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My brassica seedlings had been looking quite healthy until I noticed today that some of them have got a dusting of white powdery stuff on their seed leaves. I've removed the seed leaves where affected, but the mould dust had fallen onto the soil in some cases too. Again, I scraped off and removed this, and everything looks fine again, apart from one seedling where it had spread to the stem just above the soil.
I've not experienced this before - is it common? What could be causing it? They've been potted into individual pots, and spend daytime outside and nightime in the polytunnel. The compost is quite wet today after heavy rain yesterday - could the warmth in the tunnel overnight be causing problems? If so, do you have any suggestions please? I wouldn't have thought they're big enough to leave outside permanently just yet, or to plant out...
Help! I'd really hate to lose the lot after they've come so (relatively) far unscathed! Thx.
I've not experienced this before - is it common? What could be causing it? They've been potted into individual pots, and spend daytime outside and nightime in the polytunnel. The compost is quite wet today after heavy rain yesterday - could the warmth in the tunnel overnight be causing problems? If so, do you have any suggestions please? I wouldn't have thought they're big enough to leave outside permanently just yet, or to plant out...
Help! I'd really hate to lose the lot after they've come so (relatively) far unscathed! Thx.
. The problem is that the tunnel has been swinging from the high 20's on a sunny day even if it's been cold outside, to -1 deg at night, so I've been putting the brassicas outside during the day because I thought they prefered it cooler, and to minimise the changes in temp. But that's meant they've been subject to lots of heavy showers and some quite cold winds at times. I really don't know what to do for the best with them at the moment.
. I'd intended to repot them today by removing as much of the cold wet compost as possible, and replacing with something a bit drier, then keeping them indoors for a while, but maybe outside would be a better option, at least for the slightly larger ones. The reserved beds were covered with cardboard, but the chickens have scratched it all up over the past week or two - would you suggest I warm the soil with polythene first? Or do you think it'll be OK as it is? Night time temperatures are currently forecast to be about 6 deg min, usually slightly higher. Luckily I bought loads more hoops yesterday, and have the remains of a roll of fleece left to play with too 
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