Broccoli-starting indoors

htanguay 3/3/2012, 11:40 am

So I started some broccoli seeds...the first round has a long stem 3" and some small leaves. It was planted the last week of february. The next one I tried a week later and it is not growing like the other and is yellow. Thoughts, suggestions? Is there hope for them when transplanted outside? I do have them under a grow light that is on about 12 hours a day.

curio 3/3/2012, 11:48 am

Is your older brocolli 3" long with only the first set of leaves? If so, it may not be close enough to the light (2-3" optimal)
The second batch being yellow... how tall is it? Has it been yellow from the beginning? Planted in the same soil mix? Received the same amount of water? Is it the same variety? Were the seeds older (did you buy them last year or before?)
Yellow would make me think it's lacking nitrogen, but someone else might chime in with additional or better information.

htanguay 3/3/2012, 11:53 am

I am using a burpee seed starting kit. Same seeds. I have had the light about 6 inches away from plants. Yes 2nd one has been yellow from the beginning and it is just under an inch. The seeds were purchased this year.

Thanks for your help!

curio 3/3/2012, 12:08 pm

did that kit come with the little expandable peat plugs or starting mix? I would try a half strength liquid kelp or liquid fish fertilizer on the sprouts and see if that makes a difference in the second set. First set will benefit also. If they don't green up in a couple of days, I would discard those plants and the soil they're in and start more.
Do they look ok other than their color?

BackRiver_SFG 3/3/2012, 12:14 pm

Hello htanguay. I'm over in Weymouth. We're practically gardening neighbors. Starting some broccolli too. Broccoli-starting indoors File-10

My grow lights are several inches above like I think yours are too. I just added some fertilizer the other day and I think they liked it. Have you added any fertilizer? Perhaps that may have caused the yellowing. If thee is space I'd just get some additional seeds going as well. I am planning to start to harden off my cold weather crops in about 2 weeks. The broccoli in about 3 or 4 weeks.

quiltbea 3/3/2012, 10:20 pm

You need to lower your lights so they are only about 2" above the top of the plants.

The lights also need to be on about 16 hrs a day for good results.

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Broccoli-starting indoors

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