Okay, I know I was hasty, but the seasons have been so weird lately I planted my coles for the fall garden -- broccoli, cauliflower, romanesco, and cabbage. They've all come up (heritage seeds) but they just get taller and taller, with no true leaves. A couple are almost 5" tall. What should I do? I've posted on the vegetable forum too.
Thanks!
Fall garden seedlings HELP!
You didn't mention whether the seeds are planted in the ground outdoors or inside. If they are outdoors where they get sun, I wonder if seedlings can bolt because of the heat? I know cool season vegetable plants will bolt — that is start flowering and forming seed — when the weather gets too hot.
Brigidlily,
I think you're waaaaaaaay early! But, there is still hope! If they're still portable, bring them inside to the coolest, brightest location you can find, and keep em' bottom watered. They'll stall on you, but soon as the weather changes come the end of August or so, start hardening them off to go back outside.
I planted my very first cabbage seedlings outside in May 2007. I was an UBER newbie! Managed to keep the outside and they looked like death warmed over. But, come August, I repotted them to my eBuckets in some fresh new potting mix, and soon as the chill hit the air they started perking up. Grew 'em all winter, and picked em' in February 2008 -- 9 months later.
You might've seen what I harvested...
Gymgirl, you da man, woman.
Bridge I think it's a bit to early for us for cole crops, now tomato seedlings to plant for fall I would think would be ok..I have a few extra seeds for some of what you might grow but let me know if you need them as I'll be packing them up soon...
GG, that is one kick butt cabbage...I gave away my mix from the EB's today and DH cleaned them up and packed them away...I got all sniffly..first time in years I haven't had an EB in my backyard.
No, they're inside. I wouldn't plant anything outside now -- WAY too hot. It might get up to 80 inside, but that's about it. They're in potting soil.
Gymgirl, that's what I call a cabbage! Nice.
Also, as I just replied on the vegetable forum, they only get a few hours' sun in the morning. I guess maybe I should get a grow light?
I planted some spinach in April, tucking the seeds in and around the strawberries, and they bolted immediately. What a weird season it has been. The tomatoes are just sitting there, green and doing nothing. I still have hope for the melons, though.
bridge I just use shop lights for my seedling with a warm/cool bulb combo and it works fine. I have a small grow light you can have if you want to pick it up but the shop lights should work.
Bridge,
I have a couple 48" shop lights I can't take with me. I you wanna head down to Houston, LMK!
Lighting is going to be the issue. Provide bright light close to the plants and they will get stockier rather than taller.
On the green tomato comment, I found this interesting:
http://neilsperry.com/articles/2010/06/22/my-favorite-things.html
hee hee hold on to those GG..let me give you an address in Pearland....*G*
Good info on the tomatoes, pod! After the longest winter I can remember (and I was born here) it got so hot so quickly I don't think they really had a chance. I did plant them late, since last year I lost my seedlings to a freak late March or early April frost. Man, you just really can't tell anymore, can you? And if you hedge your bets by planting by the moon... But I plan to just leave the tomatoes on there and see what happens. I read they're actually a tender perennial, so maybe once it cools down they'll perk up. Of course, it might not get cool again until November. Oh, well.
Thanks for the lights offer, gymgirl and araness! But I'd rather chew off my own foot than go to Houston! No offense meant; I can handle that traffic, but I just don't wanna!!! I do think the light is the thing for the brassicas. They're now in the bedroom where they'll get several hours of light but (please) won't get too hot.
I'll let you know what happens. I do have extra seeds.