Hello;
I am starting my plants for spring now and have a question that I hope some one can help me with. Last year, I started broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower indoors in my basement under grow lights. They came up wonderfully but after they were about 11/2 - 2 inches tall, the leaves began to curl back and it looked like they just dried up from the outside in. The small leaves in the center weren't affected at first but they soon got this too. It ruined many of my plants. When I noticed that this was becoming a big problem, I took the plants outside to my greenhouse and the problem stopped. The new leaves that came on were fine. I was thinking this may be damping off but after reading about it, I don't think so. On the plants that were hit worst, the stems stayed very sturdy, even after all the leaves had dried up and died. (It really looks like they are drying up. You can touch the affected ends of the leaves and the ends will come apart like dried herbs.)
Now, I don't want this to happen this year and I don't really know what I am doing wrong or what I can do to prevent this. I have looked for a long time around the web and just can't find anything that deals with this. It seems to affect only the plants like broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. My tomatoes were totally unaffected by it although I did have a little trouble with my peppers as well. Can anyone tell me what this is and what I can do about it? Thank you so very much!
-Rachel
Seed starting question!
I havn't seen that, but like you did, I get them up to around 2-3" second leaves or not - than right out to the hoophouse under a row cover on a warm day. saves energy and they seem to take to hardening off rather readily.
I don't have an answer to your problem, but why not make use of the greenhouse..if you have room.
-joe-
Uh, ya'll should come visit us on the Winter Sowing thread....
I do plan on taking them to the greenhouse asap but it actually isn't very heat effecient and so it costs quite a bit and takes a lot of time to keep it heated. So, I am putting it off as long as possible and I'm hoping this cold spell will end soon!
-Rachel
Winter sowing is the way to go!
This is just a hunch, but how is the humidity in your house?
You can get a simple hygrometer for fairly cheap. I have an analog one that came with my little humidifier. Your humidity should be at least 50%, maybe more. I'm no expert.
I would say that you should also take a look at your growing mix. But because the problem stopped when you took them out to the greenhouse, it really doesn't sound like a lack of nutrients. Unless you repotted them or fertilized them at the same time that you took them to the greenhouse.
if you set the seds in the trays and place them in the house, they will sprout.. basically wintersowing. I throw trays in the hoophouse and am pleasently suprised at the results.. just seed the trays, place them out at your leasire and forget about them until it gets a little warmer to check on them... sounds silly - but trust the winter sow people. I am learning to,.
-joe-