Nitrogen for cabbages, etc????

[cheddarpaul]

Some of my spring cabbages are a tad blue around the edges and one of the 'old' guys on the allotment told me to add some nitrogen to them. He was vague about where to get it from - only said ask the local farmers if they had some I could buy from them.

I looked in B&Q and there are some products to feed cabbages but they cost alot for what I would need.

Can anyone tell me a) is the old boy right about adding nitrogen to the cabbages, b) where do I get it from and c) if he wasnt right, what should I do about my blue tinged cabbages?

Muchos gracias

[cheddarpaul]

[bennettsleg]

If you do need nitrogen, try reading the following for an abundant and very FREE source of the stuff - also good on the compost heap:

http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/joomla/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,57/topic,18752.0

[sandersj89]

Nitrogen encourages leafy growth, and that is normally what you want from cabbages.

Products such as growmore contain a balance of Nitrogen, Potassium and phosphorous, all required for healthy plant growth.

You can get it at most garden centres or places such as Wilkinsons and it is not that expensive.

Farmers may well use formulations higher in N  but growmore is a reasonable fit for most home growers needs.


The bluing may have little to do with the nitrogen levels, this is normally associtated with yellowing of the leaves. The blue tinge may be entirely normal.

HTH

Jerry

[cheddarpaul]

thanks for this everyone. I have an old tub of chicken pellets which I havent really known what to use on...so will sprinkle some around my cabbages.

I may try the diluted pee when I am braver and its darker - just need a funnel to help my aim - I am a man afterall

Thanks again all

[bennettsleg]

I may try the diluted pee when I am braver and its darker - just need a funnel to help my aim - I am a man afterall.

Sir, I am a Lady and beleive me, it's alot trickier! Got to buy a plastic funnel especially but OH is on strict recylcing duties... ;D

[ruudbarb]

Sulphate of ammonia will green them up better than anything.

[Merry Tiller]

I was under the impression that boy weewee was good but girl weewee was not, is this not the case?

[supersprout]

For next year, you could follow peas and beans with brassica in rotation, so that the brassica can enjoy nitrogen left in the soil by the beans (though this doesn't always happen on my plot where rotation is rather haphazard flexible). Some green manures fix nitrogen (clovers, field beans) if you have space and time to sow them before the brassicas go in.

[redimp]

I was under the impression that boy weewee was good but girl weewee was not, is this not the case?

Definitely the case with dogs ;D  Not sure about humans.

[growmore]

A pinch of nitrate of soda  also called sodium nitrate put around  base of plant will  green them up and make em put some leaf on ..Its about 16%nitrogen .Dont let it touch leaves..     Cheers ..Jim