Seedlings with yellow leaves? - Ask Extension
My squash/melon seedlings, in raised beds, with new organic raisedbed/potting soil from Home Depot, sprouted yellow and are stunted. Other seeds are s...
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Seedlings with yellow leaves? #798858
Asked June 30, 2022, 4:21 PM EDT
My squash/melon seedlings, in raised beds, with new organic raisedbed/potting soil from Home Depot, sprouted yellow and are stunted. Other seeds are slow to sprout. At first thought it might be overwatering, but the soil is loose and moist. Could it be that it's too "hot", meaning the chicken manure or bat guano content hasn't completely been composted? (Years ago we had a few yards of "compost" delivered. It fried all of my plants that i put in the garden. It looked similar to this.) I have 4 of these 4x4 boxes. They all have the same new soil and all the seedlings look in varying stages of distress. The beans look better than the squash, but some beans never sprouted. Thank you for helping me diagnose my issue!
Douglas County Colorado
Expert Response
Dear Susie:
The soil may be too hot. More fertilizer is not necessarily better. I suggest you do the following experiment: Place the soil in a cup. Then place a bean in it (any kind of bean). If you have the same result as your raised beds, you will know the chicken manure and bat guano is the problem.
The soil may be too hot. More fertilizer is not necessarily better. I suggest you do the following experiment: Place the soil in a cup. Then place a bean in it (any kind of bean). If you have the same result as your raised beds, you will know the chicken manure and bat guano is the problem.
Thank you!
Is there anything I can do to mitigate the problem? Work in different soil around the plants, or some other countermeasure to neutralize it or minimize it?
Thanks again!
Hi Susie,
for "hot" soil, the best solution is to try to flush the soil of excess salts and nutrients with good, deep watering. If possible, you could also try to incorporate inorganic soil--topsoil, with no added compost, for example.
Good luck!
