Spring cabbages - is there hope?

[Cutecumber]

My spring cabbages look terrible.

Unfortunately, despite being in suburbia, we had quite early, hard frosts in October and the cabbages didn't like it too much. Not only that, but slugs and pigeons have had a go - the pigeons sat on the netting, breaking cabbage leaves and picking the centres out of half the crop.

So, I popped in a couple of spare plants, covered them all up and gave them a drink.

They still look really sad - is this fairly normal (considering the vagaries of winter) or should they be perfect and perky?

Am I being over optimistic in hoping they will "come good in the end" ?!?

[veg4681]

I don't know how big they're supposed to be by now but mine are only about 3-4 inches high ! They've only just put on a growth spurt and looking very healthy, happy seedlings though I've spoilt them rotten sitting on the kitchen window sill, all nice & warm with the recent heating on. I don't know if this is the right way to go about with spring cabbage (& few caulis). I'll take action as I see fit. For the problems you're facing, I'm always very weary about leaving young plants out.

[Snadger]

Cutecumber - Maybe a cloche put over them will create a a litlle micro-climate and allow them to perk up?

Veg4681 - Make sure you harden them off before planting out!

[Cutecumber]

Thanks - I have had a fleece over them and now a plastic cloche, so I'm doing everything I can. Mine weren't tiny vulnerable plants, they were pot grown in an always- open cold frame and, I thought, strong and hardy - i just moved them from a cold frame to a bed.

[bluemoon]

Perhaps it's just me, but my spring cabbages always look pretty bedraggled until about March anyway, when they then seem to come on really well. I net them against pigeons, but never use a cloche or fleece so perhaps that's the reason.