[utigers]

Hi there - Some of the things I have sown over the last month or 2 have started to go 'limp' and then die?  I'm not sure if they are too damp that has caused it?  It has been my Aubergines and now my courgettes.  Going to sow some more but dont want it happening again.

Any ideas on what it might be?  Or what I've done wrong?

Thanks for any replies.

[mumofstig]

How, and where, are you growing them?

[utigers]

Set them off in an electric propagator, then leave them on a window sill for a week or so, before moving them into a heated greenhouse which is around 16-18C.  They are not growing either, just idle then go limp. 

[JayG]

It's easy to kill young plants by over-watering, which drowns the roots.

Another possibility is damping off disease if your GH is also very humid.

Lack of warmth doesn't sound likely assuming your GH temp hasn't dropped a long way below the figures you mention at any stage.

[Yorkie]

If it looks as though they are rotting at stem level, I agree with JayG that damping off is likely to be the cause.
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=151

[JayG]

Particularly agree with the RHS tip in Yorkie's link to not use collected rain water for watering seedlings, although I do allow tap water to stand for at least 24 hours to allow most of the chlorine to evaporate and for the temperature to adjust to the surroundings.

[Totty]

And what type of cheap multi purpose has been used to grow them?

Totty

[Yorkie]

And what type of cheap multi purpose has been used to grow them?

Totty

That's a bit of a presumptuous rush to judgement.

[Totty]

Yes, I suppose it is a bit. The medium in which the roots grow is the single most important part of growing veg (weather is up there too) therefore when people say, why does this or that not grow well, I've given it light, warmth and water, yet it still dies, where else does the answer lie. Have you seen some of the junk being sold as multi purpose? Why would want to sow seeds lovingly into anything that contains plastic, glass, lumps of bark? If the original poster comes back and says they use only the finest john innes seed compost or Levington F2s at 8 quid a bag, I'll stand corrected.

Totty

[JayG]

Over-watering, too high or low temperatures, and/or high humidity are much more likely to damage seedlings than poor quality compost.

[Yorkie]

While compost is relevant, damping off is far more likely to be the cause.  Poor quality compost alone - even assuming that your presumption is correct, totty - is unlikely to cause difficulties if the watering and hygiene regime is satisfactory.

[utigers]

Thanks for the replies.  A experienced old boy at the allotment mentioned damping off also, after reading that link it gives my some good advice on at least how to prevent it and hopefully improve my success rate. 

Clean water has been used throughout.
Seed trays had been washed but not with Jeyes fluid....they will be from now on.
Compost used was Westlands John Innes Seed sowing compost....albeit a bag from last year?? Not sure if this is ok?

So thanks for the advice and I will now hopefully have a bit more success.