Stunted Growth & Abortion in Afila Peas – Seeking Insight from the Community

Jan 31 (edited) • Quick Wins

Update 2/25/25 : New Seed resolved the issue.

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Hey everyone,

I’m running into a serious issue with my Afila peas, and I’m hoping someone here might have some insight. I’ve been growing these peas weekly from the same batch of seed for about seven months with near-perfect success—always close to 100% germination, healthy growth, and strong yields. But now, for the past five consecutive attempts, I’ve been experiencing a major problem, and I’m at a complete loss.

The Issue:

• Germination is still nearly 100%, with no visible mold or contamination.

• When they go under the lights, they begin growing normally.

• Around day 3 to day 5, growth becomes stunted—plants stop thriving.

• By day 6 to day 7, many begin aborting, and by day 8 or 9, I’m losing anywhere from 50% to 90% of the tray.

• The plants that abort show burnt tops, and they do not recover.

What I’ve Checked:

• No signs of mold, pests, or disease.

• Same seed batch that I’ve been using successfully for months.

• Watering schedule & nutrient regimen (Ocean Solution) unchanged.

• Environmental conditions (light, air circulation, humidity, temperature) remain the same as for all my other microgreens, which are thriving.

• No treatments or chemicals applied.

What’s Confusing Me:

Every other microgreen in the same space is growing perfectly. My process, environment, and inputs are unchanged, and yet these peas suddenly won’t make it past the early growth stage.

Has anyone else experienced anything similar? Could it be a sudden seed viability issue despite them germinating well? Could there be an unseen environmental factor affecting only this variety? Any thoughts or troubleshooting ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Please see linked video, on Vimeo.

Vid 1: https://vimeo.com/1052438489?share=copy

Vid 2:

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