Re: Starting seedlings
Allan,
Do not set your plant trays in water. As you surmised, you will waterlog
the roots and kill the plants. Too much water allows no oxygen in the soil
and the plants will surely die, unless, of course, they are water or bog
plants, which brassicas are not.
Can you shade your plants at all during the day? Or, how about setting up
an automatic watering system that will spray your trays in the morning and
again in the afternoon?
Here in Texas, seedlings in small packs like 6- or 4-packs do dry out
incredibly quickly. I watch the root ball and pot up when the plants can't
last a whole day without being watered twice. And I keep the trays under a
big oak tree so they get filtered sun while they're so small.
Good luck, Cindy in TX, Z8/9
>Please allow me, as usual, to enter here with the most nubie question
>possible: how are people keeping their seedlings in trays from DRYING
>OUT? With all the other chores in the garden at this time, I've
>already lost a couple of brassica flats to unexpected drying (2 inch
>high seedlings still waiting for true leaves.
>
>I'm starting to assume that I need to set the flats in water (I don't
>have covers for them) during the day, but I've heard that this
>waterlogs the roots.
>
>How are you handling this situation? (I s.b. germinating 50 flats at
>all times through June. I'd appreciate your help in making this work.
>)
>
>-Allan
>
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