why are my seedling dying!

[jofanning]

Can anyone offer me some advice please. I have planted some seeds in trays in my conservatory as I dont have a greenhouse. Apart from the tomatoes my Caulis, Little Gems and Brocolli are all very leggy, and they then seem to keel over and die!! What am I doing wrong???
A few of the caulis have survived but are very spindly, and I am desperate to save the little gems and brocolli. Any answers???

[pigletwillie]

If they are very spindly it would appear to be a lack of light. Eventually they get so tall that the thin stem cannot support them so they topple and die. I t may be best to either wait until the days are a bit lighter or find a sunnier spot if possible.

To be honest I can only sow so early because I have lighting and heat in my greenhouse and even today I binned a load of cauli seedlings that had gone leggy.

It may be prudent to wait a few weeks and sow again.

[mazel-bee]

How long would you call leggy? I think mine are about 2 cms long.....

[Two_Sheds]

You're just too early Jofanning! Wait a while - there ain't enough light yet. Give it another coupla weeks and try again

[rustylady]

Too cold and damp compost - they germinate but then get damping off disease. Wait a little while, then try again

[Alice]

Everybodies right Jofanning. They've probably had too much heat and not enough light. If you're really desperate, you could try replanting them right up to their seed leaves. But at the end of the day you'll probably get better plants if you wait a few weeks and start again. What a shame. Good luck with it.

[Nicos]

I wonder if you followed the advice of the thread advising you to 'have a go and plant now' ...
this is what happens if you plant too early ( but some years you might have got away with it!!)
To try and rescue what you have- put in a sunnier poition, with no heat and no cover over the seedlings. They do however need to be frost free.
water as little as poss but enough to keep the seedlings upright!
Talk to them ...and tell them you are sorry you planted them so early..etc etc!!!
..you never know- some of them may survive ( but may produce a low yield), but I would start afresh when it says on the packet.
Any photos?? Others may learn from this!?
Fingers crossed for you!

[Alice]

Hello Nicos, I think I started the thread you are referring to and if you read the beginning of thread , that was the whole point - start too early and you'll see what happens. It was not to urge newbies to plant in January, but to plant just a few , see the problems , and find possible remedies, so that when it came to the real thing they had some experience of planting and rearing on seeds. I'm sure I made that clear at the beginning of the thread. I'm sorry if anybody skipped the beginning and ran into real problems.

[Nicos]

Yep- I understood that - and it was a good idea!
Plenty of time now to start again!...best way to learn I think!

[jofanning]

Thank you for the advice from everyone. Perhaps I did plant too early but when you have conflicting advice from the packet, the gardening books etc and being an impatient person like I am them perhaps its no more than I deserve. Will leave it a couple of weeks and give them another go! If that doesn't work I will swear alot at them and then give up!! Forget caulis altogether and buy from the farm shop!!

[vicki lorraine]

I too had a go at sowing some seeds early. But having now bought a themometer for the greenhouse i realise that it rarely reaches 8 degrees. Most seeds need around 15 for germination and to grow on so in my unheated greenhouse i need to wait a while.
I understand that if the small plants receive a growth check caused by a change in temp. the crop can be substantially reduced.

[Alice]

Good idea with the thermometer Vicki. I think I suggested everybody buy one, or two, to check what is going on.

[vicki lorraine]

Yes it was your thread that prompted me.

I was quite suprised at how cold it is in there.

[bubblewrap]

Could put them out side under cloches during the day and bring them inside at night?