Potting on Swede

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

I sowed Swede seeds into a cell tray and put a few in each cell. They all came up. I suspect they are all intertwined below the surface. I have never grown Swede before and really need to move them into bigger containers. Should I pot them on in clumps and plant them out together when the time comes, or might I get away with splitting them?

I don't know if they will tolerate the root disturbance?

[greenishfing]

I plant my swedes direct into the ground and simply pull out all the extras to thin them out. They like plenty of space.

[cptncrackoff]

Hi, I am no expert... more a novice but I thought my swede packet said they need to be sown direct!? Someone will confirm or rubbish that theory, I'm sure.

Anyway, i sowed mine in groups of three, 18" apart, and will leave only the strongest looking seedling as they start to mature, sowed last wednesday, theyre up now.

Good luck!

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

I was using the theory that putting a small plant in might give it more of a chance against the slugs. Conventional wisdom would dictate direct sowing, indeed my other rooty things have been direct sown (carrots parsnips).

[solway cropper]

I've had my best results with swede by sowing into cells and transplanting the seedlings straight out. Not sure they'd be happy being potted on.

[Normans Mum]

Well... I've potted mine on in to 3" pots. I would prefer that my plants are a bit bigger to combat slug attack. We'll see.

[lottie dolly]

I have tried them in the ground,then thin out,but what a pain as the weeds grow,same with snips,a fellow plot holder raised some in 3in pots,i was given 6 off,they are lovely plants,now planted out doing well,my ones this year are in small cell trays,again doing well thus far,have yet to get the first true leaf,my thinking behind the thinning out is,does it desturb the roots of the seedling being left in,where as in separate cells it's not,

[bearded bloke]

my thinking behind the thinning out is,does it desturb the roots of the seedling being left in

Many,many moons ago in my yoof,I was taught to thin out with a pair of scissors by an old gardener,his reasoning being similar to yours,so rather than disturb the roots on the strong plant just snip the weak one off at ground level.
That said mine are grown in modules for the slug reasoning mentioned by others.

[Bigmallly]

I've always grown swede in trays then pricked them out into individual pots/cells. I have had no issues with them..............maybe it's time for me to start reading the packets though..........

[Scarlet]

I also grow in modules- one per cell. Always had good results. I don't like sowing into the ground as I always end up with more weeds than veg and usually weed out the one I wanted to keep.

[bearded bloke]

.maybe it's time for me to start reading the packets though..........

Nooooooooooo,don't do it bud,reading instructions is the beginning of the slippery slope into womanhood

[Scarlet]

Nooooooooooo,don't do it bud,reading instructions is the beginning of the slippery slope into womanhood

Don't be so cheeky!!

[lottie dolly]

Don't be so cheeky!!

Seconded

[Ananke]

I always pot mine on and have never had any problems. I always seem to get great swede crops, now if only I could grow carrots I'd be a happy lottie person.

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Thanks for the replies. Seems it wasn't such a hairbrained scheme.

I will pot the complete modules on and then plant out without thinning and perhaps get the scissors out like wot bearded bloke said.