Purple Leaves on Broccoli and Cauliflower

jcor4321sfg 8/22/2022, 7:23 pm

I've got 1 broccoli and 1 cauliflower in my SFG. The broccoli is from seed and the cauliflower is a start that I bought a couple weeks ago. The bottom leaves keep turning purple and falling off on both. I think I read that this might be because of a difficiency but I haven't been able to find anything specific about this.

OhioGardener 8/22/2022, 7:37 pm

jcor4321sfg wrote:I've got 1 broccoli and 1 cauliflower in my SFG. The broccoli is from seed and the cauliflower is a start that I bought a couple weeks ago. The bottom leaves keep turning purple and falling off on both. I think I read that this might be because of a difficiency but I haven't been able to find anything specific about this.

There are a couple things that can cause the leaves to turn purple. For example, a cold snap can cause the leaves to start turning purple. Or, if the soil is too acidic, it prevents the plants from absorbing phosphorus from the soil. Or, the phosphorus level of the soil may too low, preventing the plant from getting as much as it needs. Is this a first-year Mel's Mix in the bed? If so, it simply means that the soil microbial life has had time to break down the compost and make the nutrients available to the plants.

The good news is that the plants will likely recover on their own. If you think there is a phosphorus deficiency, you work some bone meal into the soil around the plants.

jcor4321sfg 8/22/2022, 7:49 pm

Yeah, this is my first SFG. Did you mean that the microbes hadn't had time to break it down?
I thought maybe I had washed out too many nutrients with the over-watering I did. I'll check it with a pH probe I have too.

OhioGardener 8/22/2022, 8:10 pm

jcor4321sfg wrote:Yeah, this is my first SFG. Did you mean that the microbes hadn't had time to break it down?

Yes, typically it takes the first year for all of the compost to develop the high microbial life that is needed to break down the various nutrients to make them plant available. At the time all of the compost is blended into the Mel's Mix, most of the microbes are in the dormant stage and it takes time for them to become active and multiply into the numbers needed to fully support the heavy plant demand. You will be surprised with the increased productivity of the beds the second year.

jcor4321sfg 8/22/2022, 9:44 pm

Ok that's good to know. I made a few beginner mistakes and thought the results were entirely because of that. Thanks for your help! Smile

markqz 8/22/2022, 10:56 pm

jcor4321sfg wrote:Ok that's good to know. I made a few beginner mistakes and thought the results were entirely because of that. Thanks for your help!

I see you're in California. My theory is that the need for continual watering drains nutrients faster than in other, cooler places.

My first year with SFG was one of my best, so I'm not sure about the microbe theory. At the start of this year I noticed purpling with some of the Braccias, so I added bonemeal and it seemed to help. My kale isn't purple, though the leaves tend to be tougher than I would like. But that may be simply that braccias aren't fond of persistent, hot weather.

Sponsored content

Purple Leaves on Broccoli and Cauliflower

Purple Leaves on Broccoli and Cauliflower

Re: Purple Leaves on Broccoli and Cauliflower

Re: Purple Leaves on Broccoli and Cauliflower

Re: Purple Leaves on Broccoli and Cauliflower

Re: Purple Leaves on Broccoli and Cauliflower

Re: Purple Leaves on Broccoli and Cauliflower

Re: Purple Leaves on Broccoli and Cauliflower


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.