Troubleshooting your seedling problems

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This is the time of the year when people sometimes wonder whether starting their own seedlings is worth it. While starting your plants indoors isn’t rocket science, there undoubtedly are a few issues you have to consider to make it a successful endeavor. If your seeds aren’t growing as you envisioned, see if any of these troubleshooting tips explain what might be happening:

Lack of germination – There are some varieties that simply take a long time to poke through the soil. For example, peppers will often take a couple of weeks and I’ve had onions lallygag for over 20 days before germinating. Take a quick look at your seed packet to see if it says how long to expect for germination.

If the seeds aren’t a naturally slow grower, your seed might be too old. While seeds can last for years, they do tend to loose viability over time. Many people suggest running a germination test by placing 10 seeds in a damp paper towel to see how many of them germinate, but I would rather not waste them. If I have any questions, I plant the entire packet and accept what comes up. But if nothing emerges after 3 weeks for most plants, chances are your seeds are duds, and you will need to plant again.

Another issue that is easily remedied is the seeds are in a cool area. Most don’t need light to germinate, but they do need warmth. If you don’t have a warm place to keep them, invest in a simple plant heating mat. You will be amazed at the difference.

Seedlings turn yellow – When seedlings turn yellow you might feel like a private detective to try to figure out the cause. A bit of yellowing on the cotyledons (the two little leaves that emerge from the soil… these are not the first true leaves) is normal when they are ready to fall off. But if your more mature leaves are discolored, the plant is telling you there’s a problem.

One of the first culprits is overwatering. While you don’t want your seedlings wilting and gasping for water, you don’t want them soggy, either. Unless your plants are in a greenhouse with very warm conditions, they do not need watered every day. Press your finger into the soil. If the top quarter-inch is dry, you can give them a drink. If not, let them go a little longer.

Yellowing might also be a culprit of poor soil. While most seedlings don’t need much for fertilizing early on, if they are turning yellow, feed them using a water soluble fertilizer. On the flip side, if you have been feeding them regularly, stop. You might be giving them too much of a good thing.

Seedlings rot – If your seedlings rot, chances are you are over-watering. This promotes a plethora of diseases, including damping off. Thankfully, this is an easy fix: Don’t water them so much!

Plants are leggy – If your plants are tall and lanky, they need more light. While you can absolutely raise successful seedlings in the window, it sometimes takes a version of plant musical chairs to ensure they have at least 14 hours a day, especially early in the season. If they are leggy, move them from window to window, or figure out a way to move them outside during the day. I’ve used cold frames where I set the plants outside during the day, and moved them indoors at night. If your window situation won’t work, and you don’t have a place to put them outside, you can also rig up a system with lights to give them a constant source.

Raising your own garden plants isn’t hard. Correct these few common problems, and you will enjoy the particular satisfaction of raising your plants from seed to garden.

Meet Amy Grisak

Amy is a freelance author and photographer in Great Falls, MT who specializes in gardening, foods, and sustainable agriculture. She provides information on every kind…

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