my cabbage plants are dying

gunners71uk · Thu Sep 01, 2005 9:17 am

oh dear i i sowed some cabbage seed in and transplanted them and they are dying took them from seed tray to modules and they are dying may be i transplanted too early as i did them after 7 days and the 2 leaves which came up first i am trying to buy some cabbage plants but to no avail
HELP

Millymollymandy · Fri Sep 02, 2005 6:08 am

Gunners, that possibly was a bit early to transplant from a seed tray. You have to wait until you have a few true leaves, which are the ones that come after the first two, which don't usually ressemble the true leaves of the plant. You must also hold the plantlet gingerly by the leaf when transplanting and be as gentle as possible and not touch the stem or roots, and then using a dibber or pencil make a hole and just tamp it in gently.

Sarah C · Post: # 6084Post **Sarah C** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 12:34 pm

my cabbage plants I transplanted to the veg plot are looking sorry for themselves as the cabbage white butterflies took a shine to them and i now have caterpillers on them. I look the leaves over and no caterpillers come down the next day and yet more holes in the leaves. I pick off the odd caterpillers I see but gosh don't they do quick damage!
The other plants I have in the greenhouse ready for the veg plot have ended up staying in the greenhouse a little longer as don't really want to give the caterpillars anything more to eat. I will probably move them to my little plastic walk in greenhousely thing tomorrow to start them getting ready for the great outdoors tho.

Wombat · Post: # 6085Post **Wombat** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 1:01 pm

This tear I am going to make up frame and cover it with mesh to try and keep those bloody cabbage moths off................at the seedling stage anyway!

Nev

Sarah C · Post: # 6087Post **Sarah C** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 1:15 pm

I got my seedlings going in the greenhouse and how sad am I - I went in the other day to find a cabbage white butterfly caught in a spiders web in the greenhouse. i couldn't bring myself to kill it so had to help it free and let it go - it probably thanked me by promptly layings its bl**dy eggs on my cabbage seedlings. Oh well thats what you get for being a big softy. I wish sometimes I could be crawl - the only thing I seem to be able to deal with without the slightest second thought is slugs then I can be the devil with pellets and salt!

Millymollymandy · Sun Sep 04, 2005 6:08 am

Sarah C wrote:I got my seedlings going in the greenhouse and how sad am I - I went in the other day to find a cabbage white butterfly caught in a spiders web in the greenhouse. i couldn't bring myself to kill it so had to help it free and let it go - it probably thanked me by promptly layings its bl**dy eggs on my cabbage seedlings. Oh well thats what you get for being a big softy.

You're not alone - I did the same thing last week outside!!! I just couldn't stand and watch it flapping any more!

I have cabbage whites constantly around my cabbages but there doesn't seem to be much damage. Now there is an interesting beetle/bug that is living in my cabbages, never seen it before and I'm wondering if it is eating the caterpillars. I've done a vague search on Google for beneficial insects in both English and French but so far no idea on identification. If I find out I'll package some up and send them over.

Maybe I could make my fortune!!!!!

And then, there is caterpillar poo in my lettuces, but no signs of holes or caterpillars. We did find baby frogs living underneath the lettuce though. Maybe the organic balance is starting to work - great innit?