[1st time veg grower]

Woke up this morning and two of my brassca seedlings in my raised bed have been severed through the stems! A couple of leaves had been munched previously and I put down slug pellets which are mostly still there. All the others look untouched and the two that have been cut through are not next door to each other in a row. They are netted. Its not a total disaster as I have back up seedlings ready and waiting but obviously don't want to lose anymore than is necessary!

Any ideas what this could be?

Thanks.

[compostqueen]

pigeons or birds eating them through the net, they are crafty. Done it to mine as well, I had mine covered but had to switch to a finer net after they got munched. Could be slugs despite your pellets.  Good job you have spares

[Goosegirl]

I put large plastic milk cartons over my seedlings with a cane through the handle to hold them in place so as to protect them from birds, and a couple of slug pellets for good measure.

[1st time veg grower]

They were under bottle cloches when first planted out and then I made the net enclosure - thought it was bird proof...

The leaves of the severed plants were still there - not eaten, just lying on the earth.

[gillie]

They were under bottle cloches when first planted out and then I made the net enclosure - thought it was bird proof...

The leaves of the severed plants were still there - not eaten, just lying on the earth.

Mice?

Gillie

[1st time veg grower]

Could be, but I hope not... my little plot is right outside my house!

[Fisherman]

It could be leatherjacket grubs in your soil that creep out at night and munch your plants. Leatherjackets are the larve of daddy-long-legs and have a great appetite for brassicas, lettuce etc. If you scrape the soil back where a plant has been eaten look for a grey grub about 25mm long. I am plague with them and am going to try and control them with nematodes this year.

[brewerboy]

You should worry, I can't get any type of cabbage or cauli to germinate this year.New seeds from dobies but not one seedling despite two sowings! any ideas?

[DavidT]

Chafer grubs.

[Muddylou]

You should worry, I can't get any type of cabbage or cauli to germinate this year.New seeds from dobies but not one seedling despite two sowings! any ideas?

I can only think you've sown them too deep, or as I have with my chilli and bell pepper seeds, watered them too often. Sow again (as I have this evening) there's still time.