HELP! Everything is dying

[Richard&Tracey]

Hi all.

I am a complete noob at gardening, I've just moved into my first place with a garden and was keen to get going with my own veggies.

So I decided to start with Tomatoes and thought how great it would be to grow from seed. Seeds arrived, popped into propagator and then moved on to individual pots.
All going well so far.

And then....this is happening!
What am I doing wrong? Too much water? Not enough??
If the photos don't show it properly the stems are narrowing from the soil upwards!




Any advice greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance

[Newton]

Hi Richard and Tracy.

Welcome to the vine. They look to be bin compost that is too wet. The roots needcaircand watercandcthe air has been driven out. They also need lots of light so they dont stretch too much......

Much less water........the compost will soak up from the bottom if left in a saucer of water..

Good luck......

[Richard&Tracey]

Hi Newton.

Thanks for the speedy reply!

I did wonder if that was my mistake, I thought being that Tomatoes have a high water content that they would be hungry for water.....I guess that's later on

Is there any way to save these seedlings or should I just start again?

Thanks again.

[Darwin.]

I'm a complete novice myself but looking at the pictures I'd agree that the compost looks far too wet. That's the extent of my knowledge I'm afraid.

[veggiechicken]

Hello Both and welcome to the Vine. It sounds like damping off disease to me. I don't think there's any hope for the affected plants - sorry. Its happened to some of my early sown tomatoes too.
You can read about it Damping off / Royal Horticultural Society

[Richard&Tracey]

Thanks everyone.

Time to start again, we live and learn

Thanks for the link Veggiechicken I'll have a read of that.

[taff]

sow some more....they'll probably catch up at the end of the season.

[taff]

oops, wrote it, forgot to post it, left the window open too long

[Potstubsdustbins]

I presume you have the propergator somewhere warm.

Start again. What i would do to make life easy is to use modules or small plant pots within the propergator. Moisten the compost and allow it to drain, then plant your seed and place in the propergator. As soon as the seeds germinate remove the modules/pots from the heat of the propergator and place where there is maximum light.

When you water do so from the bottom by standing the modules/pots in a dish of water. The compost should be moist not wet.

Potty

[Two_Sheds]

I thought being that Tomatoes have a high water content that they would be hungry for water..

Yes, when they're big and it's hot. Not when they're babies

When you water do so from the bottom by standing the modules/pots in a dish of water.

how to water seedlings - YouTube

[Samurailord]

I have started to use coir pellets to plant my toms and chillis in (I think the best known brand is Jiffy 7 but I didn't use that particular one)

They come as small, hard disks about 1cm thick, but when you rehydrate with warm water they swell to about three or four times their size and you can plant your seeds straight into them.

The best bit about these mini-pots is that they are peat free, you don't need any compost at all and they can be planted out whole without the need to disturb the roots.

Watering is a doddle too - just pour water into the bottom of the propogator and it will be taken up from the bottom of each pot.

I have struggled with damping-off myself in the past, but so far this year's toms are doing fine.

I have yet to see how they fare when planted on - as I said, this is my first year of using them, but I will report later in the year.

Just my two-penny-worth

Andy

[Ttk101]

Tomatoes are one of the easiest to grow . And you can bring back almost any plant from sickness, not Likely as a seedling tho. You need potting soil. Buy perlite, or Pete is great! You need either organic or store bought nutes. Don't get miracle grow. Get a 10-10-5 mix. You should be fine . Read more, will do wonders lol

[solway cropper]

Tomatoes are one of the easiest to grow . And you can bring back almost any plant from sickness, not Likely as a seedling tho. You need potting soil. Buy perlite, or Pete is great! You need either organic or store bought nutes. Don't get miracle grow. Get a 10-10-5 mix. You should be fine . Read more, will do wonders lol

Not sure how this helps with a post that's more than 3 months old!

[veggiechicken]

I hope the OPs are OK as they haven't been back since these posts either

[Ttk101]

Not sure how this helps with a post that's more than 3 months old!

Lol, this is a forum ??? Ppl have problems everyday. This post helped me and I wasn't the initial poster. You gotta think man