sprouting broccoli and kale plants trashed

[Jimmy]

I have been enjoying kale and was looking forward to sprouting broccoli which was just coming into sprout.

However temperatures of -7 and 40 MPH winds have left them in a sorry state. The bottoms of the kale plants have withered and the broccoli have totally withered.

I thought they were meant to be hardy.

Obviously the Beast from the East was too much for them.

Anyone else been smitten ?

Thanks
Jimmy

[Bren In Pots]

Nothing as bad as yours, mine are a bit bashed I've staked some so hopefully they'll pick up.

[Snoop Puss]

That's bad news, Jimmy.

When you say "the bottoms", do you mean at ground level?

[Jimmy]

I will try and get some pics at dinner time
Jimmy

[nickdub]

Some of my broad bean plants are still under 12" of snow. May or may not be OK, when the thaw happens we shall see.

[chris_m]

My perennial caulis were badly drooped (looking more like collapsed) but two of the three have raised their leaves again, the third looks like it's trying to. The PSBs drooped a bit, but not much and seem to have sprung back now - still waiting for any sprouting through. My curly kale (and something not curly but which came out of the same packet) was sown late so the plants are pretty low to the ground, they seem to have weathered the storm OK. Hope so, as I was nearly ready to pick a few leaves.

My broad beans, on the other hand, (well, those that survived the previous storms and the attention of sparrows) have largely been shredded - which is mildly annoying since some of them had started flowering just before the Beast struck. Still, it's not the end of the world since I only bunged 'em in to do a bit of soil conditioning in my new beds so any crop I do get (would have got, now) would be a bonus.

Hopefully things will warm up soon, or at least enough to take the chill off the soil - I have a tray of pea plants in fibre pots in the unheated porch that will need planting out fairly soon, and my first parsnips in kitchen rolls have sprouted too.

[veggiechicken]

Noticed some broad beans (with flowers) sticking through the snow yesterday - looking unscathed.
Giant kales still standing, just, although the asparagus kale was knocked out by frost a few weeks ago.
GH salad plants, that looked very limp a few days ago are looking sprightly again and the mangetout are still flowering.

[Snoop Puss]

^Lummy. You're miles ahead of me, Chris. I haven't even bought my parsnip seeds!

[bikermike]

My spurple prouting is drooped. like you, I'm hoping it's just the snow.

I have some weed tea I have been brewing for a while - is there any reason that would be a bad idea to use next week (if I dilute it down etc)?

[Jimmy]

Pics attached
One broccoli is totally wilted but the other may be OK
And the tops of the kale look OK
Jimmy

[Snoop Puss]

^I wouldn't worry too much about the PSB. That's only the outer leaves. They've probably protected the sprouting bits underneath. And if not, new shoots will emerge. Well worth keeping the faith, I'd say.

Good luck.

[Penellype]

I agree, give it a bit of time and it will most probably recover. Mine are still a bit droopy, but the buckets they are in are still frozen so they probably haven't got access to water. If the ground is frozen yours may have the same trouble, but things should be warming up pretty fast now.

[veggiechicken]

Expect the worst in life and you will probably have under estimated!

Living up to your signature again, Jimmy.

[SelkirkAlex]

mine are still buried under snow, but I have faith they will recover

[chris_m]

^Lummy. You're miles ahead of me, Chris. I haven't even bought my parsnip seeds!

Leftover Palace seeds from last year to be honest - although I have bought Gladiator to try as well this year.