Make sure that containers you’re using are very clean - even a bleach and water wash is recommended to kill all the ‘germs.’
What causes damping off
All of the pathogens (fungi and molds) responsible for damping off survive well in soil and plant debris.
The pathogens can be introduced into the seedling tray in several ways.
Pots, tools, and potting media that have been used in previous seasons and are not properly cleaned can harbor the pathogens.
Spores of Fusarium spp. can be blown in and carried by insects like fungus gnats, or move in splashing irrigation water.
Pythium spp. is often introduced on dirty hands, contaminated tools or by hose ends that have been in contact with dirt and debris.
It happens to the best of us!
https://extension.umn.edu/solve-problem/how-prevent-seedling-damping
It’s still a TAD wet out in the garden (and more rain coming this week) and some spots are still FROZEN, but upcoming garden chores will be:
*Fertilize Fruit Trees, flowering Crab Apple and Rhubarb (I use a 10-10-10 granular applied to the soil and let the rain soak it in.
*Clean up the front of the house. Last season PUPPIES did some lovely digging and chewing, etc. Need to replace mulch, prune back perennials and grasses and take a headcount of MISSING solar lights!
*Cut back ‘Jackmanii’ Clematis and take down current trellising. It blooms on old and new wood, but it could use a full haircut this season. Fertile with the 10-10-10.
*Prune fruit trees while they are still dormant - this means cutting back the branches that BONK me in the head when I’m mowing...and haven’t been producting any fruit, anyway!
*Police the entire yard for puppy-dug, ankle-breaker HOLES, pick up fallen branches and twigs, find misc. puppy toys, etc. prior to mowing. I know there is one Dinosaur-sized BONE laying out there, big enough to bend the mower blades, I’ll bet!
*Keep babysitting seedlings. Peppers and Tomatoes are up, but I’m having some germination issues with two varieties, so I will re-plan those quick - they’ll catch up in time.
*Continue cleaning out the 4 garden beds I let go last fall. I have some tomato plants to pull, as well as their cages. Start planning what is going where in each bed...I have my maps drawn up, ready to receive! :)
I think the pathogens are in the soil itself, which “kills me” when it comes to direct sowing, unless I replace the entire top layer of “nice” soil I’ve built up over the clay, over the years. I don’t think I’m up for that...
I did find some soil fungicides listed here:
https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/fungicide-seed-treatment
But have not checked on availability yet. Obviously, there are negatives to such. :-(
“Of course”, weeds seem to be entirely unaffected by these diseases...