Brassicas over winter ....

[Farmer_Gyles]

This year has been a total disaster so far .... and the latest disaster is going to the allotment and finding all my cauliflowers and PSB for the winter have gone (eaten by pigeons)

I have some kale seedlings that I can plant out in place of the cauliflowers and PSB (once I've replaced the netting) .... but ... I want cauliflower and broccoli .... sooner rather than later .... I want to pick and eat both over the winter .... is it too late now??

Is it too late to sow broccoli? I have Belstar and and winter PSB .... both need sowing in April / May .... am I likely to get a crop of either over winter if I sow now?

I have All Year Round cauliflower .... my first sowings were decimated, had 10in seedlings on the allotment for a late crop but all gone now ... winter sowings should be in October for harvest next summer .... can I sow earlier and get some in Spring? What about in an unheated greenhouse?

I can grow in an unheated greenhouse .... although I do have a paraffin heater .... I also have a mini polytunnel I can use on the allotment ....

Any other ideas?

[WendyC]

Could you buy in some plants either online or from the garden centre?


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[Bex]

Agree with Wendy, too late for seeds and I couldn't get mine to survive. I've gone for plug plants


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[Penellype]

I've just sown some all the year round caulis which I am going to attempt to grow in the greenhouse. However, my record with cauliflowers is appalling, so my advice may not be worth much!

I've also just sown some calabrese (Sakura) which has done exceptionally well over the summer - again the intention is to try to grow this in the greenhouse. I've no idea if it will work - the packet says ready in 10 weeks, but it does say sow in April-May!

[kathyd]

I'm trying broccoli rabe at the moment - they promise a harvest in 60 days! Sowed a few days ago, just about big enough to transplant into indiv pots yesterday - will put some in the garden and save some for the tunnel when the peppers come out. Packet says sow until September. I've also got some tiny calabrese seedlings just planted out - like Penellype, I'm experimenting . Last year I let my kohl rabi go to seed in the tunnel, and got loads of lovely tender broccoli-like shoots instead of the big chunky stem. Or was it Pak Choi... hmmm.. Anyway, can sow pak choi all year (I'll put mine under cover now though), and they'll provide either leaves or shoots - most brassicas seem to give you shoots like sprouting broccoli if you leave them long enough... Can't help with caulis, never been able to grow them myself .

[Hazel at the Hill]

Buy plug plants from the garden centre (I got mine from Homebase for £2 per strip of 10 plants) and make sure you net properly.