My seedling cabbages are really long, thin and straggly, are they supposed to be? Ive never grown them before.

Question

Im trying to grow some vegetable but the cabbages, cauliflowers and broccoli have all become really long, thin and weak stemed and all just flop about on the top of the tray on the little greenhouse I brought. Any idea? or should I just start again and plant outside?

Answer 1

You have two options: Let the ones which are long get their second and third pair of leaves, and plant them really deeply in the outside, and use a collar to prevent the cutworms from destroying the seedling (read up about collars online).

OR you could start again with seeds (lesser suggestion) and give them less light. If the second group go into the ground, it is likely that the sun will be too hot (unless you are in the northern areas) for good growth. Cabbage family like cooler summers.

Thirdly, you could buy some seedlings for pennies and plant them and have another go next year.

Answer 2

You waited too long to transplant.Once germinated in the tray and hardened off,they should be transplanted onto a raised bed at a spacing of 10" - 12". Cauliflower should be transplanted in a single line bed.Broccoli and cabbage on a double line bed.

Answer 3

It sounds like they are not getting enough sunlight.

Answer 4

probably too much water or shade or both