Brassicas

[Incy]

I'm hoping someone can give me some good advice here as I always have difficulties with my brassicas. The biggest problem is avoiding them getting leggy and falling over at the seedling stage.
I have tried them in root trainers this year and yet again I have falling over long leggy seedlings so I think I'll have to start again.
How do those of you with successful experiences start your brussels, calabrese etc off to avoid this problem?

[zazen999]

I sow into little pots, a pinch at a time.

Then when they have 2 or 4 leaves, prick out into flats and pop in up to their seed leaves.

Then, once they have a decent sized rootball, they get put into final position as deep as possible....definitely bury the seed leaves. They need to be firmed in nice and solid.

Often, when putting into flats, the stems are horizontal or at an angle to get them buried deep enough. If you haven't got flats, pop them into deep pots so that their first true leaves are against the top of the compost.

[Incy]

Thanks Zazen.
Pardon my ignorance but what are flats? I've never heard of them before.

[zazen999]

Sorry - just seed trays or anything that holds a couple of inches of compost with holes in t'bottom!

If you look on faceache, some of the photos of my brassicas are in there - I'll link you to one now - hold on....

[Incy]

Thank you. So you basically lie them down if necessary to remove legginess.

[zazen999]

Yup.

[binley100]

I usually prick them out into loo rolls burying them .......I like your idea Zaz...saves on the loo rolls

[Kristen]

Mine are pricked out to 3" pots. I plant them deep when I then plant them out. Often the stems have curled flat along the compost and then "up" by that time, but they mostly just grow up from that point once planted out.