I planted mine in February, in the garden, not in containers. They seem to be quite a bit taller than yours though. I can't really tell from your photo, but mine are a good 2 feet tall now. I didn't know they were actually a fall veggie, so I'll try again then, but we'll both see I guess.

I find this time of year to be the most difficult to protect young seedlings. Everything, summer-like is still in full swing. It could be lizards, birds, snails, and/or pill bugs. My past strategies have been mainly - cages, with wire around them (for skunks, birds mainly), pieces of screen (birds - especially over emerging snow pea seedlings, and smaller fry - possibly lizards). I've also tried hiding seedlings among the pepper plants or other larger ones. But one option that seemed to work best - was to wait until cooler weather. The birds go south to the playas, the lizards stop being active, as do a lot of the bugs. That, of course, leaves snails, pill bugs and the white butterfly larvae. Soooo - yes screens work OK. A hoop type pvc cage with Remay cloth works OK. Waiting to plant seedlings when they get bigger - disinterests pill bugs. Hand picking worms and snails - I'm afraid is all I know to do - organically. But - like you, every once in awhile I take my chances and plant them anyway - OK, so I'm starting my second round of bok choy and leeks again. On the bright side, I have another batch of leeks seeking shelter underneath 2 nursery flats - to provide not only some shelter, but a bit of cool - cuz the temps are NOW in the 100's. (OK - so where were yu when the tomatoes needed ya). Bejay

Kristy, There's always a 'second chance' for broc and b.s. in the fall garden. Remember, every learning experience is good, and NOTHING tastes as good as fresh produce grown by you in your garden in the most healthy and most natural way possible. There's not a grocery store brussel sprout in Oklahoma that can compare to the flavor of those straight from your garden. One of the hardest things about gardening in Oklahoma is raising cool-season crops and it is primarily because our fall and spring cool-seasons are relatively short and often interrupted by (a) late freezes (in spring) or early freezes (in fall) with VERY cold nights--colder than cool season crops like, (b) an occasional hot spell too early in spring or extra late in fall that messes with the biennials by sending them mixed signals, (c) tornadoes, late snow or sleet in spring or the same stuff too early in the fall, dust storms, wind storms, wildfire,etc. It can be VERY hard to get the timing of cool-season crops to work here and even very experienced gardeners get frustrated with weather that refuses to meet the needs of their cool-season crops. So, hang in there, and give brussels sprouts and broccoli another chance somewhere down the road so you can enjoy them straight from the gardening. One thing about gardening....when it doesn't work out "this time", then.....there's always next year. Dawn

Hi Roughie I use this planting guide. I'm relatively new to Tassie and I need some help from time to time. helen Here is a link that might be useful: planting guide