Broccoli yellowing

15 years ago

Broccoli is a new crop for me, and my transplants are starting to yellow on me. I hoping someone can help me figure out what is going on with them. The seedlings below are eight weeks old, and were transplanted out to my new raised beds at varying times to hedge against the cold spring we've been having here so far.

The one on the right was transplanted out two weeks ago after hardening off for a week, going out for longer periods each day. The one on the left has been out for one week. Each one got a milk jug cloche for a week after transplanting. We did have a frost last week one night, down to about 32-33 degrees.

After searching around the forums, it seems like the most likely causes are:

1. Too much water (we've had quite a bit of rain the last couple of weeks, but no supplemental water)

2. Frost damage

3. Low nutrients

The beds are new and a mix of my native sandy soil and some bulk compost purchased from a local nursery. I'm still waiting on for the soil test results, so I'm not sure on what I've ended up with yet.

Can anyone help me figure out what's going on, or at least help me with the most likely cause? Thanks for any help or ideas you have!

Erik

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Comments (6)

PaperFinch
15 years ago
I have new raised beds this year, and my broccoli, cabbage and kale all are yellowing and not growing much at all. I finally tested my new soil mix yesterday and found that while my potassium levels were high, my nitrogen and phosphorus levels were horribly low. I had to pick up blood meal and fish emulsion and hopefully I can mix it in in in time to keep my plants alive. Otherwise, I'll have to start over. Maybe test your soil and see if that might be your issue?
User
15 years ago
Erik, those leaves don't look yellow to me, they look white. I suspect frost damage. If so, the plant may just take a while to recover.
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erik_swanson
Original Author
15 years ago
It's interesting that you say white! As I look at the photo, it sure looks that way to me as well, but when looking in the garden my brain just said 'yellow.' I'm not sure if my memory is bad, or the camera. I will try to examine them tonight and get a shot with the SLR in some better light.

Frost damage is new to me, as this is the first time I have tried a spring garden. Not being from a gardening family, I grew up thinking a garden started on Memorial Day and ended on Labor day. I was very happy to discover differently, but it does open a whole new set of problems along with the new possibilities!

I'm also anxious to get my soil results back, since I have no idea what the available nutrients are in the new beds. Since they have been in for a couple of weeks now, I'm wondering if I should give them a dose of a mix of fish emulsion/seaweed or even some miracle grow?
kaburns918
15 years ago
Looks like frost damage to me too. I would remove the bottom few leaves that are the most damaged. I find that helps my plants recover a little quicker as they focus on new growth. Just make sure you leave enough leaves at the top to keep feeding the plant.
jean001a
15 years ago
Frost damage? Or sun damage?

And yes, please fertilize.
farmerdill
15 years ago
Frost damage is rare on broccoli, especially if it has been hardened off. Even so the leaves would be black, not yellow or white. Sunburn is a possibility if the plants were just transplanted from a green house. Yellow tho normally means nitrogen deficiency.