My brassicas are dying!!

[jonohanson]

I recently planted a load of Brassicas (Cauli, Sprout and Cabbage) they have grown into nice 2 week old seedling, they spend their lives in the green house in an unheated propagator with the lid off during the day.

Most of them have died , I have no idea why, am I over heating them? The soil they reside in is very moist(could I be over watering them?), also we had a frost here but with them being in the greenhouse in propagators that shouldn't effect them? Also one day when it was warm I forgot to take the lid off and they got very steamy and hot?

I imagine its one of the above that has caused it but which?

Many Thanks

[rustylady]

A combination of all the above I would think. Brassicas really don't need to be in a propagator, and the compost should be just moist. Are they in pots, cell trays, or a seed tray?

[Potstubsdustbins]

As RL says all of the above. My brassica's are in modules sat on a bench in the cold GH. Never been near any heat whatso ever and the compost is kept on the dry side of moist.

According to this years log my calabrese went in 25/02 germination by 05/05 now nice 2" high seedlings.

Colin

[A Year On The Plot]

Yeah, I agree with the others. It's almost certainly the heat. There's plenty of time to start some more off, but it's incredibly frustrating when seedling die.

Richard

[jonohanson]

Ahh, I had a feeling it might have been, I have started some more and will keep them out of the propagator and a bit drier, hopefully the other will come back to life, if not I will just sow direct later.

MAny Thanks

[binley100]

I had the same problem last year ........nice sunny weather and there's no shading on the gh at this time of year cos there's no leaves on the trees yet. My brassicas are in a blowaway that is sheltered but open .

[Farmer_Gyles]

i've lost 3 trays of brassica seedlings so far - mostly broccoli - it's almost certainly the heat in the greenhouse - all other brassicas (kale, cauli etc) are coming out of the greenhouse in the daytimes for the time being ....

[Two_Sheds]

^ They don't need to be in the gh at all. Tough as old tough things they are (if you think about it, brassicas are "designed" to sit outside all winter in the toughest of conditions). They're the Bear Grylls of veggies

[Two_Sheds]

will keep them ... a bit drier

Jono, is this any help? how to water seedlings - YouTube

[Farmer_Gyles]

^ They don't need to be in the gh at all. Tough as old tough things they are (if you think about it, brassicas are "designed" to sit outside all winter in the toughest of conditions). They're the Bear Grylls of veggies

sadly, pigeons like brassicas, so they're started in the greenhouse to keep them safe .... i was going to pot the first ones on this weekend but they died
more sown now ....
hopefully will have the brassicas bed dug over, sheeted, and covered with a frame and nets in 2 weeks time .....

[vegnut]

My Brassicas were put in pots and stuck by the back wall with a plastic lid only. All are up and doing fine now.

[Two_Sheds]

sadly, pigeons like brassicas, so they're started in the greenhouse to keep them safe

Pigeons don't like netting/fleece/glass though ~ just cover the pots with something. As people are finding, it's too hot in the gh for brassicas

[jonohanson]

Thanks for all your help, most of my first batch are now dead I got some in the ground outside so will see if they come back, I have planted some more in seed trays rather than modules to help with my bad watering (thanks for the link TS that should really help me), they are in the GH until
they are through then they will be put outside in the day and in the unheated GH at night.

Does this sound like a good plan?

Many thanks

[rustylady]

Seed trays are actually harder than modules to keep evenly moist. They can hold a lot of water.

[jonohanson]

Seed trays are actually harder than modules to keep evenly moist. They can hold a lot of water.

Oops, I did them yesterday, will just have to keep an eye on them, I have been growing for 3-4 years and at times i'm still a novice (the missus usually does the seedlings but as we have a newborn I took charge of them this year).