Spinach going downhill

[Marb67]

Well, another seedling that has been healthy after a few weeks and suddenly decodes to shrivel up for no reason. I bought them into the end of the kitchen during the 3 hot days which is cool and not in full sun. Kept them misted with water but that wasn't good enough. I'm just tired of plants doing this to me when I do everything correct to look after them. Ditto for coriander seedlings.

[ameno]

Keeping them misted with water is probably what did it. That dampness encourages fungal growth.

More importantly, though, this is utterly the wrong time of year to be trying to grow spinach. All of your remaining seedlings in those photos are bolting, and that's just what happens when you try to grow spinach in the middle of summer. It is both heat-sensitive and day length sensitive, and will rune to seed very quickly on long, hot days, no matter what you do to try and prevent it.
Spinach should be sown either in the first half of March, for a late spring crop, or between the end of July and mid-September, for a late-summer/Autumn crop.

[Marb67]

It was misted with water and a small amount of liquid seaweed which would tackle any fungal infection. I have sown another batch seeing as it's now late July. To be fair the packet does state it can be sown all though summer. Its called "Apollo"

[ameno]

It was misted with water and a small amount of liquid seaweed which would tackle any fungal infection. I have sown another batch seeing as it's now late July. To be fair the packet does state it can be sown all though summer. Its called "Apollo"

Seed packets often lie like that. At best, spinach can be grown for baby leaves through the summer, picked when the leaves are spoon-sized, after just a few weeks, before they start bolting.

As for the liquid seaweed, that's really just snake oil, I'm afraid. At best it will merely grant some slight resistance to fungal infection; it absolutely will not prevent it. Even many proper fungicides are not 100% effective, and "natural remedies" like liquid seaweed are significantly less reliable still

[Nicos]

Those plants have bolted due to the heat. The heat this year is unprecedented - even indoors.
This makes them more vulnerable to pests and fungal attacks.

I agree - wrong time of year to have started them off.
Sorry they are failing for you. It is frustrating isn’t it?
Starting again was a good call.

[Marb67]

It seems whatever I do here is wrong, even by following official guidelines. I still believe in natural remedies (Neem oil, seaweed, cinnamon powder, epsom salts etc) To me this doesn't look like a fungal problem. Especially in such hot, dry weather.

[ameno]

It seems whatever I do here is wrong, even by following official guidelines. I still believe in natural remedies (Neem oil, seaweed, cinnamon powder, epsom salts etc) To me this doesn't look like a fungal problem. Especially in such hot, dry weather.

The misting means they weren't dry, though.
And hot weather encourages the growth of fungus, just as it encourages the growth of most things, as long as sufficient moisture is present.

And it's not like those natural fungicides outright don't work. It's just that their effect is limited, and at best all they can do is reduce the chances of infection or reduce the severity of infection. They will not outright prevent it.
Think of it like people taking vitamin C supplements. We know that high vitamin C intake helps to prevent colds and mitigate cold symptoms, but it's not as if simply taking vitamin C supplements will magically prevent you from catching a cold. Their effect is simply not strong enough.
There is no magic bullet for preventing or curing plant diseases, and believing there is one will only lead to disappointment, I'm afraid.

[Marb67]

The misting means they weren't dry, though.
And hot weather encourages the growth of fungus, just as it encourages the growth of most things, as long as sufficient moisture is present.

And it's not like those natural fungicides outright don't work. It's just that their effect is limited, and at best all they can do is reduce the chances of infection or reduce the severity of infection. They will not outright prevent it.
Think of it like people taking vitamin C supplements. We know that high vitamin C intake helps to prevent colds and mitigate cold symptoms, but it's not as if simply taking vitamin C supplements will magically prevent you from catching a cold. Their effect is simply not strong enough.
There is no magic bullet for preventing or curing plant diseases, and believing there is one will only lead to disappointment, I'm afraid.

Fair enough but I will always go the natural way rather than any pesticides. I know that spraying leaves and root drench in epsom salts helps prevent blight in toms.

[Jungle Jane]

Fair enough but I will always go the natural way rather than any pesticides. I know that spraying leaves and root drench in epsom salts helps prevent blight in toms.

Epsom salt prevents magnesium deficiency,does nothing for fighting blight unfortunately. The heatwave wasn’t normal British weather,I’ve got spider mite on my outside cucumber plant the first time ever,I need some rain to get rid of them,I’ve had spider mite indoors on cucumber plants but never outside before,the outsides been like the inside of a greenhouse,the temperature & conditions. My basil on the windowsill has wilted badly,I should’ve moved it to the shady windowsill a few days ago

[Marb67]

Well, yet again a newly sown batch end of Summer and still pathetic looking and small. Not a single mm of growth in weeks.

[Marb67]

Well, they are now absolutely pathetic. Thin, wispy, getting even smaller. Unbelievable as other salad leaves are still growing.