Help!

[The Chili Monster]

Last week I sowed some sweet pepper seeds in a tray containing moist organic compost (purchased locally from a reputable garden centre).
This afternoon, I noticed that some toadstools had appeared; this has not occured with other seeds that I started on the same day.
The seeds have been kept a steady 20 C, the tray wrapped in cling film (pireced for ventilation) and checked regularly for dryness.
At the risk of sounding thick, I've no idea if this is a common occurence with organic compost or if something else is the root cause.
Any help would be appreciated.

[Wombat]

First time I've heard of it mate!

Nev

[Muddypause]

I've recently put a fairly thick layer of peat-free compost onto one of my beds, bought in a big, compressed bag from a garden centre. I, too, have pulled some toadstools up today.

The compost would appear to be mainly rotted down wood chippings, who knows where from, but may be the scrap from tree felling or woodland clearance, so could well have all sorts of spores in there. I guess the composting process didn't get hot enough to kill them all off. No sign of anything else, I'm glad to say. Maybe some fungus is more durable than other seeds.

[The Chili Monster]

Yeah, the compost i used is peat free, dotted with chippings. strange (or lucky) only one tray has been affected. I just hope the toadstools aren't too detrimental to the growth of the pepper seedlings.

[Andy Hamilton]

No had any trouble this year, yet. But I did have a tiny mushroom growing in a window box last year and the year before. Nothing to worry about. The trick would be to identify the fungus and see if it can co exisit with your pepper plant. Probally means that the soil is pretty healthy though I would have thought, all good soil should have some life in it.

There are some fungus that is not good, honey dew on wood for example can be pretty devistating. Normally only goes for dead wood but it can go for living hedges like rhodadendron (is that spelt right).

[Millymollymandy]

Almost! RhodOdendron. Not bad for you, Andy!

[ina]

Anyway, rhododendron is classed as a pest up here - so that fungus would be very welcome! Send it along, mate!

[The Chili Monster]

have since found toadstools growing in other seed trays and pots however their arrival appears to proceed by 24 hours the emergence of seedlings.

[diver]

I've had what I thought were mushrooms...but perhaps they were toadstools

[The Chili Monster]

I'm guessing they are toadstools. to be honest don't wish to become that well acquainted with them.

[Steve M]

I've had similar things happen in the past and the seedlings have gone on to mature fully. I just pick out the offending toadstools when they appear.

[Goodlife1970]

Never had toadstools but have had lots of Fat Hen comming up from bought general purpose compost.

[Libby]

Bonus Goodlife, free food

Fat hen is edible isn,t it. Use it like spinach.

[Andy Hamilton]

Bonus Goodlife, free food

Fat hen is edible isn,t it. Use it like spinach.

Yep it is indeed edible

[Goodlife1970]

Ah,thought by the name that it might be safe,so Ive been feeding it to the chickens! Oh when I think of the free dinners.......