Tamping off.....can someone give an easy explanation?

Can someone explain the process of tamping off for me? I don't know why I'm having a hard time with it. When do you do it? Do you have to do it? Purpose? etc....etc. Thanks. Fran

Did you mean "damping off"? I've heard of "tamping" where you usually tamp the soil after you put a post or pole in the ground or tamp a base of gravel for putting pavers or flagstone down. You can also tamp the soil around a transplanted tree, shrub, or other plant to prevent air pockets.

"Damping off" usually refers to a disease prevalent among seedlings. This can be prevented by not letting the soil stay too damp, providing good air cirulation, having sterile growing conditions including soil, etc.

Fungicides can be used as well but these have their own problems (toxicity for instance).

Here is a good link:

http://tomclothier.hort.net/page13.html

Hmmm....I thought tamping off was a process used in seed starting after it got so far along. I guess I'll have to go back to the source I was looking at and see. Thanks.

Tamping down rather than off. I have a propagation book that suggests tamping down moist propagation medium with a brick before making holes with a dibble.

Tamping down simply means to pat the soil down- depending on what you are doing, what you are planting you might want to tamp firmly or lightly- in the instance that you are referring to I'd say that tampling down w/ a brick means "FIRMLY"-

April

I guess I have the wrong term. I was thinking about something that had to do with the first leaves that form and you had to do something with them. I guess I'll have to get a seed starting book at the library. Thanks.

lol April--I'd call that firm. =)

The new seedlings are succeptible to "Damping Off". If you need to seperate the new seedlings into seperate pots, "Pricking out".

Deb, is there a word for 'firm plus'?
LOL

perhaps double x firm? =)
Like t-shirts, maybe?

Yeah I'd say so- can't say I have ever been advised to tamp anything quite that firmly, you?

not soil April--certainly not. =)

"Damping off" is the quick death of seedlings from either a fungus or the fungal generation of protists.
http://tomclothier.hort.net/page13.html

I heard that a 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water is useful in preventing Damping Off.

If you starting seeds indoors, use sterilized potting mix, or sterilize it yourself by baking it for 1/2 with an internal temp of 180F. Keep your containers clean, as well.

Weezingreens what do you mean by 1/2?