especially if you are using flats instead of planting directly in the
soil
WATERING: Keep a close watch upon the conditions of the soil,
especially if you are using flats instead of planting directly in the
soil. Wait until it is fairly dry–never until the plants begin to
wilt, however–and then give a thorough soaking, all the soil will
absorb. If at all possible do this only in the morning (up to eleven
o”clock) on a bright sunny day. Plants in the seedling state are
subject to ‘damping off’–a sudden disease of the stem tissue just at
or below the soil, which either kills the seedlings outright, or
renders them worthless. Some authorities claim that the degree of
moisture or dampness has nothing to do with this trouble. I am not
prepared to contradict them, but as far as my own experience goes I am
satisfied that the drier the stems and leaves can be kept, so long as
the soil is in good condition, the better. I consider this one of the
advantages of the ’sub-irrigation’ method of preparing the seed flats,
described above.