Creating a Brassica Bed

[MarkHackwell]

Can anyone tell me how they create the 'Perfect Brassica Bed' and what they put on it I was thinking of using farm manure and putting it on now (in january) before rotivating and planting into the ground in about March after starting plants off in the greenhouse. Could anyone tell me if this is a good idea or suggest what they do or recommend. Thanks

[zazen999]

I'd never rotavate a brassica bed; I found they like it firm. Do you need manure or are you assuming? It lowers the pH and brassicas like it higher. So then, you have to add lime.

I stomp my soil down as hard as possible, grow the plants in modules and small pots, and when it is time to plant out - I use a bulb planter to remove a plug, put a sprinkle of eggshells in the bottom of the hole to add calcium, put the plant in as deep as you can, release the soil from the bulb planter and firm it down around the plant well, water in and then net them all from day 1.

[MarkHackwell]

I'd never rotavate a brassica bed; I found they like it firm. Do you need manure or are you assuming? It lowers the pH and brassicas like it higher. So then, you have to add lime.

I stomp my soil down as hard as possible, grow the plants in modules and small pots, and when it is time to plant out - I use a bulb planter to remove a plug, put a sprinkle of eggshells in the bottom of the hole to add calcium, put the plant in as deep as you can, release the soil from the bulb planter and firm it down around the plant well, water in and then net them all from day 1.

I tried too grow brassicas on the allotment last year and they just didnt seem too grow very well atall and its because it needs nutrients but i was thinking manure may help. and i dont really want too use lime as im trying too be as organic as possible and if im correct lime isnt organic?

[scarletrunner]

I tried too grow brassicas on the allotment last year and they just didnt seem too grow very well atall and its because it needs nutrients but i was thinking manure may help. and i dont really want too use lime as im trying too be as organic as possible and if im correct lime isnt organic?

Lime is ground rock,sounds organic enough to me.

[zazen999]

I tried too grow brassicas on the allotment last year and they just didnt seem too grow very well atall and its because it needs nutrients but i was thinking manure may help. and i dont really want too use lime as im trying too be as organic as possible and if im correct lime isnt organic?

I'd suggest you invest in a testing kit; and adjust your pH, nutrient levels etc after working out what is needed, before you go adding manure if it isn't needed. You can't assume it needs nutrients just because it was a bad year for something; if neither swede, cabbage nor broccoli grew well, I'd suggest it was a pH issue...or your soil is completely drained of nutrient. What did grow well?

Also, check your source of manure before you add it if you do - to ensure that it isn't contaminated by aminopyralid.

[MarkHackwell]

I'd suggest you invest in a testing kit; and adjust your pH, nutrient levels etc after working out what is needed, before you go adding manure if it isn't needed. You can't assume it needs nutrients just because it was a bad year for something; if neither swede, cabbage nor broccoli grew well, I'd suggest it was a pH issue...or your soil is completely drained of nutrient. What did grow well?

Also, check your source of manure before you add it if you do - to ensure that it isn't contaminated by aminopyralid.

My broccoli and cauliflowers where really bad and cant seem too get swede too grow atall. I might go and test my soil first though thanks for the suggestion. and the manure I will be getting will be in bags from garden centre soo shouldnt be contaminated. Ive heard alot of house manure from stables can be contaminated and dont want too really take the risk.

[Pies]

i add loads of chicken pellets and feed nitrogen

[snohare]

This year I am adding wood ash from a stove to change the pH on my brassicas bed. Even if I could afford lime, it's made by destroying an increasingly rare limestone ecosystem, particularly if it is from the UK, so I tend to use vinegared eggshells or wood ash where needed. I believe wood ash needs to go on just before planting though, it leaches out quickly.

[northepaul]

That reminds me, I was wondering if its ok to add the ash from my incinerator at the allotment to my beds?

Its all just burnt branches etc, no chemicals...

[SarzWix]

I had contaminated manure from a bag of Levingtons from the garden centre, so I'm afraid it isn't that straight forward The best results for my brassicas tend to come from ground that I prepared the year before, which allows it to 'settle' - as Zazen says, you need firm soil for nearly all brassicas. They like it a bit clay-ey, not loose and fluffy. Also, I add a good sprinkling of chicken manure pellets, which are high in nitrogen, which all leafy veg likes.

[MarkHackwell]

I have tested my soil and found out there is a PH of about 7 - 7.5 I have however been out and decided too buy some 6X fertiliser. Has anyone ever used 6X before and if you have would you recommend putting it on now and digging it in or putting it on when putting my brassicas in Thanks

[Two_Sheds]

Fertiliser is for feeding plants Mark, not soil. Therefore you need to add it at planting time

I can't find the NPK of your 6x, anybody have a clue what it is?

[zazen999]

Nitrogen(N) 5.8%; Phosphorus(P) 3.5%; Potassium(K) 3%

[scarletrunner]

Fertiliser is for feeding plants Mark, not soil. Therefore you need to add it at planting time

I can't find the NPK of your 6x, anybody have a clue what it is?

Information i have found is N=5.8%.P=3.5%.K=3%.(6X).

[Two_Sheds]

Higher in nitrogen then, perfect for leafy brassicas