Treading in Cabbages

[CurlyGreen]

I"ve been growing a few years now but there are still many things I'm not good at and I've not grown a cabbage I'm proud of yet. Been researching what they like and one thing suggested is treading them in. Was wondering what the clever people here think about this.

I'm a no dig gardener and something of a straw mulcher and my soil is lovely, fluffy and soft and no one is allowed to tread on it. Do people really tread cabbages in and doesn't it led to soil compaction? Would you just tread around the cabbage or over the whole bed? And how would cabbages feel about a straw mulch?

What sort of problems would you expect if the soil was not firm enough?

I'm thinking of planting out cabbages this weekend ...

[Greenleaves]

I was always taught to heel brassica's in but then loosen the surface to stop capping.

Before I got my lottie I grew cabbages in the garden with varied success but now realise how hungry they are. With a good feed I started getting quite nice solid heads.

[Two_Sheds]

doesn't it led to soil compaction? ..

no, not that little bit around the brassica stem. If you don't firm them in, they'll get wind rocked. We need to firm & stake them over here

[CurlyGreen]

Sounds like I'd better firm them in nicely around the stalks then. I think I was imaging tromping up and down the bed with big boots but I think something more subtle should do the trick. Will then roughen up the top with my trusty fork.

What do you feed yours Greenleaves?

[Greenleaves]

Chicken manure and seaweed pellets....just rubbed in to the surface and let the rain wash them in.

[Kristen]

I read somewhere that it is the root hairs that are the problem. If the plant moves they are damaged, or "send signals", or somesuch. So the plant needs to "not move" such that the root hairs don't get disturbed.

Be interested to hear if folk have other reasons why they need to be in firm ground, or if what I have read is a myth

[Greenleaves]

My hair roots have stopped growing, but thats nothing to do with cabbages

[greenishfing]

I don't know about cabbage, I don't grow it, but I couldn't grow a decent sized cauliflower for years until I got my husband to firm in the seedlings with his size 12s.

[Chippy Minton]

Firm them in, we have raised beds and firm around the plants not trample on the bed. Then when you pull up the remaining roots you disturb the compacted bit anyway and can just give it a light fork over. Job's a good 'un

[Ja9]

I do walk up and down in my boots (only 6 1/2!) on my raised bed for brassicas and have had success with cabbages.Given up on Brussels though as despite staking still get issues with wind rock and the tend to blow

[CurlyGreen]

I've only got size 5s but 'im indoors has a luvverly pair of size 12s we could deploy.

And there's some composted chicken manure from our girls (RIP) about somewhere so I'll use that. And I've liquid seaweed extract.

Excited to see how they turn out!

[Bren In Pots]

I firm mine in with the blunt end of the trowel.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

I too am a Stomper! I "Walk the line" (Song in there somewhere)

plant up, then firm in with the head of a lump hammer

Honestly! There's the hammer in question!

then tickle in blood fish n bone, scratch over the surface to stop "capping" as mentioned earlier!

>>>>>>>>>>>Fast Forward>>>>>>>>>>>>

Works for me!

Just the "Flying Rat's" n "Cabbage White" I have to conquer this year!!!!!

[leonmc0708]

personally I heel em in and earth them up and firm this as well later down the line when they get taller.

[Alison]

I do it with the ball of my hand by leaning into the bed and putting a high percentage of my weight through my arm. If I tried using my feet then I'd probably end up treading on something I didn't want to as I am quite clumsy. The extent you need to do it does depend on your soil, as mentioned above, sandy soil makes it difficult for them to hold firm.