Richard Rollinson
Yesterday, I brought the rest of the seedlings up to the greenhouse so I could shut down all the heat/light in plant room & save $$. Got my first good look at the eggplant (Aubergine) seedlings and I think I've probably lost most of them. After 3 weeks they have no true leaves showing and the growing tip on many of them looks withered. Not sure what happened but I'm starting another batch right now just in case these really don't make it. Some ok?
#Gardening
#Allotment
#NewEngland
#Zone6b
7:49pmWeb
Show threadBroadfork14h ago

@richrollgardener I have no idea what would have caused that. Did the growing tips get frosted? Eggplant/aubergine are my nemesis at the best of times.

Better luck with the next batch.

Show threadRichard Rollinson14h ago
@Broadfork No, not frosted. Never left the plant room in basement until just before I took the picture. However, I DO think it's temperature related, either too warm under the lamps or perhaps not warm enough. I've had temperamental eggplant before. I'm going to let them grow on (if they will) and see what happens. Replacement seeds are already planted. Gardening by trowel and error...
Show threadBroadfork14h ago
@richrollgardener Ok. So maybe burnt/heat wilted. I have no grow light experience whatsoever but you normally run a fan to circulate the air around, don’t you? Or am I thinking of someone else’s set up?
Show threadRichard Rollinson13h ago
@Broadfork Yes, fan was running. Perhaps it dried them out too much.
Show threadclew13h ago

Might be a very specific nutrient deficiency or imbalance— those often show in specific parts of the plant… jeez, the seed leaves are fine, and the tips so blasted.

@richrollgardener @Broadfork

Show threadLa Keka14h ago
@richrollgardener As far as i can judge from the photos, i'd say that the seedlings are still growing leaves (maybe quite slowly), despite the withered tips. Maybe their apical meristems are still intact anyhow. Well, i'd give them a chance ... - but, also, i still keep believing in that the cactuses i seeded half a year ago will show some day. 🙃
Show threadRichard Rollinson13h ago
@La_Keka That is my hope, too. Replacements planted anyway...
Show threadTheJen will not comply13h ago
@richrollgardener this looks like a calcium deficiency to me. Nightshades are heavy feeders. You do have true leaf buds on either side of the main stem, so all is not lost. Check your soil pH as well. If it's off, they won't uptake nutrients. They like slightly acidic soil.
Show threadRichard Rollinson13h ago
@TheJen I will check that and let you know. Thanks.
Show threadTheJen will not comply13h ago
@richrollgardener Fingers crossed for your little buddies. :)
Show threadGeorgiana Brummell10h ago
@richrollgardener Oh, how sad. I hope some do make it. But at least, you'll have these new ones if they don't.