Help! cabbages dying

[Wendy]

Hi i wonder if anyone can help my cabbages germinated very well and started growing very nicely - however they seem to be dying one by one
perhaps i sowed them too early??
The soil is not too wet and they are kept inside, the leaves seem to be curling down then drooping down and limp then they die, the same thing happened to my cauliflower seedlings can anyone help???

[Flummery]

It could be due to sowing too early but it could also be due to damping off. Not sure how you avoid this if growing organically. Good airflow around them helps. Are they close together in a pot or pricked out into a seed tray?

[muckdiva]

Could they be getting too warm?

[Wendy]

Think you could be right about the airflow, thanks, they are pricked into seed trays.

I dont think they are too warm but i'll keep a check on this

I have another batch germinating now so fingers crossed, hopefully i was just a bit too early, finding it very difficult to resist growing everything i can all at once but most things are growing well even though a bit early
thankls for your replies

[rustylady]

Sounds like damping off. Cabbage are hardy so do not need high temperatures to germinate. Make sure your seed trays or pots are really clean before you sow and that the compost is fresh. I only keep my cabbage seeds under cover until they germinate, then they go outside into the mini greenhouse which is kept open unless there is a frost forecast.

[Wendy]

Thanks for that rustylady that is exactly what i will do with my newly germinated ones

[pigletwillie]

In addition dont over water the compost. Keep it just moist, any wetter and you run the risk of the dreaded damping off. As others have said they are very hardy and can cope with the cold so sowing early isnt an issue.

Mine are sown in pots and pricked out into modules (40 to a tray) and put in the heated greenhouse (10 degrees) till they are about 2" high then they go out into the cold greenhouse or cold frame until large enough to plant out.