Ground for brassicas

**Snadger** · 25-08-2007, 07:34 PM

It depends a lot on your type of soil!

Nothing grows very well in badly compacted soil as the structure is destroyed. On good loam digging and walking on dug area will give enough compaction for your brassicas. On clay soil digging and walking on it will force all the air out and could lead to waterlogging
I learned the hard way when I took over two allotments in Spring!

The area I intended growing brassica's in was just hoed off and raked as I stupidly thought the compacted soil would help! It didn't!

The area was waterlogged and when I dug up some sickly plants I found the roots hadn't penetrated the soil and the original pot root ball was what they were surviving on!

So the moral of the story is, yes brassicas like compacted soil, but don't overdo it!

**carlseawolf** · 25-08-2007, 07:42 PM

normally brassicas don't like loose soil and you should give a few months between digging and planting for the soil to firm up and time for applying lime and fertilizer witch do not like to be applied at the same time.
i understand you have to weed and you already have the plants , i beleve the reason for firm soil is because brassicas are top heavy and require a firm footing to keep in the ground and will bolt if stressed.
I read somewhere that if your soil is loose then plant them at a bottom of a trench about 6" deep and as they grow fill in the trench up the stalk so the stalk is partly buried in the soil and this will help them stay upright. the trench also stops wind damage

**Mozzi** · 28-08-2007, 11:54 AM

Thanks for the advice, ground walked on and compacted sufficiently without overdoing it (I hope), and plants planted out.

I only took on the allotment in March, and have been steadily clearing 30 years worth of brambles, plus a full crop of bindweed. I really want to be able to enjoy the harvest of at least something, rather than just feeling as if I'm weeding, with no benefit, thus the order of some plants for winter growing.

**TPeers** · 28-08-2007, 08:00 PM

What part of the country are you in Mozzi? County or nearest major city will let us help more. Cornwall can grow things in the open ground that you need a heated greenhouse for in Scotland!

Good luck with the weeding

Terry

**BayViewPlot** · 28-08-2007, 08:25 PM

I took on a new plot in sept last year and planted in freshly dug ground in Nov.

The caulis formed heads in late june no probs!

**Sebbster** · 28-08-2007, 09:37 PM

Mozzi, you'll be fine just make sure they are firmed in very well, as all brassicas must be. I guess too late now but an addition of lime might have assisted, depending on your pH.

I would net them too if you've not already, cabbage whites will lay on them otherwise.

**Mozzi** · 29-08-2007, 12:11 PM

Thanks for all the responses.

I am on the Beds/Herts/Bucks border on the edge of the Chilterns.

All the neighbouring plots have grown brassicas no problem, so I think the soil should be OK.

Small plants were firmed in well, surrounded by organic slug granules (look like kitty litter) and covered with netting. They have survived 2 nights on their own in the big wide world, hopefully that trend continues.

The instructions for the sprouting broccoli do say they may need earthing up as they could grow to 3' in height.

Can't figure out how I'm going to hoe to keep the weeds down, with the netting on though, as the bindweed is bound to return?

**oneflewover** · 30-08-2007, 08:35 AM

Having put some in on monday, returned wednesday to find pigeons / magpies had been having fun leaves off and cut. Netting is most important ( I know now!).

Due to the genorosity all was not lost as fellow allotmenteer provided me with new plants.

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