Spring Onion Seedlings - green stuff on the soil?

[Helgalush]

Hi,

I am a beginner at veg growing. I have planted some spring onions in seed trays - they have come up lovely but what is bothering me is that there is a little bit of green stuff on the surface of the soil like algae or something.

Is that anything to worry about?

Thanks
Helen

[tamsin]

Is the soil very damp? It might just be a little over watering. I wouldn't worry though, just becareful to only water when they start drying out.

[Helgalush]

Thank you. Yes I think it must have been, though I was concerned because the tips of the seedlings have become a bit frazzled so I though they were dehydrated. They are in a east/south facing porch which gets the full morning sun and stays warm, so maybe it was too hot in there? They really need to be planted now I think but just havent had time...hopefully Wednesday if it isnt snowing here then!!

(PS I have looked on your link, are you the same Tamsin from RU forum?? Small world if you are!!)

[Two_Sheds]

They are in a east/south facing porch which gets the full morning sun

oh yeah, they won't like that. Are you watering from the bottom (put plants in a bowl of water) or from the top onto the soil (which encourages moulds & pests) ?

[Helgalush]

Oh ok, I thought it would be like a bit of a greenhouse which would help them to germinate! Ooops, will move them to a window sill at the back, although was planning on planting them out on Wednesday...

I am also afraid to say that I am watering them from above, not below. I am making a lot of rookie mistakes arent I?!

[tamsin]

The top of the first 'leaf' sometimes looks a little brown/crickly where they were looped over.

(PS I have looked on your link, are you the same Tamsin from RU forum?? Small world if you are!!)

Yep

[Helgalush]

The top of the first 'leaf' sometimes looks a little brown/crickly where they were looped over.



Yep

Yes thats what I mean, I thought it was a sign of dehydration. I am moving them in the morning.

Hope the mouldy/algae stuff wont cause any harm...

Cool, nice to see you here too! I like your website and your bunnies are so lovely! (I am Helgalush on there, should be on here too but missed the 'h' off the end when I was signing up!)

[Two_Sheds]

(I am Helgalush ...should be on here too but missed the 'h' off the end when I was signing up!)

Send a PM to one of the moderators and they'll change your name for you

[Two_Sheds]

Oh ok, I thought it would be like a bit of a greenhouse ...will move them to a window sill at the back, although was planning on planting them out on Wednesday...!

Onion seedlings don't like to be warm. Cool is better (north or east facing windowsill).
Before you plant them outside, you need to harden them off (put them out daytimes for a week, bring inside at night) to get them used to the change in temp etc.
Same with anything that's going from under cover to the great outdoors

[Helgalush]

Thank you so much, I will start doing that from tomorrow then. They are now on a north-west facing windowsill so hopefully that will suit them better until they are outside. Thanks again.