Fuzzy grey mould on seedlings!

[ocailleagh]

Help! I planted a bunch of seeds a few weeks back, various pumpkins and squashes. Most of them started coming up quite lovely. I've been keeping them in the little greenhouse/tent thing I have so that they're less obvious to the slugs (after last year's got completely eaten up by the little buggers), I'm waiting til they're big enough to not be so appetising. Anyway, I went and checked on them today (at my parents' house) and a number of them had grey fluffy mould over the surface of the soil. What do I do?? I don't want to lose this year's lot as well.

[Annpan]

It might be more serious than this but I would increase ventilation... it might lift or all your seedlings might be lost. Don't worry though you still have time to plant more, just make sure you use fresh compost, don't water too much and allow some ventilation. (all very good advice but I still get it wrong)

[JR]

Yes I would say too, try opening the greenhouse up for a while each day where you can, having too much water and not enough light will cause the same thing. I have an old file hanger in mine and the plants on the lower shelves get the same thing so I rotate them around. The plants on the top shelves need more water and you end up watering them all while you are at it. The ones with less light then will mould if you are not carefull.

[ocailleagh]

Thanks both. But what can be done about those that are already fuzzy? It doesn't seem too advanced, do you think they're save-able?

[JR]

I had some on seedlings last year, removed it off, made sure not to over water and ensured air and light. Plants and crops were fine.

[ocailleagh]

I've just got back from my parents' house...I opened up the greenhouse to ventilate and check on them and the mould was gone! There was also a touch of snail damage-luckily only one gourd seedling had been completely munched-so do you think they could've cleared it up for me? I left them a couple of pots of old wine to say thanks anyway lol

[hedgewizard]

It's possible - either way the mould is probably a sign that things are getting a bit damp in there, so give them more air and maybe let the compost dry out a little bit. Phew!