Swede

[pepper1000]

I was going to buy swede plants, is this the right time to plant them out or is it still too early, I thought they were planted later but not sure, thanks for any advice

[Plot70]

Are they not brassicas?
They should be reasonably frost hardy.

[Purple Primrose]

Not sure about swede plants but round here (far north of Scotland) the old folk reckon not to sow swede seed outside before 12th May. Assuming I get the bed weeded in time, I'll be sowing mine in two or three weeks. A work colleague of mine sowed his swede seed indoors yesterday. He had a poor crop last year so he's trying sowing inside for the first time to see if it's any better. I was quite happy with my crop last year so will continue to sow directly into the bed outside. I just need to find a way of discouraging flea beetles without killing them.

[Chestnut]

I direct sowed some swede seeds earlier this week, so I’m sure there’s still time to grow from seed if you wanted to

[Mr Bones]

I just need to find a way of discouraging flea beetles

We've had things growing on hanging shelves to avoid flea beetle and slugs. Radishes and turnips in lengths of guttering and young brassica plants waiting to plant out (gives them a fighting chance). One shelf is in the tunnel but gets too warm now and there's another outside in the brassica cage. We're finding increasingly the flea beetle decimates direct sown crops before they can establish.

[Jungle Jane]

I’ve read the flea beetle don’t like catnip but there’s a risk of cats rolling around on the plants,unless a guard was built around them,like wire hoops with net?

[ameno]

I’ve read the flea beetle don’t like catnip but there’s a risk of cats rolling around on the plants,unless a guard was built around them,like wire hoops with net?

I think the bigger problem with growing catnip as a companion plant is the catnip itself. Like mint, it is pretty invasive.

[Sweet savory]

I sow swede direct but under cover to minimise flea beetle damage. Didn’t actually sow till June last year but reasonable crop.
Have sown in modules also but with resulting strange shapes.
With regard to natural deterrents i have read of pots of mint being placed strategically among crops to deter pests.
I grow pennyroyal which is a type of mint among the brassicas and ruthlessly tear it up at the end of every season. It still comes back but smaller and is then easier to move to the new brassica area in the spring.