Planting Brassicas

Well the heatwave has broken, I hesitate to say thank goodness but it was getting a bit much. The plants seemed to be loving it but the gardener was beginning to melt.

Now the trouble with growing is that plants don’t work to our timetable. They don’t have holidays and busy periods of work that keep them off the plot. Neither do they care if it’s pouring with rain or boiling hot – they just keep growing.

So this is not the ‘correct’ or best way to do things by any means. It’s how I’m coping with catching up after a crazy start to the year that’s thrown me way behind.

The large bed on plot 29 was earmarked for brassicas and having got the annual weeds hoed off, it needed preparation that should have been done in the winter really.

Out came the Merry Tiller and I ran over the bed a few times. The soil on this bed is about the best on my plots. When I took on this plot it was hard, compacted clay covered in sand and gravel but deep digging and incorporating masses of organic has turned it round.

Now it’s pretty friable so I can get away with the tiller breaking up the surface. To avoid it bouncing over the surface, I ran it as slowly as possible initially. This enables me to restrain it so it digs in rather than running away across the surface.

The second pass was slightly faster and the third was done at full speed, breaking up the clods into a fairly fine tilth. Another plotholder commented what nice soil I had on this plot. If only he knew what effort has gone in to get it there over the last years.

Having broken it up to about 8″ deep and incorporated the remnants of last year’s garden flowerpots compost, roughly levelled with the rake and then applied a good dose of garden lime.

Another run over the bed with the tiller and the lime was well mixed in to the soil. Now the weather forecast has been for some quite heavy showers but we seem to have missed out, just some light rain. I’d have liked it to get a good soak but what nature gives it was we get.

On Sunday it was time to plant out the brassicas that were pushing out of their pots. Actually, they were less pot bound than I’d feared judging from the top growth. It took nearly as long to erect the cage to keep the evil pigeons off as to actually plant out.

I’ve got side frames with netting stapled to them which run down the sides and then I drape a net over the top, using 8′ bamboo canes to stop the net drooping onto the plants.

I’ve got more sprouts than I want so gave some plants to Janice and Gianni from the next door plot. They’ve both been working really hard and have fallen behind a bit as well, so she says. It looks in apple pie order on their plot to me though!

So, sprouts Falstaff (a red variety), Revenge, cauliflowers Pavillion and Aalsmeer, unknown red cabbage are in the ground. I’ll give them a high nitrogen feed later in the week to really get them going.

Andy arrived just in time to help me get the net over. I can do it on my own but it’s a lot easier with two people. His plot is looking good but annoyingly for him, his calabrese have gone to flower. With calabrese,  they’re ready one day and gone over the next. His cucumbers are doing really well and he gave me one. Excellent! Wish he could remember the variety as I’d give it try next year myself.

Brassicas under netting

Brassicas under netting

Posted in Allotment Garden Diary
8 comments on “Planting Brassicas
  1. chris says:

    Hi I’m chris from harold wood romford essex. me amd my husband are growing carrots beetroot and tomato’s on our balconey I wondered if you had any idea what we could grow once we have picked our crop in august. You have a great site here and what a lot of information thank you very much. chris alcock

  2. CEDA students says:

    We are a group of wheelchair users, and we have an accessible allotment. This year – our first, we have grown lettuce, strawberries, rocket, and spuds. Our problem is that we can only get to the allotment about once a week. Any suggestions what we could grow, that doesn’t need constant attention?

  3. John says:

    Crops like carrots, parsnips, beetroot, turnips and the brassicas are more tolerant than lettuce or tomatoes if it’s hot and dry.
    Your biggest problem is watering in dry weather. Is it possible to get a pal to help out by mid-week watering for you? One thing I love about the allotment is the way people help each other out.

  4. Mike Snelgrove says:

    About your netting, which sound great and which I’d like to try – how do you support the side panels? I assume they’re made of 2×2 or something similar nailed or screwed together?

    Great site and your Allotment and MOnth by Month books are terrific.

  5. Mike Snelgrove says:

    Ignore last message from me – just seen the photo of your brassica nets. Never thought of sticking them in the ground – thick or what?

  6. John says:

    No Mike, I won’t ignore you! I’ve added a photo of the cage to the end of the post so others don’t get confused and have to hunt around.

  7. Mike Snelgrove says:

    Thoughtful and kind. Thank you.

Leave a Comment Here on Planting Brassicas

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

March 2024
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031

What to do now on your plot!

Monthly Free Newsletter

Allotment Photo History

Our Books – A Growing Offer!

Our bestselling books for growing success!
More Information
SPECIAL OFFERS!

Archives

Allotment & Garden Online Planning

Free Trial - Allotment Planner
Personal Planting Updates & Tips
by email twice a month
Allotment Garden Planning Software