil - struggling

[annie8]

I had great success growing basil from seed last year. Germinated in the house the moved to the greenhouse. Most stayed there but I planted a few outside too. This year so far they have really struggled and am wondering if i am just starting too early. What I have been doing is planting maybe 6 seeds in a small pot with seed compost and vermiculite. Germination has been patchy, then i have them on a windowsill then move to the greenhouse. I though they would like that because of the light and heat (windowsill isn't that sunny) but lots have been drooping them lying down and dying. Tried leaving them overnight in the greenhouse with a cover and fleece and also bringing them int the house, but they still keep dying. Have tried sowing another batch and have left them inside so far. Not sure what is going wrong. Any ideas?

[nickdub]

Sounds like "damping off" - once it affects a batch of seedlings they very often go down as the disease transits through the growing medium. Probably best to just use new compost, a medium pot and only sow a few seeds so they aren't crowded. Keep the compost a little on the dry side, until the plants get a few weeks old if you can.

[annie8]

Thanks I did wonder if it might be that. Can't think why. Oh well. Start again. Could I use multi purpose compost do you think?

[nickdub]

Thanks I did wonder if it might be that. Can't think why. Oh well. Start again. Could I use multi purpose compost do you think?

No reason why not.

Sometimes the weather can be a bit of a bugger, any stress on the little seedlings due to fast temperature changes can stress them and leave them vulnerable to disease.

I had a wodge of Mexican Sunflower seedlings in a tray and virtually all of them looked good. Then I got the compost too wet, and about half of them keeled over. I managed to rescue most of the rest by lifting them individually and replanting them in small pots. Now the weather has picked up these are growing on, and I've only lost 1 more.

[Vince G]

Agree it sounds like damping off. Try the Gecofure variety from Dobies. The name is an acronym for something that says it's disease resistant and I've not had any problems with it ever.

[Vince G]

GEnovese COmpatto FUsarium REsistant, just looked it up

[Jungle Jane]

Keep them indoors for now where the compost in the pot will stay at a constant temperature,do you water from below,sit the pots on a tray of water for a few minutes they take what water they need then move the pots,they don’t like loads of water.

[annie8]

Have kept them inside for the last week and pretty dry as suggested. Seems to have stabilised them no more have died. I do water from below. Have started some more in new compost and they are coming through ok. Thanks for the advice.

[nickdub]

You're very welcome - happy gardening :-)