slug: compost-smell

problem: Compost smells bad (sour or ammonia)

symptoms:
compost stinks
sour smell
ammonia smell
rotten smell

keywords: compost smell stink odor ammonia sour rotten

answer: That smell almost always means too many "greens" (wet, nitrogen-rich stuff) and not enough air. Fork in a generous helping of dry "browns" — shredded leaves, cardboard or straw — and turn the pile to add oxygen. It usually sweetens within a week.

status: warn

attribution: Organic Gardening Collective


slug: compost-not-breaking-down

problem: Compost is not breaking down

symptoms:
nothing happening
compost not rotting
pile not heating

keywords:
compost
not breaking down
not rotting
slow
cold pile

answer: A stalled pile is usually too dry, too small, or all browns. Add nitrogen-rich greens (veg scraps, grass clippings), sprinkle with water until it feels like a wrung-out sponge, and make sure the pile is at least three feet wide so it can hold its own heat. Turn it to wake it up.


slug: yellow-leaves

problem: Leaves turning yellow

symptoms:
yellow leaves
pale leaves
yellowing
chlorosis

keywords:
yellow
yellowing
pale
chlorosis
discolored leaves

answer: Yellowing has two common causes. Most often it's overwatering — soggy roots can't take up nutrients, so check that the soil drains and let it dry between waterings. If watering is fine, it's likely a nitrogen shortage; feed with compost or a balanced organic fertilizer and it should green up.

crops: general tomato


slug: leggy-seedlings

problem: Seedlings are tall, thin and floppy (leggy)

symptoms:
leggy seedlings
tall thin seedlings
stretching
falling over

keywords: leggy stretched tall thin floppy seedlings

answer: Leggy seedlings are reaching for light. Give them much more of it — a sunny south window often isn't enough indoors, so set a cheap LED or shop light a few inches above them for 14–16 hours a day. You can pot tomatoes deeper to bury the stretched stem.

crops: seedlings tomato


slug: damping-off

problem: Seedlings collapse and rot at the soil line

symptoms:
seedlings falling over
rotting at base
damping off
seedlings dying

keywords:
damping off
collapse
rot
seedlings dying
fungus

answer: This is "damping off," a fungal problem from too much moisture and too little airflow. There's no cure for affected seedlings — prevent it next time with a clean sterile seed mix, watering from below, good airflow (a small fan helps), and not overwatering.

status: bad