Planting sprouts

[womble]

I'm going to plant out some sprouts in a lawn that I don't think has been cultivated for over a hundred years.
The grass is patchy and full of moss, the ground compacted and clayey, very pale soil, I've dug a hole out for each one and intend putting a half spadeful of decent soil which had chicken manure put on it last year.
What else should I put into the hole and mix with the soil.

I was thinking from the following, a pinch of lime, a pinch of FB&B, some chicken pellets.
Which one or combination of the above, would you think would be best?

I was wondering if I for example put lime and FB&B, if they would react together?

No idea of the PH.

[Jimmy]

What no answer !

I would just plant them in your new soil and spread a bit of lime round each plants base.
Then in a few weeks when lime has dissipated give them a dressing of FBB

Don't forget your collars.

They like to be firmed well in, and possibly staked when they get big.

Also be careful when you mow the lawn!

Jimmy

[womble]

Thanks, got the collars made and ready.

Would the lime not be better off mixed in with the soil, rather than on top? I think that's a good idea about putting some FB&B after a few weeks.
Certainly will need staking, going to need some strong poles and a big hammer for that!

[Garysvegpatch]

I have a secton in the plot which is netted with caulies, cabbs red and green and now sprouts do they all need FB&B there is also a row of swedes in there.

[womble]

Don't know if I did right, I suspect I will find out in the long run.

But in the end I mixed up some lime with the decent soil, mixed it with the horrible soil that was in each hole, added some more decent soil on top, then put some FB&B on top of that, then the collar.
I also well watered the holes yesterday and before I started today.

[Jimmy]

I am sure it will be fine, sprouts cabbages etc like really firm conditions so you new patch should suit them. Lime on the top just gets watered in over time.
It's the collar that's most important and I am sure you know about the dreaded cabbage whites.

Why didn't you make your lawn into raised beds as per my little web site, URL somewhere in another post.

Jimmy

[womble]

I'm thinking about it, I was planning on it actually, but the problem is that there are alot of cats that have access to it, I have one other bed in the area and I have to keep it under mesh the entire time.
So I'm undecided now.

[Jimmy]

Don't start my on about cat's!
Or I'll probably get banned, my plot has to be permanently covered in netting old twigs plastic fence etc etc or Mister Kitty leaves me presents and scatters my plants.
Enough said!

For new plot's it's often said to break up the plot plant spuds the first year. But that might be just be the amount of digging you give them
Jimmy

[womble]

I've thought I'd give an update and ask for some advice.

In general the planting of sprouts in the lawn has been successful. The cabbage whites seem to have missed them completely.

But.

The sprouts are looking very pretty colours, which isn't right.

The lower leaves are turning red, purples, yellows and then dropping off, obviously the fish blood and bone wasn't enough for them, or the wrong type of enough.

So I've sprayed them a couple of times with seaweed spray and a week or so ago, watered them well and fed them with a HM fertiliser, the one which I hope is a all round goodie.

I think (because tbh it's difficult to tell, once the leaves have turned funny colours, they don't seem to come back very well) that they are picking up a bit, the centre leaves seem a good colour, time I suspect will tell.

Have you got any further advice or explanation of this?

[womble]

Just had a better search and it could be phosphorus or magnesium deficiency. Why is that likely to be?
And what's the best thing to feed them with now.

I also put a few chicken manure pellets under each mat in the hope that it would rain last night (it didn't )

I've probably over fed them now......... Jeez

[Alison]

I just put a bit of chicken manure in the bottom of each hole when I planted my sprouts and haven't fed them since. They're growing well, no collars but under enviromesh. Sorry can't help with your problems but maybe a photo would help people understand better?