I ordered off the internet some cabbage seedlings. They arrived last week and I potted them up as I knew I wouldn't be able to put them in the ground for a while. The seedlings were a lot more advanced than I had expected - 6 - 8 inches?, and the lower stems were kinked. They stayed kinked when I potted them up and are still kinked a week later. Not grown cabbages before, but it seems to me that the stems need to be strong and straight and upwards to support the weight of the cabbage head as it grows. Is there any point in me planting them? The supplier assures me they will be fine, and that's how they are when farmers plant them out. Any ideas anyone?
Last weekend I did manage to get some small, perfectly formed cabbage seedlings from a market in Wells and will definitely be planting those. However, although I've got a large allotment the amount of dug plantable area is currently small, so I don't want to waste effort planting the big seedlings if they're just not going to work.
Any advice appreciated!
Leggy cabbages -should I bother?
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oldherbaceous
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Carrie, i must admit i never use cabbages if the stems are kinked, but to save throwing them since you have gone to the trouble of potting them on, you could plant them deeply, up to the first set of leaves. And if you plant them at about six inches apart it would save a lot of room.
You won't get a solid cabbage doing this, they will be more like spring greens.
Don't forget to give them a good drink and feed.
The dicision is all yours.
Kind regards Old Herbaceous.
Theres no fool like an old fool.
You won't get a solid cabbage doing this, they will be more like spring greens.
Don't forget to give them a good drink and feed.
The dicision is all yours.
Kind regards Old Herbaceous.
Theres no fool like an old fool.
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Compo
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I must admit most of my cabbages end up with kinked stems, seems to make little difference, but then again mine don't usually get as far as the solid heart stage...........I prefer a looser heart. Better advice, Carrie, might be to go to a garden centre or nursery and buy bare root plants, which appear to be more successful, however, I have lately used Hispi for all seasons and it seems to be performing well.
Compo
Compo
If I am not on the plot, I am not happy.........
Hello Carrie
You are quite right about the stem supporting the cabbage head. One trick that does help is to plant the seeedling a several inches below the general soil level. Leave them growing in this depression then when they start getting to a reasonable size you can draw soil back round the plants and firm it down to support the heads. The aim is to finish up with the cabbage head sitting on the soil to reduce the strain on the plants stem.
John
PS Its a very easy to raise your own cabbage plants in trays and modules - also a lot cheaper. Sow a few seeds in a 1/4 size seed tray and prick out the seedlings into module trays at the first pair of leaf stage. At this time of year all this can be done outside - you don't need a greenhouse or frame.
You are quite right about the stem supporting the cabbage head. One trick that does help is to plant the seeedling a several inches below the general soil level. Leave them growing in this depression then when they start getting to a reasonable size you can draw soil back round the plants and firm it down to support the heads. The aim is to finish up with the cabbage head sitting on the soil to reduce the strain on the plants stem.
John
PS Its a very easy to raise your own cabbage plants in trays and modules - also a lot cheaper. Sow a few seeds in a 1/4 size seed tray and prick out the seedlings into module trays at the first pair of leaf stage. At this time of year all this can be done outside - you don't need a greenhouse or frame.
Dear all, Thank you for your replies. I'll plant all but the floppiest, and see what happens. Earlier spent some time trying to calculate how much more land I'm going to have to clear to get all my seedlings in - some very serious digging is needed!