Brassicas to large ??

[Bezzer34]

Hi

I have sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower planted and the leaves on all of these plants are very big. Having a look at the other allotment plots mine seem to be way too big. The plot next door to mine were planted at the same time and there is a huge difference in size.
It was suggested that I have over watered them ? In the heat of the recent couple of weeks I have watered every evening. Is this where I have gone wrong ?

[Samurailord]

Hi Bezzer

Once your plants are established you dont need to water unless they are starting to droop or wilt - the only exceptions to this are beans when they are starting to flower and when the pods are swelling, potatoes two weeks before harvest, toms and chillis need plenty of water, salad crops, cucumber and radish which are virtually all water anyway.

By watering you have encouraged loads of leafy growth which is OK, but might inhibit the formation of the heads of cauli and the sprouts themselves later in the season, and larger plants need more nutrients so you might have some yellowing leaves if you cant replace the nutrients in the ground that they have taken.

Andy

[Bezzer34]

Many thanks for the info. I'll stop the watering now and hope that I haven't caused too much damage.
Is this the same for things like beetroot, carrots and swede ?

[Florence Fennel]

I water beetroot and turnip - they tend to go woody if left without water. I never water the carrots, they grow better looking for it deep down. Hope your cabbage and cauli recover. My cauli have gone to seed at the size of tennis balls, very disappointing, but the cabbage alongside seems to be doing ok.

[Bezzer34]

Many thanks Florence , just so much to learn when your a newbe :-)

[sam82smith]

So glad i just read this, looks like i've been over watering my brassicas too. Oops!

[veggiechicken]

Apologies, but every time I read the title I want to say that you should go and be measured for some new underwear

I'll get my coat.............

[snohare]

every time I read the title I want to say that you should go and be measured for some new underwear

Veggie, trust you to drag the tone of the conversation down !

Although, to be fair - it does seem that there may have been more support needed, and it involved a couple of boobs...

[rustylady]

Hi

I have sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower planted and the leaves on all of these plants are very big. Having a look at the other allotment plots mine seem to be way too big. The plot next door to mine were planted at the same time and there is a huge difference in size.
It was suggested that I have over watered them ? In the heat of the recent couple of weeks I have watered every evening. Is this where I have gone wrong ?

Got any pictures?

You shouldn't be watering every day, but I'm not sure that this would have made such a huge difference.

Could be your soil is better, could be different varieties grown to what your neighbours are growing.

I'm not convinced that big leaves on brassicas are a bad thing.

[Two_Sheds]

The plot next door to mine were planted at the same time and there is a huge difference in size.

Same varieties, or different?

I have watered every evening.

Well, you've wasted water, time & energy
I water once a week, even in this heat (things in pots and recently planted things will need it more often). 12 litres a week per sq.metre for leafy things, 22 litres for veg that's flowering & producing fruit.

[Snadger]

I don't know your feeding regime but lots of nitrogen will give soft leafy growth on brassicas.Not necessarily a bad thing on some brassicas though....................

[Martin H]

I like to water once a week ... but because it's been soooooooo hot I went to the allotment tonight and did a spot of mid-week watering: filling up the sunken pop bottles on the beans, tomatoes and sweet corn. Also a couple of buckets in the trenches between the second early potatoes.

I have to say, though, that none of the stuff I watered looked like it was suffering as much as I was, so I might go back to weekly again.

Back to the original topic, my brassicas in the debris netting tunnel haven't been watered since it last rained and they look fine. Cabbages big and healthy and starting to heart up nicely, no sign of caulis yet though.