[Lincs Lottie]

Hello All,
I'm new to this forum and also new to growing veg so please be gentle!
Myself and a friend are sharing an allotment which we got last month.  We have half a plot each but not next to each other.
So far we have planted strawberries, garlic, onion sets, sown cauliflowers, broccoli and cabbage and planted potatoes.
I have since read that perhaps we should have started our brassicas off indoors rather than direct sowing.  The packet did say to direct sow though, so do we have any chance of these germinating in the ground?

I have also started the following in a heated propagator:
Dwarf curly kale
Aubergine
Peppers
Pumpkins
The kale has already germinated after just 2 days and is about an inch high with leaves a sort of 4 leaf clover shape.  I am worried they are getting leggy and perhaps should have grown them in a non-heated propagator instead. I have now removed the lid but they are still on the heated base.  Should I transplant them now or move them from the heat?
Any advice greatly received as this is all new to me.
Thanks for reading.

[prakash_mib]

everything can come out of heated propagator and kale can go outside in a cold frame (if it is not too leggy) straightaway.
you might get lucky with brassicas sown in the plot but it will be hard to differentiate between weeds and them. I would sow some in a cat litter tray and leave them outside now 
And ofcourse welcome to the forums. 

[mumofstig]

It's ok to start brassicas (kale is a brassica) outside in a seed bed, or in trays or modules, which give them a chance to get a bit bigger before they face the outside world.
What they don't like is heat, a windowledge in a cool room is plenty warm enough and then only til they get a couple of leaves then outside into coldframe/cold greenhouse /cloche /sheltered position to grow on, before planting out

Pumpkins, peppers and aubs will do well started in the heated propogator, but take them off the heat once they've germinated.

[Kleftiwallah]

You will see most seedlings have "a four leaf clover" look about them (normally it is just two leaves).   These are cotyledons or seed leaves.  They are thrown up by the seed to collect the suns rays as early as the plant can, the proper leaves come a little later.

When transplanting, try and pick the seedling up by these leaves, or proper leaves if these have fallen off,  DON'T pick seedlings up by the stalk / stem.

 I hope you are enjoying the experience and carry on doing so.     Cheers,     Tony.

[Lincs Lottie]

Thanks for all your replies.
I have removed kale from heat now.  Will see if they grow any true leaves.  I still have some more seeds so may well try again in modules with no heat.
Looks like my other brassicas may not work either as they were sown directly in the allotment.
Ah well, as I said, I am a novice and we all have to start somewhere. 
Oh I don't have a cold frame or a greenhouse.  I do have a 3 tier plastic covered grow house thing so once all the seeds have germinated and been transplanted into bigger pots do I put them outside during the day for a while?
Sorry for more questions but there will probably be even more in due course!

[Yorkie]

I would not put the aubergine / peppers / pumpkins outside into the little grow house once germinated.  It will be far too cold for them.

I just had some cabbage seeds germinate indoors and I've put them straight into my grow house outdoors.

[Lincs Lottie]

Thanks again.
I think my kale may be too leggy because I used a heated propagator.
Should I pot on now or wait for their true leaves or just start again? 
I still have seeds left so I can easily do them again.  If so, should I still put them in a propagator but an unheated one this time, or just in an uncovered seed tray on a window sill?
Thanks.
LL

PS. Will see if I can take a pic later and upload if poss.

[Lincs Lottie]

I think I already know the answer, but here is my curly kale which seems very leggy - now should I bin it and start over or pot it on in the hope that it recovers?
Please be gentle as it's the first time I've tried to grow from seeds.   
Should I sow in an unheated propagator this time or just in seed trays uncovered on a window sill?
Many thanks.
LL

[mumofstig]

Sowing some in a seed tray, or modules, somewhere sheltered in the garden would be the best option 

[Lincs Lottie]

Sowing some in a seed tray, or modules, somewhere sheltered in the garden would be the best option 

Thanks!
So I should sow the kale in a seed tray/modules and rather than leave to germinate inside I should put outside?
Would they be okay in the little grow house?  If so, do I bring them in at night? 
Sorry for all the questions.
Thanks again.
LL 

[bazh]

Sowing some in a seed tray, or modules, somewhere sheltered in the garden would be the best option 

Thanks!
So I should sow the kale in a seed tray/modules and rather than leave to germinate inside I should put outside?
Would they be okay in the little grow house?  If so, do I bring them in at night? 
Sorry for all the questions.
Thanks again.
LL 

Your Kale will be fine sown in modules in your growhouse (it will be fine sown outdoors too) no need to bring it indoors at night.

[Yorkie]

They probably won't appreciate the warmth of the house.  If they are under cover or shelter outside, that will be fine.