Brassica seedling problems

[adjohnson1971]

I'm having problems growing brassica's from seed. Everytime I sow some brassica seeds the same thing happens. Please look at the attached photo as it'll save me explaining. I thought it might be damping off disease but I've taken every precaution reccommended and it happens every year, but only with brassicas. What am I doing wrong????

[Alison]

Where are you growing them?

[veggiechicken]

The soil looks a bit green to me - are you over watering them?

[zazen999]

Grow them in pots, with about 50 seedlings per pot, in soil on the dry side of damp and only once they have 4 true [not seed leaves], move them into small single pots. Let them germinate outside, in a greenhouse or coldframe not indoors. Once the seedling has a small root ball in the small single pot, then transplant them into their final position.

[adjohnson1971]

I sowed the seeds, 3 per 3inch pot in multi purpose compost inside an unheated greenhouse. Having read Bob Flowerdew's planting book I don't water the compost but place the pots in a tray of water for approx 30 minutes. other than that no watering has been needed. Zazen999, what size pot do you use??

[zazen999]

I sowed the seeds, 3 per 3inch pot in multi purpose compost inside an unheated greenhouse. Having read Bob Flowerdew's planting book I don't water the compost but place the pots in a tray of water for approx 30 minutes. other than that no watering has been needed. Zazen999, what size pot do you use??

Looking at your pots - that size for about 50 seedlings. Then transfer to small 2-3 inch pots once they have 4 true leaves. How often are you watering them? I am watering about once a week at the moment. Max.

[super trowel]

What are you using for soil?

[adjohnson1971]

I'm certain that I've not watered them, if I have it would have only been a slight drop if the compost was looking dry. I've been quite sparing with watering so as not to " drown" anything. Again paicked up from Bob's planting and seedlings book. Now I know I'm no brassica expert, but why so many seeds to a 3inch pot? isn't that overcrowding things a bit?

[super trowel]

30 mins of soaking! Wow.

I am going to hazard a guess and say over watered.

[Alison]

I plant about 10 seeds to a 3" pot. At this time of year I germinate in a cold greenhouse but later in the year I just have the pots on outdoor staging. 50 would be far too many for me as I usually only want about half a dozen plants of any variety. I think the most of any type of green type brassica (inc red kale) I planted out last year was 9 of a variety cabbage but I only plant one of two of some things. I like variety not necessarily quantity and this has the advantage that you rarely get failure of everything so I still get plenty to eat.

[zazen999]

Too dry perhaps?

Why so many? Well, if each of my seeds had a pot each I'd not have anywhere to live myself. I grow in small pots, with a good pinch of seeds to each - and when they are big enough then they get a small pot of their own. Why did you decide on 3 seeds to a 3 inch pot? Why so few?

[adjohnson1971]

I've always used 3 seeds per pot as I saw some TV "expert" do so, thinking of it I might have read it in a magazine. I really dont remember who it was but they said to sow 3 seeds per 3inch pot and once germinated prick out leaving the strongest plant. I know the defintion of an idiot is someone who carries on doing the same thing expecting a different result but thinking of it this method has never worked for me. Same thing has been happening for the last 3 years!!!!!

[Two_Sheds]

If you change nothing, nothing changes


Your compost has green algae: it's far too wet, and possibly too shady too. A 30 min soak would be fine for a big plant, not for a seed.
Is this any help? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwXyF...ure=plpp_video

[zazen999]

I've always used 3 seeds per pot as I saw some TV "expert" do so, thinking of it I might have read it in a magazine. I really dont remember who it was but they said to sow 3 seeds per 3inch pot and once germinated prick out leaving the strongest plant. I know the defintion of an idiot is someone who carries on doing the same thing expecting a different result but thinking of it this method has never worked for me. Same thing has been happening for the last 3 years!!!!!

I never understood getting rid of healthy plants but anyhoo...

Try seed compost, not multipurpose - and sow a pinch of seeds in it. Try using much smaller pots [those are too big IMHO] or modules. Keep it on the dry side of damp and see what happens.

I sow hundreds of seeds because I take mine to about 8 schools and then give away the remainder.

[I was being sarcastic with the 'too dry' comment - by the way. The soil is far too wet and your seedling has gone yellow.]

[adjohnson1971]

Thanks Two Sheds, that explains alot, clearly as well. Possibly the shady bit comes into it somewhere as My greenhouse is in my backyard and doesn't get the best of the sun at this time of year.