Spring Cabbage in limbo.

[binley100]

Why do my spring cabbage just seem to be sitting there in limbo? I started them off in toilet roll middles and planted them out about 5 wks ago . Now they seem to be on a go slow, is this right ?

[moola]

I thought the same about mine too. They are a good size but seemed to have stopped. I am tempted to give them some fish/meal/bone mix before the next downpour on Sat

[Snadger]

It's the nature of the beast methinks! They are day length and temperature dependant for growth and usually make very little growth throughout the winter until Spring harkens.
The downside of giving nitro feeds at this time of year and forcing them to put on lush soft growth is that their cold tolerance will be affected and could make them more susceptable to frost & fungal attack. (or even damping off!)

Better to wait until the turn of the year to add a nitrogenous feed (traditionally sulphate of ammonia) but an organic high nitrogen feed like dried blood or chicken poo pellets would also do.

I have also found that earlier sown plants which are larger are more prone to bolting.

If some were cloched this would create a bit of a microclimate around them and give a succession of greens earlier than unprotected plants!

[rustylady]

They do just sit there through the winter, but as Snadger says - if you cloche some of them they should put on a bit of growth.

[Two_Sheds]

I ...planted them out about 5 wks ago .

They won't grow much now it's winter. Nothing does. Too cold, too dark.

Spring cabbage is planted out in July/Aug to reach a reasonable size, then it overwinters in the garden, then puts on a little spurt when daylength increases in March. Ready for eating in the spring.

[moola]

That's very interesting. I'll hold off the food then and see about some sort of cloche set up. I've micromesh on at the moment (expensive but really very good!) - should I cloche over this - or am I right in assuming the nasties are not such an issue when the cold sets in anyway?

[Flummery]

Mine always go on strike in winter. Nature's way! However, the beauty of these autumn sown greens is that they'll gallop away in early spring before anything spring sown can get going and you'll have home grown food in the Hungry Gap of April/May (or even March if they get a wriggle on!)

[Snadger]

That's very interesting. I'll hold off the food then and see about some sort of cloche set up. I've micromesh on at the moment (expensive but really very good!) - should I cloche over this - or am I right in assuming the nasties are not such an issue when the cold sets in anyway?

If micromesh is the same as enviromesh (which I think t is?) it keeps the wind off and the semi enclosed environment will give earlier plants than outdoor grown plants. I wouldn't bother cloche-ing in this instance!

I'm putting some in large pots in the greenhouse for even earlier crops though!

[binley100]

Thanks for your advice. I sowed the seed in August and planted them out about middle of Sept so I'll wait and see. Been up lottie this morning after a few days and I think they have grown a bit.(OMG its worse than having children) also I put some in pots on patio at home where its more sheltered so we'll see which ones win.

[gojiberry]

You don't want your spring greens to be to big before the frosts and snow get here. The idea is to get plants established, and plants a couple of inches high are big enough, with a good root system. Then leave until March time, give a feed and then hope they will romp away. I will cloche some in March but not before. Don't usually need to worry about pests during the winter even the slugs tend to hibernate to a certain extent.

Ian

[Two_Sheds]

Don't usually need to worry about pests during the winter

except this one, which will eat all your brassicas if it gets a chance

[binley100]

hahaha .....the defenses are already in place. Learnt my lesson the hard way earlier in the year about that pest and the rabbits as well.