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Santa Cruz, CA

We've had our seedlings in the ground about 8 days now and I've notice the second true leaf is a bit yellow. I dreched with liquid seaweed and fish emulsion this morning and will keep that up every 10 days or so. Does that sound good? We've had warm days but the nights are still cold here in California.

5/13/2007 4:27:01 PM

Menomonie, WI ([email protected])

I think since we rush to get these plants going they are shocked into trying to behave properly. They are unable to take up nitrogen and nutrients properly. I have never seen a direct seeded plant do this. The ones we start under heat and baby tend to do this alot. Along with wilting easy.

5/13/2007 5:19:08 PM

[email protected]

Yep...transplant shock. What are your soil temperatures like? Cool soils lack the biological activity to liberate Nitrogen. Lot's of growers "cheat" by applying Urea or better yet, Nitrate forms of Nitrogen when the soil is cool. This is risky business for the "less than experienced".

5/13/2007 10:19:02 PM

southwest MO

You nailed it Shannon. My melon volunteers always bloww right past the chossen spoon fed ones.

5/13/2007 10:53:54 PM

Santa Cruz, CA

I'm not sure what our soil tempertures are. Is there a good place to purchase a soil thermometer? How are they used?

5/14/2007 12:21:33 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

How much urea would be safe for two for a three leafed ppumpkin plant? Do you cut the urea with water? How long do you continue applying? What do you watch for so you know the situation has been remidied?

5/14/2007 12:27:18 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Kristine, I seen in an earlier thread that you were watering your seedlings quite heavily. Maybe this could be part of your problem.

Phil

5/14/2007 6:09:03 AM

Santa Cruz, CA

How often do you water your seedlings? We have the plants on a soaker hose system and I've turned it on twice for 15 min. and have been hand watering around the seedling every other day. What do you all do?

5/14/2007 9:33:22 AM

[email protected]

Creek,

You don't need a fancy $45 soil thermo. Bury the cheapo $.99 item from the dollar store for a few minutes & read it as soon as you yank it back out of the ground.

5/14/2007 9:35:32 AM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Hi Kristine

We only water every 3 days or so. I like to let the plants search a bit for water as it makes for bigger root system. This was a little trick I heard from Al Eaton a couple years back. The watering might not be the problem, but I thought I'd throw it out there as a possible cause, if everything else is okay.

Phil

5/15/2007 6:32:01 AM