[Goldfinger]

I'm asking this on behalf of my dad (he's just been on the phone  ).....

He planted some spring cabbage in September, put a cloche over them and let them get on, (went on holiday , and had a neigbour water them etc).

He's used new seed this year too but they have all failed, yet a few 'old seed' germinated  .

Now then, I know the ground, it's light, fertile and club root free. He's work the garden longer than I am old too.

Can anyone have any other suggestions on what else it could of been?? 

[sunshineband]

Surprised at putting a cloche over them -- they are hardy 

[Goldfinger]

More for the pigeons really, anything green and it's gone! 

[viettaclark]

Could be dodgy seed....

[sunshineband]

The weather was really hot and they were under a cloche ---- not a good idea.

He could try the seed by germinating  afew on a wet tissue, but my guess is the seed is fine.

The embryo would have either been baked to death as it left the seed coat, or could not get through hardedned ground that had been watered --- and then baked!!

[Goldfinger]

Probably that too.

Think he just rang to have a moan at me as well come to think of it. 

[SkipRat]

The weather was really hot and they were under a cloche ---- not a good idea.

He could try the seed by germinating  afew on a wet tissue, but my guess is the seed is fine.

The embryo would have either been baked to death as it left the seed coat, or could not get through hardedned ground that had been watered --- and then baked!!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Goldfinger]

Would fleece been of better choice instead of a cloche??

[mumofstig]

they're completely hardy and need no weather protection at all, they may need protection from pigeons and slugs, maybe