Hi All,
I'm starting my seeds again for my vegetable garden and decided this year to try cauliflower, brocolli and cabbage. I've done some reading online but wanted to know if I could get some advice on when to start the seeds and when to transplant them outside. Usually I don't transplant my seedlings until May 15 after the last frost. Any help would be great.
Thanks,
Joe
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- Super Green Thumb
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- rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
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6 or 8 weeks before you plan to put them out, depending on if you like to have nice big plants for transplanting. But cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower are all cold weather crops. If you do a good job of hardening them off, they can withstand some frost. They do better planted earlier. They don't like hot weather and don't set heads very well once it gets warm. I'd think about getting them planted out before your last frost date.
I all depends on your frost free date.
I start broccoli and cabbage seeds indoors 12 weeks before my last frost date and they will be transplanted outdoors 5 weeks before the last frost date. They can take a little cold weather.
My cauliflower I start indoors 10 weeks before my last frost date and transplant them outdoors 4 weeks before the last frost date. They too, can take some cold weather.
In fact, I've got broccoli and cabbage started as of yesterday in my mini soil blocks. Let the season begin!
I start broccoli and cabbage seeds indoors 12 weeks before my last frost date and they will be transplanted outdoors 5 weeks before the last frost date. They can take a little cold weather.
My cauliflower I start indoors 10 weeks before my last frost date and transplant them outdoors 4 weeks before the last frost date. They too, can take some cold weather.
In fact, I've got broccoli and cabbage started as of yesterday in my mini soil blocks. Let the season begin!
these three crops you are starting come up quick even in cold conditions! I would make a raised bed cold frame and start them 30 days before the last frost. They will grow much better outside in a cold frame where you can spread them appart better and thin them to put into other areas easily! Just put a few windows or plastic over it and they will be happy! A little bit of sand in the top few inches of soil works best for me!