Wilting Cabbage seedlings

[ChilliWilly]

Hi everyone,

I have 3 cabbage vars. which were raised in a heated prop with light. Over the last few days I have removed them as they have begun to wilt and shrivel! The brocolli and cauliflower are doing fine however.

I have moved the cabbages into the greenhouse however I am concerned its a bit cold?

Is someone able to confirm my suspicion the heat was causing them to wilt? It looks like only half will make it through!

Thanks

[Scarlet]

Yes, too warm, they are cool weather plants. Brassicas will be fine germinated in the GH. I never use a prop for them. You could let them germinate indoors iff you wish and then as soon as you see a speck of green get them in the GH.

[Bren In Pots]

I do the same thing as Scarlet with brassicas, when its frosty I germinate them indoors then they go straight into the GH first sign of a bit of green.

[ChilliWilly]

Should i move the cauliflower and broccoli too?

I may have to sow a few more cabbages..

[bario1]

Yep, all brassicas will fare the same... they might even suffer in the greenhouse on a sunny day, I leave the door open. They benefit from a breeze too I find.

[ChilliWilly]

Thanks for your help everyone - I shall get them outside! Now where did I put the cabbage seeds....

[MarkPelican]

Once your brassicas have germinated, I find they have to be kept outside, perhaps in a coldframe but certainly not in a greenhouse or under heat. (I must admit that brassicas are one of the things that I buy as plants, whatever I seem to do to the seedlings they get poorly).

[Scarlet]

I do really well with my brassicas and I find that during March and April they are fine in the GH unless it's super warm - after they have grown a bit I pot them on and then they go out in the day and back in at night until they are big enough to fend off the slugs, then they get planted.

[Greenleaves]

I always start mine in a cold greenhouse this time of year, May onwards it is via a nursery bed but loose around 50% to pests so I always over sow

[Twynyrodyn]

I do really well with my brassicas and I find that during March and April they are fine in the GH unless it's super warm - after they have grown a bit I pot them on and then they go out in the day and back in at night until they are big enough to fend off the slugs, then they get planted.

Shhhhh..don't say the s---g word!

[jonny the plant pot]

Ive planted a few russian giant cabages in jiffy plugs in the greenhouse and they are just starting to pop through.i wouldnt use my propergator for them though only toms and chillies get that sort of special treatment

[ChilliWilly]

Is it too late to sow more cabbage seeds?

Should.i sow directly into soil, or in a tray in the GH?

Any advice very welcome - thank you

[Florence Fennel]

Not too late at all CW I'm sowing some more today in a seed tray in the very cold and exposed stay put (lean to greenhouse with missing pains). Cabbages, cauliflower, broccoli are all brassicas and do well outside

[ChilliWilly]

If i move from under a light to outside will they cold shock?

[Penellype]

They should be fine, but I wouldn't put them out on a day when its going to freeze (tonight it is probably going to freeze in many places in the UK).

The biggest issue with sowing brassicas directly into soil is not cold, its pests. They are very attractive to slugs and various other beasties and I find it is better to give them a good start in their own pot so they are big enough to cope with losing the odd chunk of leaf when planted out.