Re: [CH] Chimayo seed problem
Dave Anderson (Chilehead@tough-love.com)
Fri, 25 Jun 1999 07:57:33 -0700
Hi Tony,
I didn't start Chimayo seeds this year because I had so many new
varieties to try. I'm going away for the weekend, but will start some
on Monday. Here are a some thoughts:
1. Send me your address and I'll be happy to send you more
seeds. (Based on information about a poor crop this year from my
supplier, I just received a lot of new Chimayo seeds.)
2. If, as you said in your last e-mail which I haven't responded to
yet, you are germinating your seeds in a sunny window, stop the
practice. Because of day-night temperature differences, a window
sill is probably the worst place to try to start seeds. Put them on
top of the fridge.
3. Usually, the culprit when seedlings die off before the true leaves
form is "damping off" disease. The seedling wilts and keels over
right at the soil line. Damping 0ff is a fungus which is at it's worst in
high humidity conditions.
4. While Chimayo is only grown commercially in the Chimayo area
of New Mexico, I certainly don't believe that it can only be grown
there. People all over the world have purchased seed from me and
grown it successfully.
> I've so far been unable to keep any of my Chimayo seeds (from Tough-Love)
> going beyond the sprout stage before they self-destruct. Specifically the
> two starter leaves pop up out of the soil, then after a day or so they
> turn black, shrivel up and the plant dies completely within another couple
> of days. I've been keeping a closer eye on my most recent attempt & have
> observed that the blackness starts off as small spots and that the
> shrivelling starts at the end of the leaves. nb. All of my other seed
> varieties from Tough-Love are being treated exactly the same as the
> Chimayo's (ie. compost, sunlight, water, etc.) and all are doing fine,
> hence my assumption that the problem is seed-specific.
>
> Perhaps this particular variety needs extra care, or is there possibly
> something more sinister going on ?
>
> Any thoughts would be much appreciated.
> Tony.
>