preparing brassica bed...?

[Becca]

Hello,
I was just reading up on growing cauliflowers and found that i should have had my brassica bed all prepared and manured last autumn and be liming now.. obviously i haven't done this and now have some lovely seedlings and don't have access to a time machine.. :0( Is there any way to still grow healthy brassicas? The plot hasn't been heavily cultivated in the last year as a car accident stopped play last spring (just whiplash but it completely stopped me doing anything vigorous for all of last summer) and is quite a good loam which bizarrely seems clayey when wet and sandy when dry with a chalky clayey bedrock and grows a vigorous mix of nettles and brambles when unattended and fumatory when disturbed.. should I a) add nothing and hope for the best, b) add lime on it's own c) add chicken manure d) add chicken manure now and lime is a few weeks d) add garden compost e) add garden compost and lime later or f) add everything (leaving lime as late as possible)?

Many thanks :0)

Becca

[VirginVegGrower]

I am in the same boat as you. Don't bother manuring unless very well rotted which can be dug in. I am only liming my planting holes. Don't panic as you have a while yet and they can be put out by day to harden off in this glorious weather!
:-)

[mrbadexample]

That makes three in the boat then. I've got some manure in my compost bin, that's been there for probably 6 months. Should I be using that or not?

What's all this about lime?

[VirginVegGrower]

6 months is fine - that's what I use. Some wait 12 months. I lime the hole to guard against club root. Brassicas like alkaline soil - lime changes ph from acid to alkaline.

[mrbadexample]

Cheers VVG. How much do you put in? I've a while to go yet, as my cauliflower are still weeny seedlings, but it is one of the veg I'd love to be able to grow well. Take up a huge amount of space though.

[gojiberry]

Pelleted chicken manure is fine to use if you didn't manure last autumn. I often use calcified seaweed instead of lime as it only neutralised the soil and can't be overdone. Use rhubarb leaves in the planting hole if clubroot is a problem, and make sure you have strong plants to start with.

Ian

[VirginVegGrower]

I tend to sprinkle a bit in the plant hole although some dip the football in it, but I don't.

[Becca]

thanks all :0) looks like all is not lost.. i'm not sure how well rotted the manure from my chooks is but i have some pelleted stuff from my pre-hen days so i'll use that up and lime as i plant them out.. :0)

[VirginVegGrower]

Chicken poo better and higher in nitrogen than your gee gee. Sounds like a good plan there.

[SarzWix]

Don't worry that your ground isn't prepared - brassicas like firm ground, to the point that you're supposed to tread them in around the plant when you put them in! Cabbages and brussels sprouts won't form a nice tight head/sprouts if the ground is too loose.
Lime - I have never limed my soil in 5 years on this plot, and my brassicas always do well, so don't worry too much unless your soil is acidic.
Chicken poo - needs to be very well rotted, otherwise it can 'burn' the plants, so your pelleted stuff will be better this year I reckon.