preventing damping off when growing seeds .

Does anyone have an idea how to prevent "damping off" when sowing seed etc - I used to use cheshunts powder ( I fink thats woh its spellt)
but cannot find anywhere that stocks it,

 

Hi, I bought a puffer pack from my local garden centre of a similar copper-containing powder made by Murphys. The Cheshunts is available mail order, eg:
http://www.gardendirect.co.uk/product.asp?numRecordPosition=2&P_ID=4318&strPageHistory=cat&strKeywords=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=348
but with postage it's a bit expensive unless
a] you want other things
b] you're desperate!
I don't know any ways of preventing it other than keeping seed trays clean , and not re-using compost if you've had it. There are soil sterilisers available for the more well-off amongst us.

 

I know damping off can be a problem we all get from time to time, but it can be avoided as Liz said by using fresh compost and clean pots etc.
Would like to add to that, that not too close an atmosphere helps, difficult when germinating seeds in the cold damp months that are coming up.
So unless its something that really needs to be sown now, I'd wait.

 

You can sterilise smallish quantities of compost in the microwave. I also keep nematodes in the fridge, relax, its the alcohol fridge not the food one :D
Years ago, when I was a chemist in the QA lab of an insecticide/weedkiller Co, we used to make cheshunts compound for our own use by grinding together, in a pestle and mortar, equal amounts of copper sulphate and washing soda crystals.

 

Hi

As a newbie, could you explain what 'damping off' please?

thanks

 

Damping off, bubbly, is when newly germinated seedlings suddenly wilt, keel over and die, for no obvious reason.
Its caused by a fungus that thrives on the same conditions as the seedlings, therefore fugicides are the usual precaution to take, and best before the trouble starts in the first place.

 

Cheers everybody- I have a better understanding of what causes "damping off" so hopefully I can try to prevent it happening -
Mad mick-w

 

Ah I see. Thanks for that Pete.