How To Prevent Seed Diseases During Sowing

Preventing seed diseases starts before the seed even touches the soil. Most diseases that affect seedlings are fungal, such as "damping off," which causes seedlings to rot at the soil line.

1. Use Certified Disease-Free Seed: The best defense is a good offense. Purchase seeds from reputable sources that have been tested and certified to be free of common seed-borne pathogens.
2. Seed Treatment: Many seeds come "treated," often coated with a chemical fungicide (usually pink or green) to protect them during germination. For untreated seeds, you can apply a natural bio-fungicide like *Trichoderma* powder or use a hot water treatment (a precise process of soaking seeds at a specific high temperature).
3. Practice Crop Rotation: This is a crucial, long-term strategy. Avoid planting the same crop (or crops from the same family) in the same soil for at least 3-4 years. This starves out soil-borne pathogens that target specific plants.
4. Ensure Good Soil Drainage: Fungal diseases thrive in cold, wet, waterlogged soil. Prepare your beds with plenty of organic matter (compost) to ensure water drains freely. Raised beds are an excellent solution for areas with heavy clay soil.
5. Sanitize Pots and Trays: If starting seeds indoors, always sterilize your used pots and trays before reusing them. A wash with soapy water followed by a rinse in a 1:9 bleach-to-water solution will kill any lingering pathogens. Use a sterile seed-starting mix, not garden soil.
6. Provide Proper Spacing and Depth: Sowing seeds at the correct depth (not too deep) helps them germinate quickly. Proper spacing between seeds ensures good air circulation around the seedlings, which helps leaves dry faster and reduces fungal growth.
7. Water Correctly: Avoid overwatering. Water at the base of the plant (the soil level) rather than on the leaves, and try to water in the morning so the plant surfaces can dry out before nightfall.