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This is the first year I have grown brassicas. I have cauliflowers, calabrese and brussels sprouts growing well and hardening off in modules outside on the patio. This past week they are developing yellow lower leaves. Do they need feeding and if so what with?

My kale is doing the same, but the summer cabbages I planted out a week ago are fine. Maybe it's the sudden rise in temperature? Brassicas like a lime-y soil, I think, although you should probably test the soil first so you don't overdo it.

They could be a bit pot bound???

My Brassica seeds have done very badly this year too and I have had to re-sow most of them.  The first leaves seemed to shrivel once they had germinated and the seedlings looked very sickly, I am wondering whether they had been scorched as they were on a sunny windowsill. Also wondered whether the potting compost I had used was not suitable somewhow.  Anyway I am trying again with different compost and a cooler place and will see what happens. busy_lizzie

Reading Molly Bloom's posting about lime reminded me of a previous thingy-up on my part and I thought I'd share it - just in case. If you do decide to use lime, don't add it at the same time as manure (I don't know why, but they seem to cancel each other out) and after you've limed don't plant your little ones out for a week or so. Probably everyone else knows this but I didn't, at least not before the Great Cabbage Disaster of 03!!

I've been planting mine under cloches, and they're coming up fine, as are the peas.