Brassica woes

[IanP]

I'm wondering whether to give up on my brassicas. I shoved them in earlier this year in an unprepared plot (having just moved in to new house) and they have all grown nice and leafy but show no sign of doing what they're supposed to:

Khol Rabi: Can't remember type, but there is no sign of the stems thickening at the base
Sprouts: The purple ones that came free with GYO a little while ago. Some buds that might be baby sprouts
Cauliflower: Snowball (a summer variety) that allegedly crops from July-Sept. No sigh of any curds.

Should I just give up on this lot and try again next year when I can prep the bed properly?

Cheers,
Ian.

[Filbert]

Was kind of wondering the same thing. I planted the purple sprouts some time ago and they were munched by lots of caterpillars despite my best efforts at squishing them. The caterpillars are gone but not sure if the plants have had too much of a set back to leave them in the ground or give up and use the space for something else like garlic.

Any advice on what stage they should be at by now would be much appreciated.

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi Ian! I had so many problems with cabbage white and slugs and the like, my veg had more holes in them than a string vest! did consider the 12 bore shotgun, but ended up pulling the remains up + throwing them away!
It really has put me off for next year! Despite that I have planted around 10 cabbage and 10 cauliflower seeds which are still in the greenhouse - and I was seriously considering leaving them in there! LOL!

[Earthbabe]

Hi Ian. I can sympathise. My kohlrabi didn't even germinate and I'm only growing sprouts for the first time this year so I'm not a big help. Big fan of Kale which is dead easy and I love it although I know it's not to everyone's tastes.

[Snadger]

Hi Ian. I can sympathise. My kohlrabi didn't even germinate and I'm only growing sprouts for the first time this year so I'm not a big help. Big fan of Kale which is dead easy and I love it although I know it's not to everyone's tastes.

Hi earthbabe, I don't suppose you grow the tall variety of curly Kale do you? If so, can you let me know where you got the seeds as all I can find is dwarf curly! I think I have all the other varieties so just missing the tall curly version!

[Waffler]

I also love 'curly Kale'.

My free purple sprouts sound like your Ian - possible some individual sprouts starting on the plants, but don't look like I think they're supposed to. Aren't sprouts supposed to grow on single stems - lots together? Must've been a dud lot!!

[rustylady]

Hello everyone

Must have been a bad year for brassicas! My early stuff did well, had some decent calabrese (that was before the *** butterflies started laying their eggs.

Since then I have been squishing and drowning caterpillars like mad and my sprouts and sprouting broccoli look like lace curtains. I've also got whiteflies by the million.

Sprouts are a winter veg, so they are really just forming. In the leaf axils (where the leaf joins the main stem) you get a little bud which grows into a brussel sprout - that's the theory anyway. By the time the sprouts are big enough to pick the leaf has usually served it's purpose and dropped off, hence the huge stems of sprouts you see in the markets.

I'm just going to leave mine in and see what happens. I think the weather has a lot to answer for this year - it's been really wierd. Cold wet spring, hot dry early summer and a wet warm autumn, I really think all the plants are totally confused. By the way, I know they're not veg but I've got flowers on forsythia in my garden (only a few) and they normally form the flower buds just before Xmas when you can cut the stems, bring them indoors, put them in a vase of water to open.

[multiveg]

The Brussels sound like they are a late-ish variety. I have sprouts on my plot ready now - well, maybe 4 sprouts! from 2 plants (non F1 variety).
Cauli - I grew what I thought was a winter one, only to harvest it in September! If the cauli plant looks healthy, try and be patient.

[IanP]

Well I feel a bit better that it's not just me who had problems

I've decided the plan of action. I want to convert the bed to a raised bed so I can net it and keep the cats off (posts passim), plus I want the space to get some garlic and shallots in. So the khol rabi is toast, as are the caulis.

The sprouts get a stay-of-execution 'til xmas when they'll either be eaten or composted. I'll just build the raised bed around them. The sprout plants are miles apart - am I right in thinking could just plant the garlic in between them?

Cheers,
Ian.

[eddie]

at this time of year try cutting tops of sprouts ,good to eat like cabbage gives the sprouts on stem a boost be patient.wait till first frosts before picking .im still picking calabrese heads and cabbage i sprayed mine with salt water seemed to help with catterpillers broccoli wont be ready till spring if its the sprouting type dont grow it any more takes up to much room for to long can make better use of space ,curly kale is a good crop ,lasts all winter i find khol rabi very overrated did,nt know what to do with it apart from boiling and mashing it chard lasts all winter good in stews and stuff my O H did,nt like it said it was like stringy must be said i did but each to his or her own ay whatever don,t give up keep growing

[Snadger]

Well I feel a bit better that it's not just me who had problems

I've decided the plan of action. I want to convert the bed to a raised bed so I can net it and keep the cats off (posts passim), plus I want the space to get some garlic and shallots in. So the khol rabi is toast, as are the caulis.

The sprouts get a stay-of-execution 'til xmas when they'll either be eaten or composted. I'll just build the raised bed around them. The sprout plants are miles apart - am I right in thinking could just plant the garlic in between them?

Cheers,
Ian.

Planted Autumn sown onions sets in between my sprouts as I had no room left! Should be ok as long as when I eventually uproot the sprouts I am careful not to disturb the onions!

[dinah gale]

clubroot problems too....

Good luck with those onions, Snadger.

I've had all these problems too having taken over a weedy plot in June. In addition there is galloping clubroot on the plot, at least where my brassicas are currently planted.

I planted Hungry Gap kale back in Aug - put enviromesh over it to protect from dreaded Cabbage whites but they got in anyway and the sheltered conditions made the kale grow fast and sappy. The big problem with that now is that the centres of some of the plants have broken leaves and a horrible grey slime, really revolting. Is this due to clubroot does anyone know?? should I dig the lot up or wait and see how it goes?

Also, I've been burning affected stumps but wonder if I can put the leaves on the compost. My instinct is to burn the lot but there's all that green compostable material. Don't want to waste it unnecessarily.

I'd really appreciate some advice from experienced bods please.

I've planted Solent Wight garlic out - 2 bulbs worth - only to realise that Fothergills are giving two bulbs free if you make any order from their catalogue. Could have saved myself a bit there if I'd been on the ball so if you haven't planted yours yet folks....