Why are my brassica seedling dying?

[dawndaisy]

Hope you can help a newcomer to the boards, with brassica troubles.I have always managed to start brassicas in the past, but usually in a seed bed. I have tried to start brassicas in modules on a windowsill this year, sown late feb, and its all gone wrong. The seed leave started curling up and shrivelled, and the true leaves look sick. Some of them have died and the survivors are tiny and sick looking. I used new compost, clean pots, and watered carefully from the bottom. The other seeds that I sowed at the same time are really healthy. Are temperatures too high for brassicas on a windowsill?

Hope you can help. Dawndaisy

[marathon]

I always start of in root trainers or modules but never indoors - too warm

I sow mine and then they either go into a mini plastic greenhouse or my polytunnel. Mine then get transplanted when a healthy size thus reducing the chance that the slugs distroy them and also because they have to wait for space to become available

[dawndaisy]

Ill try some more today, and put them in my mini greenhouse. I might buy some plug plants to replace the 1st batch, as Im a month behind where I would like to be. Thanks for your help.

[gojiberry]

Sounds like they have been to wet, even watering from below you can still overwater. Also as marathon says brassicas don't need any warmth and will find it far to warm on a windowsill.

Ian

[dawndaisy]

I forgot to ask, when do you usually start sowing yours? Was late Feb too early?
Dawndaisy

[Alison]

What sort of brassicas are you talking about? I've sown my sprouts but nothing else yet. Will start sowing cabbages next month.

[Rixy]

Not much help I know - I've had no problems with my brassica seeds, all grown on the windowsill of a South facing room so I don't think it could be heat problems. I planted the first lot in February and admittedly they did go leggy, I just pricked them out though and transplanted them into single cells but buried up to the leaves and they seem to have grown on from there with no problems.

[rustylady]

Possibly overwatered. They don't need to be constantly stood in water. You need to let the pots or cells dry out a bit in between waterings.

[dawndaisy]

failed brassica seedlings

Thanks for the advice everyone.

They wern't left standing in water, so I don't think that's the problem. They were cabbages and caulis, by the way. I've sown a new lot to go in the mini greenhouse, so hope these will do better.
Dawndaisy

[Flummery]

I've got some summer cabbage seedlings up now but they've been in the cold greenhouse - down to -6 at times! I think they've cooked slightly. Try again if you have more seed.