Poor tomato roots and damping off.

[Marb67]

I usually have success growing toms every year but this time not so good. Because of the cold weather some of the tigerella got damping off and literally collapsed. I tried to save them with cinnamon powder but all but 2 saved. It's touch and go if these survive now I have potted on deeper in the pot with more powder but so far so good. Still small though. I did make sure all pots were clean before I sowed them all. One. Thing, I did use the John Innes seed compost I purchased last year and stored all winter in greenhouse. Would that get contaminated over time ? i just didn't like to waste it.

The gardener's delight have managed to fend off the damping off but I must say all toms when potted on into slightly larger pots had hardly any root growth. In a bid to help formation I have introduced microysal fungus (probably spelt badly wrong as spellchecker hasn't even picked up on it) in the potting on stage so my question is..... Is there hope with this ?

Cheers.

[Tripmeup]

There's always hope Marb

The warmer weather should help everything to kick on a bit

[Jungle Jane]

I've read that the mycorrhizal fungi (I can't spell it,the packets in front of me!) doubles the root growth,but I've never dug any plants up to compare? Hopefully it will give some protection to the roots though! Let us know how it goes? If you're worried your compost might be contaminated,you could test it in a pot with a few rocket seeds to eat as baby leaves,it's probably fine I would have thought,I've used old compost but it stays outside (I don't have a greenhouse).

[roitelet]

Damping off is often caused by too much moisture and over crowded seedlings. I use leaf mould and sand as a seed compost and never sterilize it and don't seem to have much trouble. Mind I do keep things a bit on the dry side and always water from the bottom.

Now the weather has warmed up you should see some movement. All my things are slow at the moment.

[brownfingers]

How big does a tommy seedling need to get before it is safe to water from the top?

[goosander]

Being new to this tom growing what is the advantage of cinnamon powder. Is it better than epsonsalts.
Thanks.
Bob

[Scoot]

How big does a tommy seedling need to get before it is safe to water from the top?

I water from the top from day one. Usually just with a little water sprayer at first.