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Aurora

Please offer advice on how best to harden these seedlings and strength their overall structure. I have young seedlings, but don't feel confident in their strength for the garden transplant ahead. Please help!!
mrayzndust@yahoo.com

4/25/2014 10:13:25 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

I have found they do quite well in cooler weather...to start.... If small enough one can put a milk jug with the bottom cut off for a hot house over the top.... Should do quite well...

4/25/2014 11:57:44 AM

Bethlehem CT

My brassica seedlings all seem to grow these long stringy stems, Regardless of light and temperature conditions, they turn out weak and spindly. I have noticed that if I re-pot (Bury them deeper) after they sprout the seedling will be stockier and appear healthier. If you have weak spindly plants you can still set them out in the garden and they will turn around. Just make sure you acclimate them to the outside if they have been grown inside. There is a huge difference between indoor and outdoor conditions. The wind and sun will burn plants that were grown inside. (It's like a person who has been inside doing nothing all winter, going out in the spring to work and getting a sunburn, windburn and blistered hands.)
Once hardened off they can take the cold. My plants have been snowed on and been through temps as low as 25 degreees since being set out. Sometimes after this happens the plant will go to seed or produce little button heads. Which is not good.

4/26/2014 9:02:48 AM

BC, Canada

Have you ever used reemay row cover. It works very well. It is relatively cheap and can be made any size,and adds a bit of warmth. Depending on the weight it provides varying degrees of sun protection. Here I need it to keep the cabbage moths off of the brassicas. And like they said, most of this family does well in cool weather. Also being in the open tends to make a plant stronger form wind moving it about.

4/26/2014 2:18:28 PM

Bethlehem CT

Cavitysearch, I do like to use remay on my spring crop. It keeps the root maggots away. Which seem to be a problem with my spring crop but not the fall. Cabbage moths are a huge problem here too.

4/27/2014 7:56:55 AM

Aurora

Thank you everyone!! I have been setting them out in the wind and in the cool morning. They are now spending nights in the garage and days outdoors.

4/27/2014 7:57:33 AM