Cauliflower seedlings dying

10 years ago

I posted this in another board before finding this board, which is probably more fitting. I started brassica seedlings at the end of February with the plan to transplant them last weekend. Night time temps are still a little iffy and we had some severe weather forecasted for this week, so they haven't been transplanted yet.

So in this flat I have 20 cauliflower seedlings, 20 broccoli seedlings, and 40 cabbage seedlings. Initially they all were growing really strong and hearty, although the cauliflower have always been smaller and weaker. In the last 2 weeks they've really taken a turn for the worst, wilting and yellowing and loosing true leaves. It was just the cauliflower initially, but the other plants are starting to turn as well. Can anyone look at these leaves and give me an idea of what they need? I'm guessing its some kind of nutrient deficiency, although it's possible they're being overwatered- initially I was underwatering and they wilted so I'm a bit paranoid about that happening again. Thoughts? Hoping to get them in the ground this weekend, although maybe I shouldn't transplant them in their current state? I don't think they're root bound yet, especially because it started with the smaller weaker plants. Thanks!

Featured Answer

digdirt2

10 years ago

A month ago they were ready to be transplanted into larger containers - ones at least 2x the size. The small cells such as in your photo are basically for germination only and once a true leaf develops they need to be moved into larger containers or they become rootbound and begin to die.

I would agree that you likely started them too early but even then they could be transplanted and continue to grow. If you start way early you will likely have to transplant them twice. I don't know if you can salvage any of the ones in the first pic now but it might be worth a try to transplant some of them into a good growing mix in at least a 4" container if they can't be planted out in the garden yet. You don't give your garden zone or location but in much of the country it is getting past cauliflower planting time as they are a cool weather crop.

Good luck.

Dave

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Comments (7)

aewzct
Original Author
10 years ago
For what it's worth, here's how they all looked a month ago. Maybe I just started them too early and they should've been planted out a long time ago (cauliflower are the ones at the bottom of the photo, looking WAY better than they do now)
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nickolemarie7
10 years ago
It's very possible you planted too early. My moonflower and morning glories did the same thing and it was because of planing too early and the roots not getting to grow deep(which causes them to get root bound very quickly). I went ahead and moved them outside and only a few survived(still weak but I have hope). Id say cut your losses on this batch
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LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I agree they were planted too early and they are now root bound and/or suffering root rot from overwatering. Brassicas only need about 4-5 weeks from seeding to planting out. I pot up from 60 cell trays to 18 oz. solo cups or 4" pots at about 2 weeks from seeding when they have developed their first true leaves and they can stay in those until planting out. Even if I am unable to plant out by 5 weeks due to weather they can stay in them another 7-10 days without getting root bound...any longer than that and it can be iffy which can cause 'buttoning' on the Broccoli where the small seedlings almost immediately try to form heads that grow no bigger than a golf ball.
aewzct thanked LoneJack Zn 6a, KC
aewzct
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks everyone! I was using the "gardening by color" method and thought it seemed like a long time between starting the seeds and planting out. I might have a total loss this year and will need to just call them a loss, so I'm going to just finish the hardening off process and plant them out on Saturday. Probably won't get much of anything from them this year, but I'll write it in my notebook and adjust next year. I wanted to put them out when the first picture was taken, but we have had several snows since then so I might just be in a bad some for these. Thanks for the input!
spartanapples
10 years ago
Don;t bother trying to plant out the cauliflower! I always see cauliflower plants sold around here that are so rootbound at chain stores. I tried them and will never grow them again unless I grow the plants myself from seed under lights. Rootbound cauliflower will never grow into a big plant but will stay stunted. You cannot get a big cauliflower head from a little stunted plant.

When I tried, all I got was a golf ball sized cauliflower head. Not worth planting out. Broccoli and cabbage are more forgiving but not cauliflower. I would think about 4 weeks is good for cauliflower if starting from seed until time you want to plant. Maybe 6 weeks at most. Just my experience.
aewzct thanked spartanapples
aewzct
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks! I really don't anticipate getting much of a crop from them. If anything maybe I can manage to get a few seeds saved for next year- or is that a bad idea since the plants are now unhealthy?