Another brassica failure

[veggiechicken]

Its never too late to sow again (that's my motto!).
Sow a few seeds into each pot, watch them germinate and leave them alone - no itchy fingers.
Don't thin them, transplant them or interfere with them in any way!!
Come back with a photo when you have a pot of seedlings and we'll tell you when you can prick them out!

[Marb67]

I did it at the weekend. They have been fine until today. The older ones that this happened to picked up a bit and now they are going the same way. They just seem very temperamental.

Thanks for the advice anyway. Will try and remember for next time.

[Marb67]

Its never too late to sow again (that's my motto!).
Sow a few seeds into each pot, watch them germinate and leave them alone - no itchy fingers.
Don't thin them, transplant them or interfere with them in any way!!
Come back with a photo when you have a pot of seedlings and we'll tell you when you can prick them out!

If they do turn out small I will just use the leaves for salad.

[Bigmallly]

Brassicas can be temperamental Marb, the thing is not to take it personally & sow some more. We all have failings, mine are too many to list................

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Yeah! Enclined to agree with BM, your shifting em on a tad too early Marb, & as VC said, I'd sew some more!

[mothhawk]

Why oh why oh why does this always happen to all my kale and purple sprouting broccoli ? Sow seedlings in J Innes number one. Seedlings come up healthy. Pot on in J Innes number two with some pearlite mixed in. Keep out of direct sunlight, keep pots moist from underneath and not overwatered and this happens. Leaves go pale, white and drop off while plants shrink in size. I need large kale in my square foot garden beds. Gutted

Part of your problem may be that you're using compost that's got too much fertiliser in it, Marb.
With John Innes, you should use JI SEED compost to sow the seeds into, then when those seeds have become seedlings with good roots, pot on into JI number ONE, which has a little more nutrient to encourage little plants to grow.
JI two has too much fertiliser in it for seedlings, it's best for fairly well grown plants and house plants. I think what's happening is your seeds are germinating, using their own supply of food inside the seed itself, then the roots they start to grow get scorched by the compost.

Have a look here.

edit - if you need to pot them on before they have much in the way of roots, use the seed compost again. Better too little food than too much.

[Marb67]

I have no JI seed sowing, 1,2 or 3 compost so will have to sow direct into these pots and hope they take.

Taking on board what has been suggested which makes sense, however, why would this kale after weeks of looking healthy in the same pot suddenly start going the same way this late in the day ?

[Bigmallly]

My guess is scorch, I believe Brassicas prefer a cool climate so sitting on a windowsill or in a greenhouse would make them sulk.

[Marb67]

It was in the cool end of the kitchen window with no direct sun.

[Greenleaves]

Hi Marb

I have just lost 6 heathly looking cauliflowers for no good reason, proper plants at that, i suspect some earth dwelling critter has had the roots away in my case. Just keep going and always try different varieties until you find one suited to your environment

[bario1]

Brassicas should be outside from the get-go, they need cool conditions and air movement otherwise they will grow tall and weak. They are winter plants and they like it rough... stop mollycoddling them! I sow mine in 'quarter size' trays indoors, about 8 per tray, move them to an open cold frame as soon as they germinate, and they stay there until they're 4-6" tall with 3 or four sets of true leaves - only then are they strong enough to prick out. Here are mine just after pricking out.

p.s. I use quality mpc like 'Jack's Magic' at every stage - never have any problems.

[Alison]

I have no JI seed sowing, 1,2 or 3 compost so will have to sow direct into these pots and hope they take.

There is no need what so ever to use seed compost for brassicas. I have NEVER done so and I don't believe that is causing your problems. I do however think that JI composts are very dense and you would do much better with normal bog standard multi purpose. I sow in the greenhouse, about 10 seeds to a 3" pot. When they have proper leaves I pot on into individual 3" pots and grow on on outdoor staging until ready to pot on, at which point I plant out into the ground.

[roitelet]

I sow in a mixture of leaf mould and sand. No nutrient in that and it works a treat.