Problem with black Nero cabbage seedlings

[ashkat]

Hiya

I have 2 blac Nero seedlings, 9 days old or so. They came up and almost immediately one of the seed leaves one both plants shriveled up. The plants have not grown and the second leaf on both appears stunted and mishapen. I have other variety of cabbage in the same tray that are thriving.

Can someone tell me what the possible issue may be so that I can correct when I re-sow?

Thanks!

[Snadger]

We've had extremes of weather lately ashkat (especially up your neck of the woods) and that could have something to do with it?

[chris]

Are they outside/inside? In a propagator/pot? New seedlings shrivelling up sounds a little bit like it could be dampening off - if they're in a prop/inside/pot have you over watered them perhaps?

[ashkat]

They are inside, in a propergator, along with everything else. Everything else including the other varieties of cabbage are thriving. The stem of these two plants are beautiful, doesnt dampening off affect the stems too? Newbs here, so trying to remember everything I've read is difficult, so I could be way off the mark. It's just the seed leaves.

Thank you so much for your ideas

[chris]

The moment the seedlings break the surface, take the propagator lid off, if you leave it on you'll make them weak, as it's so warm and humid in there, they'll grow tall and weak (leggy) fast. If you've over watered them, then the increase in humidity is the perfect environment for mould, which kills the new seedlings.

Further infio: Damping off / Royal Horticultural Society

It could be that the black nero are less tolerant of those conditions. Personally, I'd not use a propagator now, especially for things like brassicas (cabbages, sprouts, etc).

I sowd direct last year, and 4 in a three inch pot I believe. Once the roots were poking out of the bottom, I put them in their own modules, until I had the space and the conditions were ok for me to plant them out.

As you've raised them indoors you'll need to harden off the plants - you can't just bung them straight outdoors, the massive difference in environment will either kill them, or stunt them.

The stuff about new pots is a bit OTT imo, as long as they're washed they're fine for next years use (though it does say that ).

[chris]

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ere_63770.html has some terms you may find useful - post #6 is about dampening off, but the whole thread should provide some help!

Are they direct in compost in the propagator, or in pots within it? Is it heated?

[ashkat]

Not a heated prop, lid was removed as soon as first sighting of green. Just a plain old divided prop, 24 cells. Not watering unless soil under the surface is dry.

I guess I'll just resow and see how the next set goes. Just confused that everything else is thriving, but they aren't. That's just the way the cookie crumbles though lol. Pretty good 'death' rate honestly, I've only had to write off 3 seedlings out of over 80 so far. Almost wishing I didn't grow so many extras lol, thankfully I've a couple adoptive homes sorted out for my extras.

Thanks.

[ashkat]

Oh, and I have a shelving system sorted out for hardening off already. As I'm waiting for my garden to be sorted and greenhouse/raised beds erected, I had to start off inside.