[Grubbypaws]

I produced a bumper crop of Pak Choi and turnips early in the season but have since had 2 successive complete failures. The seeds germinate then die when only just visible. I dont understand. What am I doing wrong 

I am worried that it maybe some consequence of the organic slug pellets that I have been using??? Looking on the container it says that you must only do 4 applications. Why? What can more do? Is 4 applications in a raised bed the cause. I cant think of anything else.

Help!

[JayG]

It could be "damping off" disease due to excessive humidity and too-close spacing, although I would have thought that it is comparatively rare outdoors (it's usually slugs or birds which nobble new seedlings although in that case of course they simply vanish rather than die.)

I think it's very unlikely to be the slug pellets unless you have used them in industrial quantities!

[Grubbypaws]

They do just disappear but they are under a fine mesh and within a copper ring.

The organic pellets work by absorbing water and swelling in the slugs gut so they dont feed and die. OH was wondering if this could somehow critically dehydrate the seedlings. On the other hand it may be slugs doing the damage 

Does any one know why the slug pellet co instruct only 4 applications?

[rhysdad]

They do just disappear but they are under a fine mesh and within a copper ring.

The organic pellets work by absorbing water and swelling in the slugs gut so they dont feed and die. OH was wondering if this could somehow critically dehydrate the seedlings. On the other hand it may be slugs doing the damage 

Does any one know why the slug pellet co instruct only 4 applications?

Even organic slug pellets are a pesticide and, as such, they are not wanted in the water course. Limiting the amount of applications and using only the stated dose will help to achieve this.

[JayG]

The active ingredient is ferric phosphate which is a simple salt rather than an complex organic compound, and both ferric and phosphate ions are normal constituents of soil.

It is virtually insoluble so shouldn't pose a threat to water courses (I can't find anything online to suggest otherwise.)

I've had carrot seedlings eaten by slugs even under mesh (they don't need much of a gap to get in and once inside they're in slug heaven!)

[Grubbypaws]

So more slug pellets not less 

[mumofstig]

Small black slugs live in the soil, not just on the surface.........so they don't need to find a way under the mesh

[dig4victory]

So more slug pellets not less 

I heard that too many pellets down can actually encourage more slug trouble.  We use the organic pellets and have had good success this year.

[Grubbypaws]

OK,  its out with the grapefruit halves again to see if I can find me some slugs!!

There were plenty of pellets down when I sewed the seed so its difficult to know what I could have done differently.

[sunshineband]

You actually say the seedlings 'died' rather than were munched. Maybe not slugs... mice nibbling them?

[stompy]

Have you sowed them in the same place?

Could it be a soil born virus or disease?

I find the "organic" slug pelets very good and they are very affective and they kill snails too.

Can't you sow and bring them on in modules first to give you a head start?

[Salmo]

Flea beetles attack both these plants and seem to be able to get under most mesh or may be in the soil already. The leaves will have bite marks and you should be able to see a few tiny black beetles that jump away

It could be that the roots are being eaten by wireworms, millepedes, leatherjackets, springtails, symphalids or many others. Dig up the remains of a damaged plant and look at it closely with a hand lens. Is it the leaves or the roots that are damaged? Are there any bugs in the soil round the roots?

[Grubbypaws]

Yes they are in the same place stompy.

The seedlings germinate and then either disappear or whither. I was wondering whether aphids might be the cause so I went looking for ladybirds AND i COULDN’T FIND ANY  

Thinking about it I haven’t seen any all year. I am now far more worried about this than my Pak Choi.

What has happened to the ladybirds??

Thank you Salmo. Unfortunately when I titled this post 'complete failure' I wasn’t exaggerating; there are none left to dig up!

I was thinking of sewing spinach instead. Would this be immune to the beetle? This is all happening in my raised bed so what should I do about next years sewing?

[stompy]

I would say it's fungal.
Try some in another place and see how they fare or start in modules.

[strangerachael]

I had this problem last year, I grew spinach and lettuces which did beautifully early in the year but my successional sowings were all completely useless. At first I put it down to pigeons but it was just the same when I covered them with a mesh tunnel. Maybe it's just that they don't like the growing conditions at this time of year? Actually I'm having similar problems this year with my spinach.