Disappearing seedlings. . .

[jamesanddee]

Last weekend we planted in some turnip, broccoli and carrot seedlings that we had started off indoors in trays. . . We thought they were ready to be transplanted out. Upon checking yesterday each and every of the turnip and broccoli seedlings had totally vanished. . .

Maybe a bit of an obvious answer but we cant find it. . . I presume either birds or rodents, but a bit of experienced advice would be good. Any advice on how to stop this from happening would be greatfully recieved

[rustylady]

Slugs or snails would be my bet.

How big were the seedlings when you planted them out?

[jamesanddee]

Slugs or snails would be my bet.

How big were the seedlings when you planted them out?

Hmm slugs. . . I had not thought about those, since taking the plot over I have not seen any snails or slugs - or slime trails.

The seedlings would have been about an inch and half tall. . . Sometimes a free range chicken finds it's way onto the plot so could be a chook

[rustylady]

I would say your seedlings were nowhere near big enough to plant out. You would have been better transplanting them into small pots to grow on to about four to six inches high before planting out.

Slime trails are not always visible, specially if it's been raining, and slugs and snails don't sit out in the open waiting for you to spot them. They hide away somewhere cool, dark and damp until you kindly plant out their lunch.

It is also a good idea to net brassicas to protect them against bird damage and to try and prevent butterflies laying their eggs on them.

[jamesanddee]

Many thanks. . . lesson learned and will remember. ta

[Two_Sheds]

Last weekend we planted in some turnip, broccoli and carrot seedlings

Totally gone? Pigeons, slugs, snails. Any or all of them. You need to keep those crops netted anyway, against butterflies, pigeons, carrot root fly & cabbage root fly

and carrot seedlings

Ah, carrots don't respond well to transplanting. As a tap root, they really ought to be sown direct, where they are to grow


Otherwise they end up fanged (all twisted)