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Old 15-05-2008, 04:53 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Bob Hobden Bob Hobden is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Aug 2006
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Default Growing Cabbages


"beamer" wrote
This is my first post as a veggie gardener! We have started our first
veggie plot this year and have sown some cabbage seeds outside (as per
instructions on packet).

Unlike everything else we have planted, we only have a few (~6 from
one entire packet) miniscule seedlings. Do I need to be concerned or
are they just slow to get going? A couple of these 5 mm high seedlings
seem to have burnt edges to their leaves. They were planted a few
weeks ago.

Every other seed sown at the same time, are probably 1.5" to 4" high.

Veggie patch was lawn up until late last year. Removed turf and dug in
multipurpose compost. Has sun for most of the day.Sandy soil. I'm in
sunny(?) Dorset.


Other things planted which are doing far better include Rhubarb,
Asparagus, tomatoes, basil, runner beans, sweetcorn, beetroot, swede.
The plot isn't big (at all!) but I wanted to try a wider variety to
see what would do well.

All comments welcome.


My first thought was Flea Beetle as we can't grow brassicas outside in the
soil from seed as they kill the seedlings before they can grow through it.
We get a nice line of germinating plants one day and nothing the next.
However you say your Swedes are OK and they are also a brassica and would
also suffer. Do your little plants have tiny holes in the leaves?
Next thought was the pH of your plot, have you checked it? Cabbages like it
above pH 7 so they have a chance to avoid Club Root.

Try planting them in a seed tray and transplanting when big enough which is
what we do.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden