Swede sowing

[Sinbad7]

Does anyone sow swede seeds differently than sowing direct into the ground?

I've just bought a packet of seeds but have never had any luck with growing them and vowed I'd never grow them again but couldn't resist.

Is there some secret to growing these little so and so's if I have to direct sow?

TIA

[Sinbad7]

[Squashman]

I start my swede seed in plugs, same as beetroot and turnip, with a good success rate.

[goodlife]

I've grown them in seedtrays too..and when 'small' plants..'ripped' them apart  :-X and planted and with good success too. ;D

[Aden Roller]

I've had no bother getting swede to germinate out on the plot but getting it to grow on to a good size is another matter. Try some sown out and some in then compare perhaps?

Beetroot - yep in very small modules so I can space it out evenly and, by planting out in batches, ensure a long cropping season of sweet, tender beetroot.

Turnips are going straight in the ground though... not grown it before so we'll see.

Best of luck with yours TIA.  ;)

[Sinbad7]

Thank you all for your replies, will try starting them off in seed trays.

I have no problems with beetroot or turnips Aden and think you'll be pleasantly surprised how easy and quickly your turnips grow.

Tia ;D ;D

[jesssands]

I tried growing swede b4 with no sucess. catapillars eat the leaves to death!
Was just left with the thick bit in the middle of leaf.
There are fields of them where i live but i guess they spray them or something as they dont get touched.
I love swede too...  :(

[Gordonmull]

Hi Jesssands

I had a murderous time with the old cabbage white last year. Seemed to like swede above all else. This year I'm still going for it this year but, lesson learned, netted from the very beginning.

Cheers

Gord

[Aden Roller]

Thank you all for your replies, will try starting them off in seed trays.

I have no problems with beetroot or turnips Aden and think you’ll be pleasantly surprised how easy and quickly your turnips grow.

Tia ;D ;D

Thanks Tia,
I am very tempted to stick some turnip seeds into small modules (as I do for beetroot) but I'm not sure I want yet another lot of planting out to do.

Can't decide... if the weather remains rotten and I have time for all the jobs as well as potting on a few things I might be tempted to try sowing in cells as the weather doesn't look good for a trip to the plot.... Turnips in cells - just as an experiment you understand.  ;)  ;D

[JENIAN]

Had very little success with swede until this season when i planted seeds in my paper pots in G/H and, hey presto, every seed germinated and are now in c/f ready for planting out in allotment.   ;)

[strawberry1]

I have some direct sown swede coming up on the allotment, probably about 50% with gaps that I could do with filling. Flea beatle is the biggest pain and I tried diatomaceous earth this time. It seems to be having some effect.

Not one turnip came up or maybe it did as I could see a bit of a left over stalk

I think I`ll try sowing direct again with some in plugs too, or maybe small rootrainers, purely as an experiment. The soil has gone from warm to cool, not good for germination

[Aden Roller]

I have some direct sown swede coming up on the allotment.............Flea beatle is the biggest pain and I tried diatomaceous earth this time. It seems to be having some effect.

Flea beetle had a good munch on mine the year before last. I sprinkled the leaves with a very light dusting of "lime" as my 96 yr old dad said try it.

I think he may have told me to sprinkle "around the plants" but there we go.  ::) It worked.
No idea why but the little FBs didn't like being sprinkled - the swede seemed to just ingore it.

[strawberry1]

Thanks for the lime tip. I saw mine today and they are hanging on, just. I`ll get a spare flour shaker for lime. A really good idea and might also deter the pesky slugs

[Aden Roller]

Thanks for the lime tip. I saw mine today and they are hanging on, just. I`ll get a spare flour shaker for lime. A really good idea and might also deter the pesky slugs

Go easy with the sprinkles... just a very light dusting.  ;)

[pumkinlover]

I'll give that a try- cheers!

[Aden Roller]

I'll give that a try- cheers!

I do hope it's successful for you.... it certainly seemed to work for me.

Who would want to be dusted with lime  :o the flea beetles soon hopped it....the plants seemed fine especially as the rain soon washed it onto the ground.  ;)