Calabrese Problem

[Susiebelle]

What happened to my calabrese Belstar?
Seeds were sown as usual in October they were overwintered in my coldrame and planted out, alongside my cauliflowers,  late march as very healthy plants.
Every one of the calabrese became, 'blind' for lack of another description. the leaves were extremely healthy but at the base of the top leaf a sort of bulb or bulge developed. I could see no sign of insect damaged.
I lifted the plants yesterday, no club root but what had formed were masses of tiny shoots I did break them up but could not see any signs of insects or damage of any kind.
Wish I had pics to show! Can any one throw light on this for me. Would be grateful for any thoughts as 8mths is a long time to end up with nothing to show for it :(

[Susiebelle]

[Tee Gee]

Seeds were sown as usual in October

Why sow them then it is not a winter variety?

I sowed 16th March they took three days to germinate and I pricked them ot on the 25th March and put them in the cold frame the following day.

I planted out on the 11th May and they are growing well. I guess I will start harvesting in July.

Regarding your 'blind' plants;

I know this can happen to the odd plant but I have never known it happen to all the plants, all I can think is; it is heat & light related i.e. lack of!

[Susiebelle]

It's wierd Tee Gee, thanks for your thoughts.  I think I may send a root off to RHS for analysis, if I do I will let you know the out come

[Jayb]

I've had the same problem with some plants I bought in last autumn, they were planted in poly in the autumn, sorry can't remember the variety. About half were affected, chooks were happy though! I also sowed some Aquiles, I think october which were o/w in cold greenhouse and then planted in to poly. They have been fantastic and are producing lovely big heads. I've added a couple of photos of the ones affected

One that's grown blind
[attachment=1]

Same variety ready for cutting.
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Found this http://jxb.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/50/335/861.pdf

[saddad]

Makes interesting reading... some of those varieties clearly are not "fit for purpose" with 100% blindness overwinter...  :-X