Starting off swede

[IgglePiggle]

I've never grown swede before, would it be best to start them off in modules? or sow in the ground? I don't have much luck with seeds in the ground Also I'm going to grow them in with my flowers, will they be ok or are they going to get club root and spread to my plants

Thanks in advance

[Snadger]

There are quite a few varieties of clubroot resistant swedes.......Marian springs to mind!

[IgglePiggle]

These are the one's I've got

Swede : Brora (Seeds)

Had a £5 voucher for T&M so got them for nothing

[Snadger]

Unless you already have clubroot the Brora swedes should be fine. Anyway, clubroot only affects brassicas and there can't be too many brassica ornamental flowers except wallflowers!

I can testify that they do grow very well when started in modules!

[sewer rat]

I sow mine direct, as I do with most root crops, but I do sow more than the average grape. They should be fine started in modules but do not let them get too big before planting out as the tap root may get damaged.

[SarzWix]

Mine are in modules on a shady outside window ledge, they did fine last year after being sown that way.
Never grown them in a flower bed though!

[Alison]

Sowed mine direct last Saturday and noticed that they're already coming through and showing their little heads - either that or I've got a very straight line of weeds!

[HeyWayne]

Sowed mine in modules some weeks ago - in the unheated greenhouse. They're quite leggy looking now. My first year growing them too.

[pigletwillie]

I just sow a load into a 4" pot and then prick out into individual modules till big enough to plant out.

Easy and very effective.

[IgglePiggle]

Modules it is then! I'm growing them in the flower bed to fill some gaps, that and I don't have a veg patch yet, but this might get me started!

Thanks all

[Snadger]

I start mine early in modules but I've also made two staggered direct sowings once I seen they were charging £1 each for swede in Tesco's. We really like mashed swede with butter.......and swede chips are nice too!

[taskey]

mmm swede and carrots mashed together.


Tracy

[baggyman]

I sow mine in modules and the first batch went in about 6 weeks ago. I'm going to do another sowing in a couple of weeks. Last year I put them all in at once and by the time I picked the last one it was the size of a football....too big really!
By the way I can really reccommend the Marian variety.

[Alison]

Oh good, am pretty sure that I'm growing Marian. I don't bother staggering my swede sowing but always do with my turnips which are in the same bed.

[IgglePiggle]

Should I put them in my plastic greenhouse to get them going, or just leave them out on the bench?