I bought one of those 'root trainer' module units.
Started off cabbage & cauliflower in these ... the result is plants with quite long thin stems ... about 4-5" and bent over in a curve.
My question is, these OK to still use ? .... if so should I plant deep enough that only 2" or so of stem is above ground ?
yes plant them deeply
I regularly use these for sweetcorn, and brassicas. For some reason even in good light brassicas always bend over as they get bigger. But if you have had the tray of modules lifted off the surface and put on e.g. upturned flowerpots, then the root system will be superb by the time the plants are properly big enough.
As hippydave says, plant them right up to the first leaves, and they'll be fine.
I use root trainers and had the same problem. I just took the lanky things and planted them up to the leaves and they seem to have settled down. I have just planted my cabbage, sprouts and broccoli seeds in small pots and will do the same when they get to the right stage.
BTW is it OK to transplant broccoli I read somewhere that it doesn't like this and should be planted where it will grow. Anyone know if this is true? ???
I aways grow from seed all my brassica, never have any trouble,except the white fly ,pidgens,slugs ,cabbage whites ,other than that they are fine ;D
The reason your plants have have got leggy/drawn is more than likely lack of light. If you leave them in the root trainer as they are they will probabley just get longer. As they are as you say now about 4" 5" long you will need some deep pots to transfer them into before they go outside.
Persnaly i dont go for this root trainer method i use nothing more than the black plastic food packaging.
I think brassicas do this naturally anyway.... I can't believe mine are stuck for light, they're in a greenhouse that is not bound on any side except North andt hen only a few feet of fencing... and everything from Kohl Rabi to Cauliflower looks the same....
all my seedlings are in root trainers and I find that brassicas and tomatoes get a bit tall and lanky, even in full light. I use the blunt end of a pencil and just ease the compost down, this also draws the plant down, then I top up with more compost and the plants grow on very sturdily
Having never used this method i now understand that is the way you let them grow on, you dont pot them on consiquently they get tall..
Where as my method is to pot them on as soon as the seed leaf is big enough to handle
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The same aplies to tomatoes
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I have some brussels in a root trainer and they are leggy as described. They are a good 2-3" tall now and I am currently hardening them off during the daytime, having just taken them out of the cold frame.
I feel like planting them out in a week or so but not sure how they will fare at this stage.
Any thoughts?