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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: Mubgrub on July 25, 2005, 15:23:25

Title: Interplanting brassicas.
Post by: Mubgrub on July 25, 2005, 15:23:25
Hi everyone, hope you're all enjoying the rain at last!

I need some advice re interplanting brussels sprouts.  I've got about six plants just starting to stand up and grow but all the bare space inbetween seems a bit of a waste.  I've heard some people grow lettuce or other catch crops inbetween before the sprouts get too big but I was wondering if it would be harmful to sow a winter green manure between them and leave it untill the spring?  Has anyone tried it? ???
Title: Re: Interplanting brassicas.
Post by: flowerlady on July 25, 2005, 18:09:37
Mubgrub, at the moment I have brassicas in between my potatoes!  That's if they ever get out of the ground far enough!!  ( I am a late starter!)

Apparently, (according to Flowerdew) brassicas are good grown with:

beetroot & chards
celery, dill & nasturtiums
onions & garlic
peas & spuds

I suppose it depends if you are pushed for space, but it would seem the above indicated beneficial properties, though don't know what!
Title: Re: Interplanting brassicas.
Post by: Mrs Ava on July 25, 2005, 18:36:58
I planted my sprouts in between my strawberry plants!

I have no idea whether the green manure thing would work, don't see why not, however, they will be competing for the goodness and water in the soil.....wouldn't they?  I use lettuce and radish as interplanted crops, and they work a treat!
Title: Re: Interplanting brassicas.
Post by: redimp on July 25, 2005, 18:45:13
Red Clover overwinters and while it is growing will be fixing nitrogen in the soil which the brussels should love so this might be a good idea.
Title: Re: Interplanting brassicas.
Post by: Merry Tiller on July 26, 2005, 10:46:40
Genius, why didn't I think of that?
Title: Re: Interplanting brassicas.
Post by: flowerlady on July 26, 2005, 19:30:34
What happens in spring, do you dig it in, or pull it out and put it on the compost heap? :-\
Title: Re: Interplanting brassicas.
Post by: redimp on July 26, 2005, 20:04:28
Dig it in.
Title: Re: Interplanting brassicas.
Post by: Mubgrub on July 26, 2005, 23:48:12
I think my soil is a bit heavy for clovers... would field beans be ok?