I've been struggling with damping off while growing my brassicas this year. I initially started them in Happy Frog potting mix, where my peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants are thriving without any issues. However, I can't seem to find clear recommendations on what soil would best prevent damping off for brassicas. Any advice would be appreciated!
2 Answers
I found that adding vermiculite to your mix can really help with damping off. Believe it or not, it works even for seeds that need light to germinate. Just keep in mind that not all areas have a wide selection of soils available, so use what you can find!
That's odd! Usually, brassicas aren't too finicky. I've never had issues with Happy Frog potting mix, but it's possible you got a bag with a lot of fungal spores. Do you have airflow over your seedlings? I’ve seen great results since I switched to making my own mixes using coir, vermiculite, perlite, and worm castings. Might give that a try!
Yeah, I had no problems with brassicas in previous springs using Miracle Grow seed starting mix. But this time in Happy Frog, they all died except for 5! I’ve heard that richer soils foster fungus more, and since Happy Frog has fertilizers, it could be a factor. I do use a fan and water with capillary mats, though.