cabbages

[fat larry]

i planted various cabbages, brussels and sprouting brocoli last autumn.

they have all grown a bit but have all suffered at hands of various pests. do I leave em, try one, or dump em in the compost heap!

I'll try to get some pix this weekend and post em so I can give you more of an idea ... my brussels have no sprouts, my primo is a small version of a primo and my  broccoli is not very big!

[fat larry]

[philcooper]

Larry,

I had very limited success wiuth greens until I applied large quantities of FYM to the plot - what state is your soil in?

Phil

[Mrs Ava]

I think I would bin the sprouts if they haven't sprouted by now.  My brocolli plants are smallish, but have lovely big heads growing so maybe they just need a bit more time.  I have a few cabbages left, but they were sowed very late, mid autumn, so I am expecting them to put on some growth as the weather warms to provide me with some spring greens, as a change to the kale, spinach and chard!  ;D  Pictures would be good.

[john_miller]

If you haven't done so you could try 'topping out' the sprout plants. It is probable that, this late in the year, you may end up with some 'blown' clumps of leaves but you would at least have something that tastes of sprouts!

[fat larry]

what is FYM? how do I top out? and how come it will make a change from kale and chard, should they already be in and growing?

oh my! :o

[growmore]

Hi Larry,
            FYM = farmyard manure...
Topping off sprouts means taking the top off the plant..Boiled then a lump of butter added to it I think this is the best tasting part of the sprout plant ..I have seen these sold as winter greens .Jim..

[john_miller]

Thanks, growmore. Not sure I would eat Brussels Sprouts tops at this time of year though as they may require a lot of cooking to make them digestible! May be harbouring some pests by now too. Topping out is normally done late in autumn and involves taking out the very top of the plant- how much is snapped off depends upon whether you want to eat the harvest (I always take enough off to cook also) or just encourage the sprouts to swell.

[osprey480]

When I plant my cabages, I always put pelleted chicken manure into the hole then plant and tread well in so that they are nice and firm. Brussels often blow(open) on the stem because they are not firm enough in the ground. I tread all the cabbage family in firmly.

[Mrs Ava]

Kale and chard were planted last spring and have been in the ground all year and I have been taking leaves as  I have needed throughout the year.  Had the sprouts for Chrissy dinner and pickled the red cabbages for boxing day and new year.  My white cabbages failed thanks to catterpillars and aphids so am looking forward to the spring cabbages as a change.
I will resow chard, spinach and kale this spring and as they start to flourish, wrip out the old and bung them on the compost heap.

[fat larry]

I bought some chard the other week cos I saw some at an allotment show last summer (Elder Stubbs in Oxford - very nice if you are in the area) and thought they looked ace, but when can I put them in and how long do they take to grow, I'm very confused (full stop) about how long things take, I'm part of the instant generation and want everything now!

[Moggle]

Larry, I used to cycle past the Elder Stubbs allotments every day  :) They look nice from the road - never been in though. I think it's one of the things that inspired me to get my own lottie.

[Mrs Ava]

Chard grows pretty quick from a spring sowing - I start mine of in modules.  Give them plenty to drink to start with  and they grow happily away all year, until next spring when you sow your next lot!  Mine are still on the plot, still looking gorgeous and still tasting wonderful, and the bonus, the creepy crawley slimey critters have left them all totally alone!  ;D