Intercropping swede and PSB

[Loudbarker1]

One of the veggie mags suggested intercropping swedes with sprouting broccoli, on the basis that you sow them at the same time but the brocloi grows slower, needs loads of space and the swedes come out of the ground in the autumn before the brocoli really gets growng in the spring. I'm going to try this this year: I'd be really interested to hear if anyone here has experience of this approach and what they thought of it.

LB

[Thelma Sanders]

Just to say that I don't take my swede out of the ground in the autumn, you'd then have to store them in sand or something I dig them as I need them, so the swedes would still be there when the PSB was big.

[Nes]

What Thelma says, and I think PSB, along with lots of other brassicas like firm ground. They might not take too kindly to you digging root crops out right next to them!

[Snadger]

Swede IS a brassica so they should thrive on the same ground condition.. Must admit, it doesn't sound a bad idea to me. PSB make large plants which stay in the ground a full year.
Most families wouldn't need more than half a dozen PSB so you could double the recommended spacing within the swede rows.
I might even give it a try myself. Late Brussel sprouts could also be dot planted among the swedes.
I dot plant my sprouts and PSB all over the plot rather than in rows.

[Kaiya]

I have turnips interplanted with my bigger brassicas - little pinch modules of turnips in between single cabbages, caulis, broccoli and sprouts. No idea if the timings will work out but worth a go!

[Florence Fennel]

Thanks that's given me an idea too as I'm always short of space and I've a tray of Purple Top Milan looking for a piece of ground

[zazen999]

I interplant everything all the time. However swede isn't a quick crop in all honesty. I'd be more likely to do this with Kohl Rabi or Turnip. Perhaps that's what they mean - as in places, turnip is swede. By this, I mean the smaller, lighter fleshed round thing [turnip] not the larger, orange fleshed round thing [swede].

[Loudbarker1]

I interplant everything all the time. However swede isn't a quick crop in all honesty. I'd be more likely to do this with Kohl Rabi or Turnip. Perhaps that's what they mean - as in places, turnip is swede. By this, I mean the smaller, lighter fleshed round thing [turnip] not the larger, orange fleshed round thing [swede].

Thanks to all for the thoughts.

The writer of the article definitely meant swede (ie yellow) or rurabaga as the Americans call it. There are lots of photos.

Digging the swede out then storing shouldn't be too much of a problem if it's necessary. I would expect to have used them all by (say) Jan or Feb anyway, if not before.

LB

[rpt]

Perhaps that's what they mean - as in places, turnip is swede.

As swede is Swedish turnip I'd say that swede always means swede, but turnip could mean turnip or swede.

That probably sounds gobbledegook but I'm trying to say that the article must mean swede and not turnip.

Anyway, I'd say kohl rabi would be a good intercrop as it is fast growing.

[zazen999]

As swede is Swedish turnip I'd say that swede always means swede, but turnip could mean turnip or swede.

That probably sounds gobbledegook but I'm trying to say that the article must mean swede and not turnip.

Anyway, I'd say kohl rabi would be a good intercrop as it is fast growing.

We've discussed this on here before - and in some places [particularly North of the border] Swede and Turnip are definitely swapped over.

[zazen999]

Thanks to all for the thoughts.

The writer of the article definitely meant swede (ie yellow) or rurabaga as the Americans call it. There are lots of photos.

Digging the swede out then storing shouldn't be too much of a problem if it's necessary. I would expect to have used them all by (say) Jan or Feb anyway, if not before.

LB

Writers can be wrong or get a little confused!

[rpt]

In the latest issue of a vegetable growing magazine I am probably not allowed to mention here, there is an article on swede which also suggests intercropping swedes with PSB. And they definitely mean swede and not turnip.

[rpt]

We've discussed this on here before - and in some places [particularly North of the border] Swede and Turnip are definitely swapped over.

I knew some people call swedes turnips and when I discovered that swedes were Swedish turnips it all made sense. But I didn't know anyone called a turnip a swede.

I will ask my Scottish outlaws next time I see them.

[zazen999]

I knew some people call swedes turnips and when I discovered that swedes were Swedish turnips it all made sense. But I didn't know anyone called a turnip a swede.

I will ask my Scottish outlaws next time I see them.

They will probably say 'don't be daft, a turnip is a turnip and a swede is a swede. Der'. :rollyeyes:

[zazen999]

In the latest issue of a vegetable growing magazine I am probably not allowed to mention here, there is an article on swede which also suggests intercropping swedes with PSB. And they definitely mean swede and not turnip.

Yes, that's what this thread is talking about. Same magazine.