Seedbed or pots for Brassicas

[jeremyf]

Can anyone tell me the merits of a seedbed versus sowing in pots for Brassicas. I use pots on capilliary matting in the greenhouse where I dont have any trouble with pests/watering. The greenhouse has some shade though- especially early in the year Jan -March when I sow some cabbages/caulis so I was wondering if I should create a seedbed in a better location?

thanks

jeremy

[jeremyf]

[Tee Gee]

seedbed versus sowing in pots

Seed beds are a thing of the past in my opinion.

I find that brassicas don't like root disturbance particularly cauli & broccolli, and I think it also plays its part in blown sprouts and premature splitting with cabbages.

I prefer now to sow a single seed in a cell to grow on into a plug which in turn is tranferred to a 3" pot then into a preformed hole in the bed!

Results;

[jeremyf]

Thanks TG, I had hoped as much. I sow 4 seeds into a 2 inch pot and normally thin to 1 per pot on capilliary matting in the greenhouse (not sure if it gets too hot for brassicas this time of year). Then plant out at some random time after that depending on space in the greenhouse, weather, size of plant and what the packet says etc. Am trying to sow successionally to see what effect it makes and I think it would be difficult to use a seedbed for this. Still learning heaps and get varied results, probably due to lack of watering.

How many different varieties of Cauli/Cabbages do you sow and when, to get a good supply from Oct to May?

jeremy

[kt.]

I sow brassica seeds in 3-5" pots,  Or a margarine tub.  (2-3 extra seeds to what I require.)  Once they germinate into stable seedlings,  I then thin them out into individual cells to grow on into plug plants before planting in their final position.  I do not put several seeds in each cell as I think it is a waste removing the weakest so to speak.  If they are thinned from the 3" pot, then you are only potting on what has actually come through ,  eliminating the possibility of having the odd empty cell in your trays.  The 2-3 extra seeds allows for the odd one that fails to germinate or is too brittle to pot on.

[tim]

I do a TG.

[macmac]

'Wish I'd read this thread before I'd started the seed bed method after years of cell packs :(
Oh well back to square one  ::)

[GodfreyRob]

I'm a pot man too!

[Jayb]

I do plugs and pots too  ;D

[jeremyf]

What is the reason for sowing into plugs (what size are these BTW), then transfering to a pot. Is there any benefit to the plant or is it to avoid wasting seed? I sow into pots as I find when using trays, inevitablly, some seeds dont germinate so there is wasted space. Space is at a premium for me and when you sometimes get 500 seeds per packet, I dont mind sacrificing some.

[Jayb]

I just find it the easiest method for me. Sowing into a plug tray to start, saves a little space. I prefer sowing a little and often which keeps a good supply of cauliflower, calabrese, cabbages etc over pretty much of the year. I find them easier to keep a track of what I've sown and what needs sowing next. The plug trays I use are normal size trays which are divided 40 (5x8). I sow 1 seed per module, brassicas usually germinate well. When they are ready I just pop them out and push them into compost in a 2 or 21/2'' square pot until they are ready to be planted out.

I have used smaller modules, but prefer the larger ones as it is not quite so critical when you pot them on. I guess it is all down to what suits you and your method of growing

[Tee Gee]

What is the reason for sowing into plugs (what size are these BTW),
then transfering to a pot.

Timing! for me and heated space!

I use 30mm square cells (A full tray has 84 although I have cut mine in half as I find 42's easier to handle)

Is there any benefit to the plant or is it to avoid wasting seed? I sow into pots as I find when using trays, inevitablly, some seeds dont germinate so there is wasted space.

I think similar to you but not in terms of seed saving but compost saving i.e. I lose a plugful of compost per non germinated seed not a potful!

Space is at a premium for me and when you sometimes get 500 seeds per packet, I dont mind sacrificing some.

Space I think is at a premium with most people and a packet of say brassica seeds will last me anything up to five years. Using a 42 cell plug tray usually gets me the thirty plants I require,any surplus I sell on the plots!

As the seed gets older I generally get less per batch so again I find the 42 scenario works for my needs!

Edit; I forgot to say I use many varieties of containers when I sow, a lot depends upon what I am sowing see here; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Seed%20sowing/Seed%20Sowing.htm

[earlypea]

I think it depends.  If you have a good greenhouse all well and good, but I don't and they get leggy unless I manage to put them outside every day.

I'm trying the seedbed method this year too, alongside some in modules and some very healthy looking ones in soil blocks.

The reason I'm doing it is partly because of the lack of good growing conditions but also I was reading in an organic growing book (and they do it professionally as a living) "Growing Green: Organic Techniques for a Sustainable Future" by Jenny Hall and Iain Tolhurst that the plants are less stressed if they start off in the same conditions as they will end up in and should be less susceptible to pests.  They do say it's not appropriate for broccoli for some reason.

[tim]

Because Broccoli don't like transplanting?

[manicscousers]

I sow broccoli, calabrese and romanesco in fibre pots so I can get them a decent size and put them in the ground before the slugs/pigeons get them  ;D

[earlypea]

Because Broccoli don't like transplanting?

Probably!  But I swear most gardening books say do it just like the rest of the brassicas.

I actually sow my sprouting broccolis direct, because I did the first year I had my plot and the plants were exceptional.

[Tee Gee]

How many different varieties of Cauli/Cabbages do you sow and when, to get a good supply from Oct to May?

My summer cropping this years is;

16 Chevalier Calabrese
16 Green Magic Calabrese ( a new one to me this year)
16 Candid Charm Cauli
16 Snow Prince Cauli

Autumn Cropping;

16 Marathon Calabrese
16 Thompson Cauli

Winter Cropping;

20 Sprout Maximus
8 Sprout Hamlet
8 Sprout United
12 Savoy Ormskirk
!2 Cabbage Tundra
12 Cabbage April
12 Cabbage Flower of Spring

Thats as far as I can remember.

I used to grow Purple sprouting but I find it is rather late in cropping in my neck of the woods so I don't bother!...........Instead I just nip in to the freezer for something!

[jeremyf]

Interesting list TG - its nice to see what other people sow. Do you sow the groups of 16 or so successionally or in one? Do you bother with over wintering Cauli or is it too cold where you are? I grow for 2 large young families and would like some sort of weekly brassica crop from Sept to June. I don't freeze much. Hopefully this year I will get a reasonable spread of crops and not just sporadic gluts of caulis and cabbages - many of which went on the compost.

Thanks

jeremy

[Paulines7]

I sowed my brassicas in pots then picked out the seedlings and spaced them in a large seed tray.  They are in the greenhouse but not in direct sunlight as I have fleece up. 

However, the seedlings are now very leggy and are between ½ to 1 inch tall.  Should I push them down into the soil or will they be all right when they grow bigger?  Any advice would be much appreciated please especially as I have never been successful with brassicas in the past.

[Tee Gee]

I sowed my brassicas in pots then picked out the seedlings and spaced them in a large seed tray. 

You have gone the very opposite way from how I do it!

However, the seedlings are now very leggy and are between ½ to 1 inch tall.

I wouldn't consider that height as 'leggy'!

Should I push them down into the soil

No in my opinion you are more likely to do more damage doing this.

If it is possible add more compost to the tray this will have the same affect as pushing them down but with no damage!

Having said that I would prick them out again into pots!

see here; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Pricking%20out/Pricking%20out/pricking%20out.html

[Tee Gee]

Do you sow the groups of 16 or so successionally or in one?

Altogether!

Do you bother with over wintering Cauli or is it too cold where you are?

Its not a question of cold, its more a question of variety I just can't seem to get a variety that suits my conditions! (anyone any suggestions for spring cauli?)

some sort of weekly brassica crop from Sept to June.

Thats why I grow calabrese/broccoli.

I find with the  two varieties I use; the heads form on variety one a bit earlier than variety two meaning; once I have used the heads on the first batch, the heads on the second batch are ready.

Then by the time I have used the heads on batch two the secondary growth is about ready on batch one, this progresses on to batch two.

So instead of getting a glut over say 2-3 weeks I can often extend this from 6-8 weeks.

Then by throwing the odd cauli in I have a varied crop of brassicas through July & August.

Then I find my autumn cropping stuff is coming into play so this usually covers Sept / October.

Then the sprouts and Tundra come into play this coupled with my savoys takes me into February/March.

When hopefully the spring greens are coming rady!

I don't freeze much.

I never freeze brassicas!

and I never grow summer cabbage I find that they take up valuable space of the  things I would rather eat and that only grow in summer.

I see Cabbage as a winter crop!