Whats killed my PSB?

[womble]

I've got 2 PSB plants that look the same, the stem at the bottom is small and really hard, they keep wilting and I've just had a good look at them and pulled one up.

I don't know what it is, there were ants at the base of them, lots of ants, I don't know if they can do this. It almost looks as if something has eaten the outside of the stem off.

Any ideas?

[Two_Sheds]

There's not much in the way of roots is there? That may be why they keep wilting (possibly the roots can't take up as much water as the leaves are transpiring)

The stem damage might be slugs/snails, but I'm guessing ...

[womble]

No there's not much roots, on either of the damaged plants.

I don't know, I think pest, but then why the small roots? Disease? What do you think?

[taff]

it looks like somethings been nibbling the stalk.

[womble]

it looks like somethings been nibbling the stalk.

Would mice do that?

[binley100]

Don't see why not they seem to eat everything else....runnerbeans, celery (the list goes on and on )

[teakdesk]

I think it looks like the early stages of club root.

I'd be liming the other PSB and any other brassicas you are growing.

[womble]

I've been on to the RHS and despite me not being a member, they have replied very helpfully.

They don't believe it is clubroot, nor cabbage root fly, nor a stem rot.

They suggest slug damage to the stems, or maybe soil dwelling moth caterpillars.

[teakdesk]

That's good to know, Womble.

Good luck with the other one

[womble]

I've taken it out, no point in battling with a damaged plant and a friend has given me a couple of replacements today.

The pest approach doesn't account for the tiny roots though, or maybe it does, maybe doing something to the stem stops the root development. I don't know.

I'm going to plant the new ones in the same spots, really because I have no-where else to put them. I'll stick some slug pellets down.

[Two_Sheds]

The stem damage might be slugs/snails, but I'm guessing ...

I've been on to the RHS ...They suggest slug damage to the stems

Yay!

I got one right !

[womble]

Yay!

I got one right !

Congratulations

I don't understand why slugs would suddenly go for stems rather than the leaves.
But, there you go

[OllieMartin]

The pest approach doesn't account for the tiny roots though, or maybe it does, maybe doing something to the stem stops the root development. I don't know.

I had to transplant some brassicas this year (which they don't really appreciate) and found that they don't appear to have much of a root structure. I think the roots are just very fine and so the majority stays in the soil when you dig it up.

[womble]

Just an update, I also lost a sprout plant in exactly the same way.

I have all the brassicas in one new growing area.
I was having troubles with the kales growing point and young leaves being eaten in a strange way, sort of not looking like slugs IFSWIM.

Anyhoo, went out late last night to have a look and the kales were covered in earwigs eating them, loads of them.
So it could possibly have been earwigs that dealt with the others as well.

Any tips on earwig removal? They were too fast to catch.

[Two_Sheds]

build a hotel for them: plant pot, stuffed with straw or shredded paper, upside down on a cane. Empty in the daytime, dispose of as you wish