HELP please??

[mrandmrs]

I'm quite a newbie to growing only did early pots and sunflowers before this year but have decided to go all out and see what works. Put loads of seeds in modules, pots and troughs and they are growing well but over the last few days have noticed more and more mushrooms growing in the seeds. Not just in modules in some troughs and pots too. The mushrooms don't seem to mind which seeds they grow with but now seem to have 2 types of mushroom. 1 is plain milky/cream colour (quite small) and yesterday I noticed long white stems with pure black tops on. And if anyone can answer my questions it would really help me.

Is this a bad sign?
What could be causing it?
Will it damage/infect my seedlings?
What do I do about them?
Is it anything to do with the compost?
Hubby says I should get rid of everything and start again....is he right??

Hopefully someone will be able to point me in the right direction

Many thanks

[Two_Sheds]

You're using partly-rotted compost? Bark chippings? Compost made from wood? They will all grow fungi.

Fungi also likes damp conditions - make sure you're not over-watering, or your seeds will just rot anyway.

[mrandmrs]

I bought the compost from garden centre it's peat free multi purpose? there does seem to be loys of "bits" in it though

I don't think I am over watering...spraying with a water sprayer a couple of times a day but not huge amounts

Thanks for the speedy reply two sheds

[Eyren]

I wouldn't spray the seedlings, personally - you want to get the water down to the roots, not wet the foliage!

Either water from the bottom, by setting the pots or trays in a larger container with about 1cm of water in it, or use a fine-spouted watering can (the sort used for house plants) and gently water directly onto the compost slightly to the side of the seedlings. And don't water at all if the compost surface is damp - stick your finger into it and only water if it feels dry below the surface.

Good luck!

[JimmerG]

Mrandmrs,

Sounds like the mushroom spores were sitting quietly in the compost, waiting for your attention. I don't reckon they'll harm your seedlings so long as you remove the 'shrooms as soon as you see them.

Getting the watering sorted as described by Two Sheds and Eyren should prevent any further 'flushes'

Overall - I don't think it's a disaster!

J

[Alice]

Two sheds is right about your compost. The fungi grow on partly rotted wood. It's just a nuisance and harmless. Cut their heads off and it will be fine.
I bought some of that stuff and I didn't like it at all. Niether did my plants.I repotted the few I had planted in it and put the rest on the compost heap.

[mrandmrs]

Thank you all so much for your advice. I am now going to spend the afternoonsorting out containers to put it all in so I can water them properly and set about de-mushrooming.
Thanks again everyone!!

[TonyF]

Ummmmmmmm, hows about it's spent mushroom compost and some of the spores are still sitting there - it's the compost that is allegedly spent, not the ability of the mushrooms to grow.

[mrandmrs]

So should I be changing all the compost for different stuff or just wait until potting on?

[gojiberry]

Difficult to change the compost with seedlings in without setting them back, Just keep chopping the fungi off and use a different compost when potting on. It is one of the joys of using peat free compost, you just don't know what you are going to end up with.

Ian

[Sweepster]

I've had mushrooms before too! (on the surface of compost, I hasten to add)
Try a different brand of peat-free multipurpose, some are much better than others. As already mentioned, watering from beneath is a good idea too.

[mrandmrs]

Right I have decided what to do.
I am going to keep pulling the 'shrooms as I see them and see what happens but have also got another multipurpose to plant more seedlings as a back up....luckily room isn't a bother and we have plenty of friends that we can give extra left over crops to....if we are lucky and it all goes well.
Oh and change my watering habbit!
I'm just about to re-arrange the green house so the pots can stand in water, but that leaves me with another question......do you leave the pots standing in water all the time or just for a certain amount of time each day??
Sorry to be such a pain but like I said to start with I've only done early pots so any advice is gratefully recieved
Many thanks for all the replies...you lot know loads!!!

[Sweepster]

Just stand them in water for a short time - I'd say no more than half an hour, and for seedlings in shallow compost probably only 5-10 minutes - when you can see/feel that the surface of the compost is moist, remove them and let any excess water drain away.

[mrandmrs]

Brilliant thank you so much

[Two_Sheds]

Just stand them in water for a short time

and only if they feel light - not every day