Topic: mornings work!!

[Tee Gee]

Got my Calabrese,Cauli,Cabbage & sprouts planted out this morning.

Have a look and see; http://tinyurl.com/2j4wmd

[dawn34]

blimey you have been busy well done to you can i ask what is the white powder you've down

[chlodonnay]

Looks good! Very nifty slide show too. Our caulis, psb and broccoli are slightly smaller than yours but we were thinking of putting them out in the next couple of weeks as we're running out of space at home. What does the lime do?

[coznbob]

Looking good!

[Tee Gee]

what is the white powder you've down

It is Carbonate of lime I prefer this to crushed limestone!

What does the lime do?

Brassicas like a slightly alkaline soil and the lime does this.

If I may pre-empt other questions about why I lay it as I do; it is simply I have tried digging it in and watering it in and I find this way best.

I allow the weather (rain) to take wash the lime in to the soil and in this way I feel I won't burn/damage the root system with too strong a dose.

The other thing is I find that slugs/snails don't seem to cross it!! I guess it burns their bellies!!

The armillatox is to ward off cabbage root fly and I think it wards off cabbage whites as it has a rather pungent smell that I think they don't like (thats only an opinion)

The other reason for watering in as I do is down to my soil structure.

As most of you will be aware brassicas like a fairly stable soil structure (clay even) whereas mines is a light loam.

I find this 'puddling in' gives them a solid start plus it gets the plant off to a good start if the ground is a bit on the dry side (as it is this year).

I rarely water plants!! I have known some years when they will get no more than this initial watering and I still turn out a fair crop.

I hope that answers your questions!

[Marymary]

Wow they do look good.  :)

[saddad]

Professional job as always Tee Gee
 ;D

[Chris Graham]

Looking good, as always!

[MrsKP]

you make it look so easy Tee Gee.

 ;D

[kt.]

Looks good but as mine are in does this mean I need to put lime down..... ::)

[Tee Gee]

Looks good but as mine are in does this mean I need to put lime down.

Difficult one to answer that not knowing the state/pH of your soil.

I find that I keep my pH about right by liming at the same time as I plant brassicas.

Meaning; as I work to a three year rotation plan my liming of any given bed is three years also.

If you do a pH check you may find your soil is OK, having said that I don't think liming now would do any harm, then like me you could plan your liming routine.

n.b. Never put lime on your bed at the same time as you use farm yard manure. It might be enough to say at this moment that they are not compatable when used at the same time.

This is why I 'muck' in autumn and lime spring/summer.

[cornykev]

Tee Gee you said you put the lime on the surface because you find this is the best way, I put it in the hole and mix it with the soil, I did it this way because I was given to understood this was a preventive against clubroot, have I misunderstood this, PS I like the idea of slugs getting burnt bellies.  :o ;D ;D ;D

[Tee Gee]

I did it this way because I was given to understood this was a preventive against clubroot, have I misunderstood this

Not necessarily different people have different views on the matter!

As I said above; I allow the weather (rain) to take wash the lime in to the soil and in this way I feel I won't burn/damage the root system with too strong a dose.

The other thing is if it is in the bottom of the hole and the the roots go sideways and the rain washes the lime downwards then the new roots do not come in contact with the lime, whereas my way the lime is washed down to all the root system.

As I said this is only an opinion!

Enough to say I do not have club root on my plot (fingers crossed)

[cornykev]

Cheers for that Tee Gee.  ;D ;D ;D

[tartonterro]

Tee Gee can you advise at what concentration you use the armillatox at?
do you spray it over the plants or just on the soil?
looking for an alternative to using collers

what is the white powder you've down

It is Carbonate of lime I prefer this to crushed limestone!

What does the lime do?

Brassicas like a slightly alkaline soil and the lime does this.

If I may pre-empt other questions about why I lay it as I do; it is simply I have tried digging it in and watering it in and I find this way best.

I allow the weather (rain) to take wash the lime in to the soil and in this way I feel I won't burn/damage the root system with too strong a dose.

The other thing is I find that slugs/snails don't seem to cross it!! I guess it burns their bellies!!

The armillatox is to ward off cabbage root fly and I think it wards off cabbage whites as it has a rather pungent smell that I think they don't like (thats only an opinion)

The other reason for watering in as I do is down to my soil structure.

As most of you will be aware brassicas like a fairly stable soil structure (clay even) whereas mines is a light loam.

I find this 'puddling in' gives them a solid start plus it gets the plant off to a good start if the ground is a bit on the dry side (as it is this year).

I rarely water plants!! I have known some years when they will get no more than this initial watering and I still turn out a fair crop.

I hope that answers your questions!

[Tee Gee]

Tee Gee can you advise at what concentration you use the armillatox at?
do you spray it over the plants or just on the soil?
looking for an alternative to using collers

My goodness thats an old entry ;)

I cant recall exactly and my bottle is down at the allotment.

The amount should be on the bottle.

All I can recall is it is one measure to two gallons of water.

As seen on the slide show I either fill the planting hole or water (a good soak) around the plant after planting. I find the latter way saves you getting the liquid on your hands.

So if you have already planted out a good soak around the base of the plant should do!

[grawrc]

unable to access your site at the mo. I'll try again later.

[tartonterro]

thanks tee gee