Planning reference

Cutworms vs Damping-Off

Separate cutworm soil-line clipping from damping-off stem collapse before adding collars, spraying, watering more, resetting trays, or re-sowing seedlings.

What each seedling failure signal means

Cutworms: Cutworms are soil-hiding caterpillars that feed mostly at night. They clip outdoor seedlings at or below the soil line, sometimes drag pieces below the surface, and curl into a C-shape when disturbed.
Damping-off: Damping-off is a seedling disease problem where seeds fail, roots rot, stems become water-soaked or pinched at the media line, and young seedlings collapse instead of recovering.
Clean cuts at the soil line: Cleanly severed stems, missing seedlings, and a curled larva in nearby soil point toward cutworms, especially in weedy or residue-heavy beds after transplanting or direct sowing.
Pinched, water-soaked stems and root rot: Dark, narrowed, mushy stems, root rot, whole tray sections failing, cool wet media, dirty containers, or garden soil in trays point toward damping-off instead of a chewing pest.
Outdoor beds vs seed-starting trays: Cutworm checks start in the bed soil, under residue, and around clipped plants. Damping-off checks start with tray sanitation, seed-starting mix, drainage, airflow, media temperature, and watering.

Seedling failure workflow

Read the stem before treating: Do not treat every missing, clipped, wilted, or collapsed seedling as the same problem; check whether the stem is cleanly cut, dragged underground, pinched, water-soaked, mushy, or rotted, inspect nearby soil for curled C-shaped larvae, inspect tray media, drainage, sanitation, temperature, and row-cover history, then choose collars, hand removal, tray reset, airflow, warmer media, or re-sowing.
Scout the newest outdoor damage at night: For direct-sown or transplanted beds, check around freshly clipped seedlings after dark and dig lightly in the top inch of soil near the stem. Remove larvae and protect remaining stems before re-sowing.
Reset dirty or collapsed trays cleanly: For trays with pinched stems or root rot, remove failed seedlings, avoid reusing suspect media, wash containers, use fresh seed-starting mix, and keep media evenly moist instead of saturated.
Do not spray the wrong target: Bt or hand removal can help exposed caterpillars when they are small, but damping-off needs sanitation, moisture, warmth, drainage, and airflow. Fungicides or insect controls do not rebuild collapsed stems.
Choose re-sowing timing by cause: Re-sow outdoor gaps after the cutworm source is removed or stems are collared. Re-sow tray cells after the media and container conditions are corrected so new seedlings do not collapse in the same setup.

Use these paths

Slugs vs Cutworms Separate ragged slug chewing and slime trails from cutworm soil-line clipping before drying beds, adding collars, or re-sowing
Cutworms vs Armyworms Separate cutworm soil-line clipping and C-shaped larvae from armyworm egg masses, group feeding, and skeletonized leaves
Seedling Wilting vs Damping-Off Separate ordinary wilt from soil-line collapse before changing watering, light, media, or sanitation
Fungus Gnats vs Damping-Off Separate tiny flies and larvae in moist media from damping-off stem collapse and tray sanitation problems
Seed-Starting Mix vs Garden Soil Use clean tray media and avoid garden soil when damping-off points to contaminated or wet media
Direct Sow Garden Planner 85 direct-sow-capable varieties where seedbed gaps, cut stems, and re-sowing timing matter
Transplant Garden Planner 50 transplant-capable varieties where collars, tray sanitation, and early seedling recovery matter

Source basis

Clemson Extension planning a garden Cool-season and warm-season crop grouping, freeze risk, maturity timing, and regional planting-date context
Clemson Extension soil texture analysis jar test Soil texture context for moisture holding, air holding, porosity, and garden amendment decisions
Clemson Extension watering the vegetable garden Critical crop stages, weekly water target, root-zone depth, shallow-rooted crop notes, mulch, and overwatering cautions
CSU Extension vegetable planting guide Minimum, optimum, and maximum germination temperature tables plus 8 a.m. soil-temperature measurement guidance
Illinois Extension vegetable gardening with raised beds Four-foot reach, uniform spacing, no-step bed layout, and compaction-reduction guidance
OSU Extension soil temperature conditions for vegetable seed germination Soil-temperature table showing minimum, optimum range, optimum, maximum, and days-to-emergence context
Penn State Extension cole crops for home vegetable gardens Cool-season transplant quality, hardening-off, and cole-crop transplant planning
Penn State Extension hardening transplants Hardening-off process for seedlings moving from protected conditions into outdoor sun, wind, and temperature swings
UC IPM cutworms Cutworm larvae hiding in soil by day, night feeding, clipped plants, field scouting, weeds, plant residue, and early-season injury checks
UC IPM fungus gnats Fungus gnat identification, larvae in moist media, root chewing, potato larval checks, drainage, organic debris, and biological controls
UC IPM snails and slugs Snail and slug slime trails, irregular holes, moist hiding places, night scouting, habitat reduction, barriers, traps, and baits
UMD Extension building raised beds for vegetable gardening Raised-bed width, permanent paths, soil compaction, yield, watering, and bed-dimension planning guidance
UMD Extension caring for your vegetable garden Vegetable watering timing, transplant establishment, shallow-watering caution, drip and soaker hose guidance, and mulch guidance
UMD Extension cutworms Seedlings cut off near ground level, nighttime feeding, daytime soil hiding, collars, weed removal, and transplant protection
UMD Extension fungus gnats Tiny black adult flies, moist potting soil, overwatering, yellow sticky traps, dry-down, and Bti soil-drench context
UMD Extension growing vegetables in containers and salad tables Container drainage, sun exposure, container volume, and food-safe material guidance
UMD Extension maintaining container-grown vegetables Container watering, drainage, and fertilizer maintenance guidance
UMD Extension planting vegetable transplants Shaded wind-protected acclimation, cold and warm crop temperature thresholds, gradual sun exposure, warm soil, and transplant aftercare
UMD Extension planting vegetables in succession Repeat sowing, replacement planting, and maturity-date staggering guidance for direct-sown crops
UMD Extension soil health, drainage, and improving soil Soil pH, nutrient and organic-matter testing plus 12-inch drainage tests for compaction or restrictive layers
UMD Extension starting seeds indoors Moistened medium, row sowing, germination temperature, continuous moisture, and plastic cover removal guidance
UMD Extension starting seeds indoors Growing-medium warmth, moisture, quick germination guidance, and selected indoor seed-starting temperatures
UMD Extension wilting vegetable plants Heat, drought, water stress, flower and fruit stress, drainage, and deep watering guidance for vegetables
UMN Extension cutworms Cutworm seedlings clipped at or below the soil line, C-shaped larvae, night feeding, weed control, collars, and scouting guidance
UMN Extension guide to garden timing Soil thermometer depth, cold-soil risk, frost risk, and 40-50F, 55-60F, and 65F+ crop timing thresholds
UMN Extension planting the vegetable garden Transplant shock reduction, reduced watering without wilting, calm cloudy transplant timing, and watering before transplanting
UMN Extension preventing seedling damping off Damping-off symptoms, water-soaked pinched stems, root rot, tray sanitation, cool wet conditions, garden soil risk, and fungus gnat carrier note
UMN Extension raised bed gardens Reach-based bed width, watering, crop rotation, soil testing, and avoid-stepping-in-beds guidance
UMN Extension slugs Slug slime trails, ragged chewing, night feeding, moisture, shelter, handpicking, traps, and garden sanitation guidance
UMN Extension soil testing for lawns and gardens Lab soil testing for texture, pH, organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, compost, manure, and fertilizer decisions
UMN Extension starting seeds indoors Clean trays, fresh media, moisture, light, warmth, and seedling damping-off prevention context for indoor starts
UMN Extension watering the vegetable garden Vegetable garden weekly water target, 62-gallon conversion, soil moisture checks, mulch, and low-slow root-zone watering guidance