Have I scorched my broccoli?

[The Goatreich]

Hi all,
for the first time ever I'm using a heated propagator to get my seedlings off to a healthy start, but I'm not sure if it's had a reverse effect for my broccoli. My chillies and sweet peppers seem to have germinated as expected and have two healthy leaves each, but my broccoli plants seem to almost have scorched leaves at the top.

I've started taking the lid of the prop off during the day and replacing it at night, but I still have some plants waiting to germinate in there so don't really want to turn off the heat yet. The instructions I read said to pot on the broccoli when the plants are big enough to handle, are these ready to go outside under a polytunnel/plastic cloche?

Will the broccoli recover from this or should I plant some more and move them on to indoor pots faster?

[Nicos]

Gosh- they look very leggy too

They'll always have a weakness in the stem if they do pull through.
I'd pull them out and start again...it's early enough to start them on the window sill.

[The Goatreich]

Thanks. Should I germinate them in the prop then quickly pot them on?

[Nicos]

I'm not very good with heated propagators I'm afraid- I manage to rot or grow leggy seedlings !

They are fantastic with 'hot weather' plants eg peppers and chillies, but I find I do better sowing in pots undercover indoors/outdoors.
They are cold weather plants so a heated prop is probably a bit much for them

If you are using a heated prop,I'd be tempted to take them out at the first signs of germination and let them grow on/germinate more slowly. That way you reduce the risk of rot and leggy

[The Goatreich]

That's great, thanks. I'm going to buy a cloche or two today, so I'll try and sow them directly outside under the cover. Perhaps sow a couple of backups indoors on the windowsill too as backup.

[Nicos]

They'd probably do better indoors to start with (esp as we're not over winter weather yet! )

[rustylady]

Goatreich, Any seeds germinated in a heated propagator need to be removed from the propagator onto a windowsill or similar as soon as they show through the soil / compost.

For this reason I sow in small pots, a few seeds to each pot, instead of seed trays.

[bearded bloke]

Last year I used a couple of these .. ALDI - Thursday Special Buys 7th March 2013 .. for starting brassica's & suchlike that enjoy colder weather/slower growth.
For smaller numbers this works well ...



As the radiators are on anyway you get a heated prop without paying for extra electric & the tops are used cups from the wifes water dispenser at work,so recycling as well
In both cases remove the lid as soon as germination occurs.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I will be sowing by broccoli next week in individual modules, they will be in a cold green house and according to my records I can expect germination in about8 to 10 days.

Save your propagator for toms, chillies etc.

Colin

[The Goatreich]

Thanks guys, that's really good to know. I'll get my peppers and chillies out of there too.

[The Goatreich]

Actually, I guess with the late frosts do you think it's probably worth my starting my broccoli, kale and spinach about now on a windowsill then, and then plant out once it starts to warm up slightly (fingers crossed).

[bearded bloke]

Sounds a good plan to me

[Two_Sheds]

take them out at the first signs of germination

That's when the very FIRST seedling appears, not when they've all come through: by that time it's too late to prevent the legginess (which is caused by being too warm and/or too dark).


You have to keep an eye on them all the time: this morning nothing was up in my heated prop. At 2pm, there was a 1cm high onion seedling.