Allotments 4 All

one of the things i find difficult is knowing when to water and by how much, for instance i've just planted cabbages and watered them in but do i have to water them everyday for a while till they settle in or maybe every couple of days  ;D

if it stays dry i would water till we get some rain then  let them go from then  :)

This might help; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Watering/Watering.htm

What more can one say??

But here, having just 'puddled in' 100 Brassica, despite the present heatwave, I will not touch them again unless something drastic occurs.

Let them search for it.

no need what so ever to water brassica plants in unless it is a real heat wave which at present we are not in.  The plants may lay down on the ground for a day or two but believe me they will pick up and be stronger for it.

I have had 24 Brassicas in for the ground 3 weeks now and they were only watered the day I transplanted them in.  They are doing fine.  I transplanted 18 brussels sprout plants last week and they have not been watered since. All are doing well.

Commercial fields of Brassicae are never watered in. They look awful for a few days but recover and grow to produce good crops.

great thx everyone, i didn't wan't to come home from work and find all my brassica's wilting in the sun but it looks like they should be ok  ;D

Proof - if proof was needed!

What about mature brassicas i.e. last years plantings now being harvested?My neighbour told me they were more prone to bolt if they didn't get enough water. Seems logical.

Probably right, but by the time you realise the damage is done...  :(

Yes - our PSB and one WSB just went AWOL which is what provoked the comment  :)

But then, it is nearing the end of their season??

maybe there is a temptation to over analyse - if they are wilting or the ground very dry then maybe just water.  Deep rooted crops probably dont need much help.

Psi

I think that watering must depend on the soil conditions.  We have solid gravel underneath our soil, ie only a spade depth away and I have to water copiously.  I can go out straight after the rain  stops and dig with no problems. 

I read somewhere that if you dig a hole and fill it with water if it takes more than 24 hours to disappear you have a drainage problem.  Here there is no filling with water, no puddling seedlings in.  Now you see the water, now you don't, blink and its gone. 

i still go on what i said  up above  :D

once there  feet are in  they should be ok just got to get um started  :)

My son was looking for after-sunlotion after a day's gardening yesterday- just hope my plot's not suffering in the same way!