Patio plantation: mold in seedling starter kits

 

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Last week, we started some vegetable seeds in a starter tray. We planted snow peas and cucumbers. They started sprouting promptly, maybe just a few days, but when we took the cover off, some of the cells had hairy-looking fungus in it. We wanted to eliminate the fungus, and I proposed using a small amount of spray mold killer in the cell. However, the mold killer we possessed was not food-safe, and Jane was anxious about proceeding with that approach. She searched online and discovered an unexpected and interesting treatment, which we decided to try. Here is a link that describes the use of chamomile tea to treat fungus in the garden

How to Use Chamomile Fungicide to Stop Plant Diseases in Their Tracks

Jane tried it, and it worked. On doing some of my own research online, I discovered other methods for treating mold on seedlings. Unsurprisingly, a dilute bleach solution was one of the suggested treatments, though I wondered whether it might pose a risk of toxicity to plants. Other interesting remedies included hydrogen peroxide and, surprisingly, cinnamon. Naturally, preventing mold growth in seedlings is preferable to treatment, and recommended measures include avoiding overwatering and ensuring proper ventilation. I encourage the reader to do further independent research on these topics

While investigating mold on seedlings, I encountered several websites that provided what I considered valuable information, probably personal blogs rather than commercially sponsored platforms. However, I was disheartened to find that one of these sites was run by an anti-vaxxer. Despite offering an excellent post on using tea as a fungicide, I am unwilling to share the link due to their promotion of harmful ideologies. Alarmingly, this was not the only blog with helpful advice for DIY enthusiasts that also disseminated misleading and dangerous information. For example, another site claimed parsley could “cure” more than ten diseases. In reality, parsley does not cure anything, though it is a nutritious and beneficial vegetable. Interestingly, while the site’s parsley-related content probably lacked scientific validation, it did not explicitly claim cures. Instead, it referred to parsley as an immune system booster, a vague term. Nevertheless, the use of the word “cure” constitutes a false claim, and I do not wish to direct readers to such websites.