Germination times

[jammyd]

Hi all, I sowed some seeds in modules at the weekend and by Wednesday morning, the broccoli and cabbage had germinated and were 1cm tall. I was surprised by this, but as it's my first year growing any brassia from seed indoors, I didn't know what to expect... Is this usual, or am i just lucky?

jams

[jammyd]

[moonbells]

If you've fresh seed then that's about right for brassicas. I sowed my cabbages on Saturday evening and there are five obviously up this morning. By the weekend I expect most viable ones will be up. 
Just make sure you don't keep them too warm or in shady conditions after they're up or you'll end up with a lot of leggy, floppy seedlings! (Been there, done that...  :( )
When my trayful have germinated, it will go in the cold frame.

good luck
moonbells

[jammyd]

Thanks Moonbells, I'm glad you mentioned shady conditions - I've only got north facing windows in my flat, do you think there will be enough light, or will the seedlings get leggy?

I read that you should wait until they have four or five true leaves before planting out - maybe I should plant out before that (under cloches?)

Ta,
jams

[chrispea27]

North facing will be difficult with the low light level.You could try putting them in a small cut down cardboard box lined with tin foil or painted with white emulsion. This would increase the reflected light on the seedlings. When four leaves have properly formed I would transfer them to modules to allow a good root system to form . Wait till the ground warms up before planting out.

:)

[wardy]

I've got a northfacing window and have the problem of leggy seedlings.  I had to throw some out yesterday. I have put some out on the window ledge outside today as it's sunny.  Hope they'll be ok

My sweet peas are really leggy and puny but I'm going to pinch out the growing tips when another set of leaves has formed.  I shall put some seed directly in the ground in April though just in case the leggy ones don't survive

[moonbells]

I agree - foil is useful in these circumstances. I grow my cabbs in module trays in the first place, and usually put them out in mid-April when things are definitely taking off in the allotment.
Cabbages don't mind being transplanted several times - I read somewhere that it actually helps! Just don't do it with caulis...
Beware of flea beetle. If the seedling leaves are nibbled round the edges inside the first week, dust with derris. Or cover with very fine net once you've brushed off the beetles. And also use brassica collars - if you buy them, they'll cost a lot and are very rigid card. You have to be careful not to decapitate your seedlings!  I use recycled carpet underlay - thicker, much easier to mould round the stem without a gap and cheaper!
Plant *firmly*. ie tread soil down before you plant and push the earth down hard around the plants. If you don't, they grow poorly and rock about.

moonbells

[terrace max]

Plant *firmly*. ie tread soil down before you plant and push the earth down hard around the plants. If you don't, they grow poorly and rock about

I know this is correct, but is there an alternative? I hate walking on my soil - let alone treading down on it...is there another way which will preserve hard won soil structure?

[moonbells]

Terrace: not that I know of. I didn't really firm my seedlings last year and despite lovely plants going in, with that and the flea beetle I didn't have a prayer. My own fault - was preoccupied with other things and any plants which made it into the ground were just stuffed in. Got a surprising crop of most things for all that, but cabbages aren't very forgiving with not firming in. They just don't heart.

I planted 30-odd and harvested a teacup sized head in November. I picked several that size in order to get enough for Christmas dinner.

This year I'm going in with me wellies :)

moonbells

[Multiveg]

Think there was something in the no-dig system - if the soil is well structured, compost and fertility, treading down may not be necessary. Perhaps a slight firming round the little brassica with your hands when you plant it out... Perhaps a mini experiment?

[moonbells]

Think there was something in the no-dig system - if the soil is well structured, compost and fertility, treading down may not be necessary. Perhaps a slight firming round the little brassica with your hands when you plant it out... Perhaps a mini experiment?

That's what I consciously did in previous years. I just don't think I was firm enough last year and it was into a bed which had been a mass of stones for years and I basically had to sieve it: not enough humus either I suspect.
This year the bed should be parsnips and salsify, but I'm tempted to put beans in instead to give a nitrogen boost.  But yes, I shall probably firm by leaning down as hard as I can rather than *actually* using wellies.

moonbells

[philcooper]

With no dig, or at least no digging after the last crop, my brassicas do ok and don't need staking either.

Digging up the ground and then stopping on it seems a bit peverse!

Phil

[simon404]

As moonbells said, they really do need firming in well, I use my heel.

[jammyd]

Hi all, back to the seedlings... after a week, the little fellas are a couple of inches tall and still only have their seed leaves. In other words - looking leggy  :(

Would it be too soon to plant them out on the plot at the weekend? Would they be okay under cloches? Or should I just chuck 'em and start again with outdoor sowings?

Your valuable advice always welcome!

Cheers,
jammy

[moonbells]

1.5-2" high is about where mine are, too. I'm waiting for the last couple of seeds to germinate and then I shall punt the lot into the cold frame to grow on. You don't want to put them straight out or they'll die.  I brush the seedlings over with my hands a couple or so times a day as it's been shown to promote sturdier growth.   
In a month you should have hardened off the plants.  You transplant them into the soil only when you have about 5 true leaves.

moonbells