Lesson Learned, but still need help

[wjcmpbll]

Hello everyone. Noob gardener here with first-time post. Originally my subject was going to be "What went wrong?!" but I think I just figured it out. So here goes.

I started seeds indoors a week ago using 1 flat of Jiffy peat pellets to grow broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers and scallions. I've been amazed by their growth. The cucumbers were about 6 in, broccoli about 4 in, tomatoes just 1 in, scallions just sprouted. I've only watered them twice because they feel moist to the touch. I had thinned the cucumbers out a little but hadn't moved them into a sunny place yet. They receive a lot of ambient light though and all plants looked and felt great when I went to bed last night.

When I got up 8 hours later they're all ruined. Almost all the plants (out of 70) have fallen over; they're weak and leggy; snapped in several places. I freaked out and watered them and put them in a window, but I don't know what to do. I started searching forums to find out how they could have gone from happy healthy plants to practically dead so quickly. It's not just that they had become weak and frail - I was amazed at how beaten-down they look, like they had been trampled on or.... oh no...

That's when I got all Nancy Drew. The plants in the center of the flat were in much worse shape than those on the periphery. Many of the plants had been completely severed. There was dirt around the area where the flat had been, on top of the fridge, and on top of the microwave. The most telling piece of evidence however are the little paw prints on the refrigerator. Apparently Mr Kitty jumped from the floor to the microwave to the fridge to the top of the cabinet where I had my plants... and he slept on them. I'm not certain of this, but he looks pretty guilty (just waiting on the green cat puke). Lesson learned: Don't underestimate the power of a cat to ruin your plants. Check.

So what do I do?

Although he clearly chewed some of the plants to death, some of them have just been flattened (and now possibly over-watered). Can they recover from this? And if so, how? I mean they're almost all laying in the wet peat. That's bad, right?

Man this p*sses me off. Any advice (other than beating the cat) would be greatly appreciated.

[Halfway]

I was gonna say "beat the cat", but I see you have covered that.

They should spring back up if given light. If not, is it too late in your zone to start again?

[wjcmpbll]

I just bought some more seeds and figured I'll try again. Do you think it's ok to remove the plants that are beyond repair and re-use the peat pellets? I may take a few extra seeds and give it a try.

[wolfie]

If the actual pellets won't still work after you remove the seeds, pull the netting off and crumple all the extra dirt stuff into a bowl. Mix it with some seed starter mix and then fill 3 oz cups and plant them in that, put on the heating pad or heat source and then start all over!

[garden5]

You are still in good shape to replant and start over. Like others said, mix the peat pellets with potting soil to have a good mix.

And don't beat Mr. Kitty ...he didn't know any better. Anyway, you will appreciate it when he kills some moles for you this summer .

Good luck with your reseeding.

[Ozark Lady]

Hey, last year, while sunning my plants, I had ducks setting on them.

So, I moved them to the garden to keep the ducks off of them... and squirrels sat on them.

So I planted them, way too early, and arrived in time to see a chicken setting on them, and rolling, and dusting... grrr.


I saw photos of 2x4's nailed together and covered top and bottom with screen wire, and plants happily in between...
That is just what I need!
Maybe you need one too?

[Halfway]

Hey, last year, while sunning my plants, I had ducks setting on them.

So, I moved them to the garden to keep the ducks off of them... and squirrels sat on them.

So I planted them, way too early, and arrived in time to see a chicken setting on them, and rolling, and dusting... grrr.


I saw photos of 2x4's nailed together and covered top and bottom with screen wire, and plants happily in between...
That is just what I need!
Maybe you need one too?

hahaha! Spit coffee through my nose on that one!

[wjcmpbll]

Thanks for all the responses. I rigged up some shelves that sit halfway up the windows (balanced on the tier curtain rod and top of lower sash). I put the seedlings that weren't ruined in egg crates and they fit there perfectly. It's not ideal but seems pretty sturdy and it's out of the reach of the cats - although I'm sure the one will find a way if given enough time. And because these windows are on the south side (I'm in Memphis) they actually receive about 6-8 hours of light per day.

I already have a million other questions about how to grow veggies from seed but I know I should search the forum first before posting.

Thanks again.

[mrsgreenthumbs]

@ wjcmpbll - I don't know about other gardener's but I tried ding the whole

"oh look I can re-use these cardboard egg cartons and flat's to plant seedlings and then just put them in the ground how clever am I..."


Then just after my spinach sprouted I noticed mold, not on the soil or plant's... on the egg cartons! All over white fluffy mold. Watch how much you water the seedlings, I think that was part of my problem. I'm a habitual over watterer.

[wjcmpbll]

UPDATE: So the plants I tried to save are looking pretty raggedy, even though I've been keeping them moist and in the window where they get direct sun for about 8 hrs/day. Are they just doomed? I took pictures:

Cucumbers and broccoli
[img]https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs016.snc3/12404_103227456375423_100000645081027_98652_3768545_a.jpg[/img]

Close-ups of cucumber leaves. Are they wilting?
[img]https://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs016.snc3/12404_103227439708758_100000645081027_98647_351060_a.jpg[/img] [img]https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs036.snc3/12404_103227443042091_100000645081027_98648_4837939_a.jpg[/img] [img]https://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs016.snc3/12404_103227449708757_100000645081027_98650_2767128_a.jpg[/img] [img]https://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs036.snc3/12404_103227463042089_100000645081027_98654_6836016_a.jpg[/img]

Close-up of broccoli
[img]https://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs016.snc3/12404_103227453042090_100000645081027_98651_5721504_a.jpg[/img]

Poor, poor scallions
[img]https://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs016.snc3/12404_103227459708756_100000645081027_98653_964463_a.jpg[/img]

Tomatoes don't look that bad but not great either.
[img]https://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs036.snc3/12404_103227469708755_100000645081027_98656_1386639_a.jpg[/img]

If you look close you can see that I'm pointing at a cat hair. Hmmm... wonder how that got there...
[img]https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs036.snc3/12404_103227473042088_100000645081027_98657_3943810_a.jpg[/img]

So far so good on the new seeds I planted in the "slightly used" peat pellets.
[img]https://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs016.snc3/12404_103227476375421_100000645081027_98658_5247235_a.jpg[/img]

It's a good thing he's so cute.
[img]https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs016.snc3/12404_103227479708754_100000645081027_98659_4250793_a.jpg[/img]

I hope these images show up, otherwise that was a lot of work for nothing. Thanks in advance for any help!

[wjcmpbll]

Ugh... I thought they would be links. Oh well, just let me know if you need larger images.

[wjcmpbll]

[url]https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7790&id=100000645081027&l=17d17f216d[/url]

Cool. Just figured this out. Sorry if it's overkill but now at least you can see the images a little better.

[Joyfirst]

[img]https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4368451218_4285ca2372.jpg[/img]

Sorry about your seedlings. I was worried about my cat doing something to my seedlings, but it looks like she is fine with them.
Also, I think your sedlings are not getting enough light- my cucumber seedlings are short and with bigger leaves than yours. Do you have grow lights?

[wjcmpbll]

No, no grow lights. I thought the window light would be enough until I transplant them into their own pots. It's pretty dry in my apartment though, and I have central heat so that doesn't help. Memphis is notoriously humid but that's not really a factor with starting seeds indoors. I plan on moving the plants outside after last frost. Think I need grow lights until then?

[a0c8c]

Also, I think your sedlings are not getting enough light- my cucumber seedlings are short and with bigger leaves than yours. Do you have grow lights?

Short with big leaves is a good thing, tall and leggy is bad.

[rainbowgardener]

No, no grow lights. I thought the window light would be enough until I transplant them into their own pots. It's pretty dry in my apartment though, and I have central heat so that doesn't help. Memphis is notoriously humid but that's not really a factor with starting seeds indoors. I plan on moving the plants outside after last frost. Think I need grow lights until then?

YES!! You need lights. Your little seedlings are pale and spindly and definitely showing the effects of not enough light. It doesn't have to be fancy grow lights, ordinary fluorescents are fine. Check out the seed starting thread near the top of this (Vegetable Gardening) forum, for pictures of several different people's seed starting set ups.

[wjcmpbll]

I made a few changes. I'll post them at the seed starting thread.