My cabbage and broccoli plants (about 15" tall or so) are falling over . . .

Judge Kemp on 5/10/2010, 6:09 pm

I've got chinese cabbage and broccoli started from store transplants. The stem is appearing to thicken okay, but there seems to be a thinner portion of the stem near the ground.

I'm thinking I need to stake these now to get them to stand up straight and to keep them alive. Is staking cabbage and broccoli commonly needed? I've never experienced this before.

It is almost like the stem is running slightly horizontal right at the ground before it straightens up and thickens up. Definitely too top heavy.

SirTravers on 5/10/2010, 7:28 pm

I've done a little reading and from what I can tell broccoli likes to have the mix piled up around it's base for extra support. "Piles up a little extra mix around his broccoli." I don't have Chinese cabbage, but it may be the same way.

**donnainzone10** on 5/11/2010, 7:36 am

I do the same thing with any plants that lean over, mounding the Mel's Mix around them and then patting it down lightly.

Judge Kemp on 5/11/2010, 9:01 am

Thanks to the both of you for that suggestion. I'll give it a try. Initially, I think I'll put a few bamboo skewers in around the plant as "guideposts" as well. I won't actually "stake" it, but those posts should hopefully help stabilize it.

If wind and flexing really helps stems strengthen, these should be ready to put on some bulk!

LentilSoup on 5/4/2011, 5:51 pm

I was having this same problem with my one broccoli, so was glad to find this thread!

I don't have any spare mel's mix, so I scraped up some from the edges of that square.

I wonder if I should add some compost to fill in where I scraped it up? hmmm.

quiltbea on 5/4/2011, 6:03 pm

Next time bury your broccoli seedlings a little deeper than they were in the pot. They need the extra support. Bury your cabbage seedlings right up to the bottom of the leaves.

In the meantime, stake if you think it'll help but be careful of placing the stake. You don't want it too close to the stem or you'll probably damage the root system.

My cabbage and broccoli plants (about 15" tall or so) are falling over . . .

My cabbage and broccoli plants (about 15" tall or so) are falling over . . .

pile up your mix

Re: My cabbage and broccoli plants (about 15" tall or so) are falling over . . .

Re: My cabbage and broccoli plants (about 15" tall or so) are falling over . . .

Re: My cabbage and broccoli plants (about 15" tall or so) are falling over . . .

Re: My cabbage and broccoli plants (about 15" tall or so) are falling over . . .