My brassica seedlings - what's going on?

[The Goatreich]

I've got 3 pots of seedlings, two in each pot, and all seem to have suffered the same fate. One pot is Brussel Sprout, one, purple sprouting broccoli and the other red cabbage. They're indoors on the sunniest windowsill I have, they were moved there shortly after germinating as I could see the broccoli and sprouts were getting very leggy, but the cabbage didn't seem too bad. However in the last two or three days their baby leaves are wilting and dying and there's no sign of the true leaves. The cabbage seems a little better, but it does seem to be going the same way.

What am I doing wrong here? Overwatering? Underwatering? Too hot? Too cold?

[veggiechicken]

Compost looks too wet?

[Bigmallly]

Agree, looks like overwatering.

[The Goatreich]

That photo was taken immediately after watering. I tend to give them a good spray with a mister bottle twice a day, is that too much do you think? I'm never ever sure how much I should be watering anything.

[Shadylane]

They do look very soggy. I would also be inclined to put them outside.

[The Goatreich]

Thanks for the answers by the way

I thought it was too early to put them outside. I will happily try that when the new ones germinate.

[veggiechicken]

That photo was taken immediately after watering. I tend to give them a good spray with a mister bottle twice a day, is that too much do you think? I'm never ever sure how much I should be watering anything.

Water from below not the top. Let the surface of the pots dry out, then stand the pot in a saucer of water for about 10 minutes. Then take it out and leave them alone until they dry out again. Could be days
Get used to feeling the weight of the pot when dry and when wet. When you know the difference you can tell, just by picking the pot up, when they need water.

[The Goatreich]

Thanks that's really good advice. Does that count for other fruit and veg or just brassicas? I generally always water from the top with my chillies and toms but I've never had a huge amount of luck with either.

[Bigmallly]

Use it as a rule of thumb for all plants TG, it will get you into the habit of doing it without thinking.

[The Goatreich]

Great thanks guys.

[hamamelis]

It's not too early for brassicas to be outside. I find mollycoddling them too much inside isn't good for them, they can get all weak and soft. Mine have been braving the elements (in a sheltered spot) since they first stuck their heads out.

[Yasai]

Hi

Just to add that this video by Two Sheds is very useful and helped me to stop getting in to a flap about my seedlings last year.

[The Goatreich]

I've done some serious learning from the results of this thread. Thank you everyone.

[Two_Sheds]

I tend to give them a good spray with a mister bottle twice a day

they drink through the roots though, misting isn't going to do anything good at all.

Your compost is far too wet: the surface should be almost dry. Stand your seedlings in a saucer of water for 5 mins, they'll take up what they need.

Also, brassicas are winter veg, and so they are very cold tolerant: you're doing them no favours by growing them in the house