Leggy Broccoli Seedlings
susanlynne48
13 years ago
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mulberryknob
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Is this broccoli already too leggy?
Comments (13)Thank you all for your answers. I see a spectrum from very hopeful to not very hopeful for my plants. Based on my understanding of all the suggestions, my plan now is to (1) thin the broccoli to one or two stems per pot, keeping the shortest (but few of them are short). Most pots only have three or four stems, anyway. (2) start putting the plants outside during daylight hours. Daytime temps here range from the low 50s to the high 60s; nights occasionally dip below freezing. I have been putting the seedlings under a plastic box when outside to keep them warmer -- does that block the full spectrum? Should I just put them out with no cover? (3) when I transplant them (should I do that as soon as I see true leaves?), bury the stems an inch or two into the soil. I am planning to transplant them to pots first, and then to the garden with some kind of protective mesh or something when they seem pretty sturdy. In the past, something has eaten my broccoli plants outside within a couple of weeks of germination every single year (which is only about three before I stopped trying)....See MoreBroccoli and other seedlings get too leggy
Comments (9)I agree with bejay - legginess is not enough light. It's difficult sometimes to provide enough but it can be done. Cooler temps for cole-type crops such as you mention also helps but light is the vital factor. You'll find several discussions on this problem currently running over on the Growing from Seed forum. They include info on how to transplant the seedlings deeply so that they can be salvaged and suggestions on ways to provide more light. Good luck. Dave...See MoreBroccoli seedlings leggy and yellowing
Comments (4)I'm having a parallel experience. My nightshades are strong and happy but my brassicas and lettuces are leggy, small, weak and not growing. I too think I've overwatered the whole crop (the surface of many cells has a white dusty covering - fungus/mold? they're growing in a "seeding mix" of peat moss, perlite, limestone and some sort of wetting agent) and I've not watered them for days and days but the "soil" still hasn't dried out. Will the plants be able to recover from this overwatering? Should I help them inside for a little while first or just get them outside ASAP for best outcome? Do I need to transplant the tomatoes/etc. inside, because of that dust on their soil? Thank you so much for your help! Regina...See MoreShould I try to harden off leggy seedlings or toss them?
Comments (2)Defnitely harden off anything started indoors under ideal conditions. You'd kill them yourself if you didn't. However, I'd plant leggy seedlings in the ground without hesitating. Sure it's not perfect, but they'll work well enough. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's garden...See Moresusanlynne48
13 years agomulberryknob
13 years agoOkiedawn OK Zone 7
13 years agosusanlynne48
13 years agozofia12
6 years ago
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Okiedawn OK Zone 7