how deep to plant

[Tigerella]

Hi

I have seen someone post saying to plant leggy seedling up to the first leaf.
I recently planted my caulies, the ones which didnt seem stable died, so I have now put more soil arround the others.
Is it ok to plant most things quite deep, deeper than the seeds were planted.
Do they suffer from stem rot if planted too deep?

Tiger

[Alice]

Hello Tigerella, you can plant most things right up to the seed leaves. Keep them just clear of the compost.

[berksmike]

Most plants will be ok..
Tomatoes, tomatillos, sweetcorn and others will form roots from the buried stems.
Things like curcubits (marrows, courgettes,cucumbers etc) are very prone to stem rot so I'd avoid burying them. You can get away with it if you soak the root ball before transplanting and then pot them up. Wait until the rootball is well established before rewatering.

Mike

[Cutecumber]

I habitually drop my seedlings down a bit when I pot them up - so far all has been well with tomatoes (as expected), brassicas, lettuce and the beet family (beetroot and the leaf beet/ chard).

I had a couple of cucumber seedlings fail last year - I initially thought it was a stem rot because of re-potting, but it turned out to be some little white maggotty things! eugh!

Always check before you assume what killed 'em

[rustylady]

I always put seedlings in up to their necks (i.e. lowest set of leaves). Just make sure the compost isn't waterlogged. Cucurbits also make new roots from the buried stems, Mike - you just make sure they aren't too wet. Also remember that transplanting or potting on gives plants a bit of a shock, so put them somewhere shady for a couple of days until the roots start to grow. If you don't they can lose more water through their leaves than the roots can replace, they will then flop and may even die.

[stigoftheplot]

I was told not to do this with early brassicas. They need to swing in the wind apparently. If you plant them deep they're less able to take the bad weather. Later spring, summer & autumn crops are ok though.

[Snadger]

I was told not to do this with early brassicas. They need to swing in the wind apparently. If you plant them deep they're less able to take the bad weather. Later spring, summer & autumn crops are ok though.

Beats me why they would need to 'swing in the wind'??? I know the modern trend with trees is to fasten short stakes low down to allow the top to flex, but tall growing brassicas that aren't staked will surely benefit from deep planting and this should stop them from being cork screwed by the wind as well as a better footing and bigger rooted area?