Planting Brassicas

[lottielady]

I am looking to plant some Brassica plants this weekend do I need to add lime to the soil when planting to protect from pests, also is it best to cover to grow, again to protect.

Another question is it worth me investing in some Comfrey plants as a fertiliser or should I buy pellets any advice would be welcome.

Seems like so many questions but you chaps on here are a mine of useful information.

Thanks

[berksmike]

Its probably too late to lime as you need to wait 2 months after liming before planting.
Unless your soil has an extreme pH most brassicas do well on most soil.
If you're worried about clubroot then make sure they have a good established rootball and plant into a big hole filled with compost.
Don't forget to cover them with something to keep the birds, beetles and butterflies off and little collars against root fly!
Hope this helps

Mike

[Two_Sheds]

Comfrey = brilliant. Get the sterile variety tho: bocking 14. I got mine off eBay. Have a 'search' for 'comfrey' on the grapevine for further discussions, there's been lots.

[rustylady]

Lime doesn't protect from pests, only helps to provide the sort of soil conditions brassicas like. Even so, you need to do a soil test to find out whether your soil actually needs extra lime - it may not. Brassicas are hardy, so don't need protection from frosts, but they certainly do need it against pigeons, slugs, snails, butterflies (parents of caterpillars) and whitefly. You can use either cloches or fine mesh netting. Slug pellets are the only thing that works against slugs and snails.

[nick the grief]

I usually sprinkle lime over mine when I've planted if only to p**s the pigeons off I usually water once or twice with a lime/water mix as well & they seem to like it.