when do I transplant my brassica plantles?

[Helenclare]

Hiya all,
I have raised some lovely little brassica plantlets in root trainers and they are getting rather large...3-4 little leaves . They are beginning to flop over and I have had them harddening off outside for over a week now. Would I be okay to transplant them out onto my plot now? They are mainly cabbages and Broccoli.
Many thanks
Helen

[pigletwillie]

I am in the same boat and have now planted mine out Helenclare. They are also netted to keep the blasted pigeons off.

[Weavie]

Me too. Was going to plant them out today but it was freeeezing! Have cut some collars out of felt for cabbages. Should these go round the calabrese as well?

[Helenclare]

I think I will put mine out today too. Is there any truth in the idea that a rhubarb leaf in the bottom of each planting hole staves off club root? I need to look up how to plant out I think! I presume the collars go round the stems as soon as they are planted out and as pigletwillie says they need to be netted from day one. I have some waer piping hoops and enviromesh so wil use that well pegged down.

[Flummery]

Brassicas don't mind the cold. They can go out now - but you'll be fighting the pigeons first, then the cabbage white. Good time to invest in some netting!

[Cutecumber]

Helen and Weavie - all brassicas are susceptible to rootfly, so yes, get something round those stems asap, cabbage, calabrese, broccoli, cauliflower whatever. You may have to weigh the collars down if it's a windy spot - I have found mine all over the garden on occasion!

I don't think I'd rely on the rhubarb leaf theory for club root. Better to keep the PH up and put in good strong young plants (and then keep your fingers crossed!). You can also dig out a larger planting hole than necessary and put some "clean" compost or soil in - it might just give the plants a little longer to get settled before they have to cope with the disease. If you have space, then rotation is recommended to stop it building up.

My biggest problem is those darn small cabbage whites... grrr!

[Lesley Jay]

Snadger has club root on his allotment and I am sure he puts a rhubarb leaf under his brassicas.

Snadger am I right?

[Snadger]

Snadger has club root on his allotment and I am sure he puts a rhubarb leaf under his brassicas.

Snadger am I right?

Thats correct Lesley! Oxalic acid is the active ingredient in rhubarb leaves!
I had 100% success with the Spring cabbage but whether thats because clubroot isn't so active through the winter months or whether the rhubarb leaves worked I don't know.
There are numerous club root threads on the vine so it's pointless elaborating but all you need to realise is that brassicas can still be grown with a lot of success even in clubroot infected land!

[coxievans]

HI i have planted mine out already under cloches, good tip for any one BQ selling large cloches £7. 95, with side vents too .well worth it to keep frost of up north at moment have a great day chris

[Flummery]

Hi Coxi, Welcome to the vine. I have a couple of cloches Mr Flum made from old secondary doubleglazing units of my Dad's. Really useful. At the moment they have peas under them to keep the pigeons off!

Flum

[Two_Sheds]

Make sure to plant your brassicas deep - up to the first leaves - don't leave a load of stalk to flop about in the wind

[newgardengirl]

I transplanted two little cauliflower plants (each had four leaves) outside onto the vegetable patch on Friday and I've still got everything covered with fleece, but I'm already a bit worried I've killed them! I really hope they survive. I did the same thing with some peas. I've got into this frame of mind where everything is growing well in pots indoors, but I'm hoping it doesn't all go pear-shaped when I move them.

[suee]

Silly question, but how big does the collar need to be, and did I read someone's message saying you can use cardboard?
Sue.

[Heidi]

Interesting.... i bought some brussel plants last weekend and have put them on the patio until we've sorted the cloches for the allotment.

We have several wood pigeons that come in the garden and none of them have bothered with the brussels, or the 2 broccoli plants i put out yesterday.

Discerning pigeons perhaps?

Plus since putting out bird seeds daily we've had no slug/snail attacks