Allotments 4 All

Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: cambourne7 on January 21, 2008, 17:54:15

Title: Small Swede
Post by: cambourne7 on January 21, 2008, 17:54:15
Hi Guys,

When i harvested a swede yesterday it was tiny and long rather than being big and round.

There is a mix of both

Swede - Best of All
Swede - Invitation

The bed there in is fairly rich and the only other thing in there is some leeks.

Any idea why the swede are some small and not formed correctly?

Cambourne7
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: cleo on January 21, 2008, 17:59:50
Why did England need a new manager? I too cannot get a decent swede since moving from clay to soft soil.
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: cambourne7 on January 21, 2008, 18:02:39
HEHE, England need a team first. They just have indivuals more intrested in making sure there hair is in place rather than scoring goals!

I am on clay so it cant be that.
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: manicscousers on January 21, 2008, 18:16:01
ours were the same, cam..eric says treat them like the rest of the brassicas and give them fish, blood and bone..not keen on it but we're gonna try it  ;D
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: tim on January 21, 2008, 18:20:33
They grow them well on the lotties here, but I can't.

The one I was given last week was longer than round.

And the Parsnip.........!!
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: calendula on January 21, 2008, 18:51:42
personally I would put it down to the strange weather of last year - not just the growing time but germination as well, if things are not best of all at this time then it can mean that the rest of the growing time is hampered as well - something to do with genetics etc  :-\
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: cleo on January 21, 2008, 19:19:27
When I moved here even the `gangmaster` said swedes do not grow well here. Odd that as sugar beet does.
I know the days of the `campaign` are years ago but beet is still grown-so why won`t swedes grow?
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: bupster on January 21, 2008, 19:37:36
I've been told that nobody can grow swedes on our site either - everything else, but no swedes! Obviously taking that as a challenge...
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: cleo on January 21, 2008, 19:41:53

Well they have to be easier than okra?
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: kt. on January 21, 2008, 20:51:02
Quote from: cambourne7 on January 21, 2008, 17:54:15
Any idea why the swede are some small and not formed correctly?


Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green?

Mine were started off in seed trays last year as I have never had germination from direct sowing. Most came reasonably well. Certainly the best I have grown so far. Come to think of it... the only ones I have grown so far.
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: cambourne7 on January 21, 2008, 22:27:54
Right i will give them some fish, blood and bone at the weekend and then see what happens.

not sure if anyone else has grown on the site but will try again and see what happens this year  :D

thanks guys
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: Stevens706 on January 22, 2008, 12:33:44
2006 I was given swede plants by my dad and transplanted them into my allotment, did really well,
last year I sowed direct and had a poor crop,
this year I’m going to sow into seed trays and transplant them. Just to see if I can reproduce 2006’s success.
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: kippers garden on January 29, 2008, 14:32:54
I grew swedes last year and some in the row were big and round and some were thin and small...they were all treated the same though...
Title: Re: Small Swede
Post by: debster on January 29, 2008, 18:01:50
i grew about 20 in all about 14 were perfect the rest small and long i just assumed it was just the way it happened  ;)