Can brassica seedlings handle cold temperatures?

[Mara]

Hello - I'm new to this forum, and fairly new to veggie gardening. I've never had a greenhouse before and recently moved to a house in West Wales which has an unheated one. I have 4 trays of perfect-looking brassica seedlings just getting their first leaves, but I'm in a panic because of this cold snap. It's supposed to be frosty tonight - I'm planning to hang bubble wrapping from the stages on which they sit, but is that enough protection? Should I bring them inside the house, or are they a lot hardier than the tomatoes, etc., (which I got up for at 5.30am to move back into the house during a snow-storm!

Any advice really appreciated,

Mara

[rustylady]

Brassicas are perfectly hardy, in fact many people sow them straight into the garden or lottie. Cool weather won't hurt them, in fact they will get very leggy and soft if they're too warm.

[Mara]

Oh good - I won't worry about them tonight them - thanks very much!

[Mike and Louise]

We have ours in a heated propagator.
We have been told not to transplant them outside until they have at least 5 true leaves.

Our have just 2 at present. Hopefully by the time the next 3 arrive the weather should have improved.

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi Mara, welcome to the vine. Where in West Wales are you?

[Two_Sheds]

We have ours in a heated propagator.

Take 'em out, PDQ Cabbage doesn't need heat .. it will make them soft and floppy.

And don't forget to harden off for 7-10 days before you transplant to the great outdoors

[Mike and Louise]

Take 'em out, PDQ Cabbage doesn't need heat .. it will make them soft and floppy.

And don't forget to harden off for 7-10 days before you transplant to the great outdoors

Thanks I'll remember that.
It just that the packet says to give them heat to get started.

[Two_Sheds]

Thanks I'll remember that.
It just that the packet says to give them heat to get started.

really? They only need to be about 5 degrees Celsius to germinate. I'll do some googling and try to put up a thread about germination temperatures.

[Mike and Louise]

really? They only need to be about 5 degrees Celsius to germinate. I'll do some googling and try to put up a thread about germination temperatures.

OK thanks.

I just checked the packets again and it does say to give them heat.
However because they could do with hardening off now I have unplugged the propagator and opened the vents.

Thanks for the advice.

[Flummery]

I've never used heat for brassicas. In fact I've never used it for anything - I use my kitchen windowsill and get peppers and all sort to germinate. But I agree with Two Sheds that you will get thin floppy growth if you give too much heat and this will suffer when the plants are put outside. I germinate brassicas in a cold frame and they come through surprisingly fast. Don't be too kind!

[SarzWix]

I start my brassicas in a cold frame too, early in the spring. Later on I just start them in modules outside on some reduntant shelving to keep them out of the way of slugs. If they do get a bit leggy, when you plant them out, you can plant them deeply so the leaves are just above the soil which makes them a bit more sturdy.

[Mike and Louise]

If they do get a bit leggy, when you plant them out, you can plant them deeply so the leaves are just above the soil which makes them a bit more sturdy.

Good point.
Thanks.

I'm glad I found this site now. Only been here 2 days and already learnt loads.

[Winged one]

I sowed mine into modules indoors, but potted them on to one per module (they're large-ish modules, not the tiny plugs) a couple of weeks ago. I kept them indoors for about 3 days, to help settle down again, and then put them in my minigreehouse out the back - and there they are staying until I plant them on the plot. I brought my tomatoes and courgettes back in the past couple of nights with the cold, but the brassicas are all still looking fine despite staying outdoors (they are out about a fortnight at this stage).

[gojiberry]

I usually sow mine in a 1lt pot to get them germinated, then when they have the first pair of true leaves prick out into individual pots 9cm square. Grow on till 2 to 3 inch high then plant out. I don't use any heat at all but do use a cold frame. I hav already planted out 2 types summer cabbage, summer broccoli and another broccoli.

[wizard]

I put my seeds straight in the ground on thursday while i was getting a tan on the lottie now im freezing. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!