[WhippetMaster]

Now in my second year of growing and after a reasonable year decided to sow toms, peppers and aubergines on my kitchen windowsill. Other more hardy seeds where sown and they have survived but the first three tender crops keep dying when they get to 1 inch tall.
Any ideas???

[peapod]

Overwatering? Underwatering? Too cold? All of these could be a factor, especially overwatering.  They need to be kept moist but not soaking

[sclarke624]

Strange maybe cold draught near to window.  Is someone being helpful -not- and watering as well as you (been there).

[Sadgit]

does that window get the sun during the day? Our does but can get chilly at night so they are moved at 8pm to a warmer location and the put back at 6am.. repeat till outside is warm enough in the greenhouse

[Aunt Sally]

Do they just fall over ?  If they do it could be damping off.

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profiles1000/damping_off.asp

Use fresh sterile compost and clean water (I use tap water that has stood to warm to ambient temperature).

[WhippetMaster]

Looks like damping off. I have used the same compost this year,J Arthur Bowers on all seedlings. They thrive until they reach an inch tall then go crispy on the edges before falling over!

Oh and I have white mould, nothing a doctor cant cure........

In thought it might be the compost so I sowed some more in a different batch. this is doubtful though as my caulis, cabbages, peas etc are well on their way. My other half does not water them so it may be me.

I have pre chitted the seeds by soaking them in warm water and after planting they are  placed in an airing cupboard to sprout.

Is this ok to do??

[Aunt Sally]

There are very few plant that need extra heat to germinate.  Read the packet and if it doesn't say the need a high temperature (18 -24^oC) then don't put them in the airing cupboard.

[WhippetMaster]

Thanks its possible I may have pre cooked them as airing cupboard is very warm but window sill is 14-24 degrees during day and I am going to measure minimun temperature tonight as it is going to freeze. At least I can eliminate that!!
Then I am going to start over and sterilize my pots!!!!

[Aunt Sally]

You can move them away from the window at night or cover them with fleece or even newspaper.

[WhippetMaster]

Thanks for you help I will take the temperature tonight. I did not have this problem last year but it was very mild down here and everything grew well until it got waterlogged in the summer!!!

[Trillium]

Aunty's suggestion is spot on as peppers and toms come from very hot climates and close proximity to cold windows or even slight cold drafts will finish them off. And those chilly temps, even for a short while, are enough to encourage damping off. Soon as I plant all my sprouted seeds, I immediately spray them for damp off just to be sure.

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, if the leaves are going crispy they could be getting scorched is it too hot on the sill we've had some very sunny days lately, it can get very hot for new seedlings behind glass.

Keep on a troshing J W

[richyrich7]

If you think it may be dampening off disease then I would be doing the first watering at sowing with a cheshunt compound solution this will help... not organic tho'   

[zazen999]

I know loads of people who have stopped using J Arthur Bowers compost as they lost everything last year.

[WhippetMaster]

Funny you should say that, I used a different compost lasy year and had no problems. This year most of my tender veg seems to be affected. apart from cucumbers!!!
My minimum over the past two days has been 11.1 C and the maximum was 36 c
Have sterilised all pots and re sown so fingers crossed!!
Thanks for all your suggestions!!