PSB really tall!

[kingkano]

Either my PSB and borecole are having a good season or I my square foot experiment has resulted in them 'growing towards the light' a bit. They are now hitting the top of the enviromesh cover I made (about 4.5ft high) and starting to buckle over a bit - so I have a dilemma. Would it be safe to remove the enviromesh? - seems early to me as there are lots of butterflies around?

I thought when I planted them as seedlings that the enviromesh tunnel looked huge oh well live and learn!

[Bigmallly]

I had the same problem & I removed the netting as butterflies seem pretty scarce around here. Can you raise the cage at all?

[Two_Sheds]

PSB in a square foot? Mine are 3 foot apart each way. Seems a bit cramped to me ...?

[Snadger]

Mine are still in the modules, about 4 inches high, ready to plant out soon!!!!!!

[kingkano]

PSB in a square foot? Mine are 3 foot apart each way. Seems a bit cramped to me ...?

I have come to agree now They aren't next to each other though as such. Seperated by carrots, cabbages, beetroots, etc. Does seem to be growing fine though I must say. I think yield/area will be higher than planting them 3ft apart.

Thanks Bigmally - I definitely have a few butterflies around here. Although my uncovered calabrese and kohl rabi don't seem to be faring too badly - so I consider it an option. I can't see a way to raise the cage sadly - it's a Geoff Hamilton cloche design Will keep trying to think of an idea.

Snadger I just planted out a few spare ones that are like that. For some later pickings These ones were all sown in nice and early April and were tiny and weedy looking when planted out I guess very early at end of May. Somehow they have just rocketed in my raised beds!

[OllieMartin]

We're not supposed to get a PSB harvest until next year right? I just noticed a spear poking against the top of my netting today that looks just about ready to pick. Does that want picking or leaving?

My 2x2m bed is overgrown with broccoli this year, it's a wonder any of the cabbages are getting any light!

[Patchninja]

I'm growing it in my SFG and it's fine. When you harvest depends on what variety you're growing. You can harvest PSB all year round, happily. I love the stuff.

[womble]

My PSB always seems to crop too late for me. So this year I started the plants off early, they are now massive and really, they are too big for me at this moment, I'm worried that like others they will start to crop this summer, instead of in the winter.

It seems a fine line between planting too early and too late to get an early crop.
Prudently it would be better to plant at staggered intervals, about 3 to 4 weeks apart I suspect.
But as I only grow about 6 plants at a time, that would mean not enough PSB when I want to eat it, at any time.

[Alison]

I planted mine out a couple of weeks ago but last year it was the last weekend in July (hadn't dug the bed before then) and I got a brilliant harvest with more than I could eat of only 3 plants (did plant 4 but one died). It sounds like yours have perhaps been planted out a bit early and then are stretching for the light. Even at 3' apart there usually isn't much space between them by the time they harvest.

[chris]

I too have it in SFG, initially had 4 per square, but moved them out around the bed. Also have it in a seperate bed to compare the yeilds..

In the SFG, I think one is stressed as a spear is forming.. looking forward to tasting it though, hoepfully before the bloomin tiny catepillars are eating away through it.

[Patchninja]

I too have it in SFG, initially had 4 per square, but moved them out around the bed. Also have it in a seperate bed to compare the yeilds..

In the SFG, I think one is stressed as a spear is forming.. looking forward to tasting it though, hoepfully before the bloomin tiny catepillars are eating away through it.

It should be 1 per square!

[kingkano]

Well a couple days ago I bit the bullet and removed my enviromesh tunnel. Within minutes white butterflies were fluttering-by lol. I'll just check them over once a week or so for eggs/caterpillars. They are pretty big now so hopefully get away with it. Next year just cabbages under cover for duration, this stuff just to get it established.

AND more space between them in my square foot rotation me thinks! Will post a pic later to show how huge they are.