Bad Luck With Seeds

By DarWeen in Ga, USA (Guest Post)

Anything you're going to plant should be in the ground BEFORE Good Friday each year. Don't know why this is so but it works! Anything planted after then just won't grow well. Also, plant when the moon is in the 'new moon' phase, that is when it's 'growing'. You'll have much better luck then. (No, this isn't some kind of witch-craft! It's in the Farmer's Almanac!) It works.

By

kidsNclutter

Could be many things...Overwatering, soil should be kept very lightly moist until seedlings emerge so seeds don't rot. (use spray bottle on mist). Most seeds also need sunlight & or heat (from sunlight) to germinate. Too wet, young stems & roots will rot...keep very lightly moist & allow to dry some in between, at least once daily, mistings. Too dry, die. Scorching/burning sun, especially with water on young plants leaves, bad. Young plants can be tricky to keep alive. I run a seed starting program @ elem. school. The seedlings are started in a seed starting mix, in little cups w/ drainage holes poked in bottom, then the cups are put in little "greenhouses" (plastic trays w/ lids from deli) you can cover w/ plastic wrap, set in the sunlight (sometimes indirect), watered as noted above. When the seedlings emerge, pop open the lids of the greenhouses & continue caring for plants for many weeks (6-8+) until mature enough to plant outside. If you have a grow light (or fluorescent) this helps also during the dark hours. Always accustom plants to outdoors by setting them outside several hrs./day for a week or two before planting. Make sure frost is done for the season before planting or all your hard work will vanish. Plant extras as a backup. Good Luck, we do ok at the school, some die, but enough survive to beautify the school gardens! Some lucky people I know plant their seeds in trays outside on a table in the sun & leave 'em there, water them & do ok. In warm weather of course. Try both methods if can.

By rosa (Guest Post)

Maybe you keep the soil too wet for the little plants. Just mist the soil . When the plants are too wet, ( called dampening off ) the rot off at the soil line ! I don't know how you start your seeds or what kind, but you can start them in soil and cover with plastic, or start them in wet paper towels in a baggie then when they sprout transfer to the correct dept listed on the package , they are very tender, and need less water, just MIST , and sit in bright light, not a window with hot sun. hope this makes sence to you ! :-)