Clubroot

[BilboWaggins]

In a moment of typically characteristic weakness yesterday, I purchased half a flat each of PSB and Kale from the local garden centre. I now read that brassica plants are very likely to introduce Clubroot, if that happens I won't be able to use that soil for 20 years (for brassicas) and I should raise my own plants.

Do I plant them and risk scr*wing up the rotation system in newly made beds? Do I put 'em on the compost heap and get seeds, even though it's a bit late.

[Snadger]

As one who gardens on clubroot infested soil I can understand your reticence.

Clubroot is not insurmountable and you can grow brassicas to some extent, but I still wouldn't use 'bought in' plants, just in case! Don't throw them on the compost heap either as clubroot is a microscopic fungus that will infect everything.

It's really up to you whether you use them or not but PSB and kales can still be grown from seed even now!

Oh what I would give for land that has no clubroot or allium whiterot (just had to lift my Autumn sown onions which were starting to come good just because of whiterot)

Kales are slightly clubroot resistant in that they have a tight cell structure which wards of the fungus to some extent.

Your plant have probably have been grown in GP potting compost which is not soil based and shouldn't have clubroot.............but it's up to you whether you want to take the chance or not!

[SarzWix]

I've planted bought in brassicas before, and had no problems. I'd be much more inclined to trust cell raised plants from the GC, than field grown ones offered on eBay etc. If they've been grown in cells, they're much more likely to have been raised in sterilised potting compost as Snadger said.

[Hazel at the Hill]

Phone the GC (or go back up there) and explain your concerns (try to get through to the nursery where they are grown rather than the shop staff if poss) - as Snadge says, it's more than likely that the plants were raised in potting compost and that you won't have a problem.

I would think that you'd be absolutely fine (although clearly clubroot is something you would prefer not to introduce!), and you may feel that it's better safe than sorry.

I don't tend to buy in brassicas, but I think that the risks are low in this case.