Growing cauliflower for first time

Hi all,

I planted some cauli seeds in a tray about a week ago and kept it on top of the radiator in the kitchen, watering regularly. The stems are about 3" tall now. What should be my next move? Should I move them to individual pots? I don't want to move them outside yet, I'm in Northern Ireland and we can manage snow in May on a good year ;-)
Whenever I do transplant them do I bury the stem and just leave the leaves showing?

Many thanks for any advice for this newbie.

Terry

 

Hi Terry, and welcome to GC

Sorry, that doesn't sound good. At a week old you've probably just got the first two leaves? maybe the second pair? if so its too tall and has grown so called "leggy" - most probably due to insufficient light.

Brassicas (Cabbage, Cauli, Sprouts etc) don't like heat.

Once they have germinated you need to move them to pots or modules (I use 9cm pots) and put outside somewhere sheltered. You can bring them into a cool corridor / garage if the weather turns really foul, but there probably won't be any need from this time of the year onwards, and cold will be short-lived (sharp frost only for a few hours each night)

Yes, bury them right up to the first pair of ("seed") leaves

If you think yours might be OK then best to upload a photo so we can have a look and advise, but from what you have said I would suggest you start again. Sorry :(

 

Hi Kristen,

Thanks for the welcome and comprehensive reply. I think I'll bin these and start over. I thought the heater was a good idea, lol. Apparently not.

 

Ah well, you see ... it depends

The Cabbage-bunch don't like heat much, but most other things will be happy with a little extra (preferably "bottom") heat to help the seeds to germinate.

Worth tell us what you are about to try and seeing how many different / conflicting pieces of advice you can get from various people on this forum

 

I'm just going to plant them and keep on kitchen window-sill. Plenty of light, not much heat. I'll see how that goes and let you know

 

Well that's up to you but Kitchen Windowsill = Not enough light and too much heat [for Brassica seedlings]

 

Our kitchen is very large (hard to keep warm) and the window over the sink is also large, but I'm always open to suggestions ;-)

Thanks again

Terry

 

Window only lights from one side (unlike a greenhouse / conservatory - or the great outdoors), so light from a window is never ideal for seedlings and they will tend to "lean" towards the window, and grow tall and spindly (so called "leggy")

You can mitigate this to some degree by placing a flat-white piece of board behind them to reflect light so they get lit from behind to, but it aint the same as getting "all round" light in a greenhouse etc.

If the windowsill is "very bright" then seedlings are likely to overheat when the sun is full-square on the window.

Brassica seedlings don't like heat. heat to them, at this time of year, is over 16C - even a cold kitchen will be that, and a well lit windowsill is likely to be 20C - 25C on sunny days. Best to get them into cooler conditions as soon as they have germinated. Outside on mild days will do, bring them in for the night. Put them somewhere sheltered though as they will be fragile when young (well, unless you sow them direct in the ground, but I'm all for starting them off in "pots" personally)

I'm sure if folk here disagree with me they'll chip in and say so.

 

ah, I understand what you mean now

The great outdoors it is then and I'll bring them in at night for a while.

 

Did you prick them out already - and bury the stem up to the first "seed" leaves? I'd be inclined to do that first, otherwise they may flop-over when you put them out (due to various weather effects of being in the great-outdoors!)

 

I only planted the new ones in a tray yesterday. How tall should they be for me to prick them out?

Here's a pic of the 'leggy' ones I dumped...

 

"I only planted the new ones in a tray yesterday."

Ah, OK, sorry I lost the plot ... thought you were trying to nurse-maid the previouos batch.

Seeing that picture the only way for them was bin (or compost-bin )

If you are dexterous and patient you should be able to prick them out when they just have their seed leaves. Leave them a few days after they germinate (a week, say). If less dexsterous then wait until the second set (the first set of "true") leaves appears. They will have more roots then, so some damage won't be terminal.

Hold them by the seed leaves, not the stem.

I personally prefer to prick them out sooner, rather than later.

Might be worth looking for a "how to" video on YouTube so you know what to expect ?

 

I sowed a few cabbage seed in my unheated greenhouse recently. After just over a week they were up, looking good

 

Cauli,Broccoli and cabbage planted last Tuesday in unheated greenhouse.Mostly germinated by Saturday now I have moved them to coldframe, leaving the lid shut for a couple of days and then will open the lid a few inches and then seed trays will be dumped outside for another week and if all is good potted on and left outside until 6-8" tall and then planted out and then its just the flying rats to worry them.