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Post by Jim on Jan 10, 2009 15:04:40 GMT -5
I was planning out my garden and I have never grown brassicas. THis year I am going to grow cabbage, kale, chard, beets, and maybe kohlarabi ( if I buy seed). Can these be started indoors in peat pellets and transplanted?
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Post by plantsnobin on Jan 10, 2009 15:51:53 GMT -5
Yep, and you can plant them pretty early. Cabbage and kale will tolerate pretty nippy temps, and you can cover them over if it's going to get real cold. Just don't start them too early indoors, those little peat pellets can kind of stunt their growth.
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Post by Jim on Jan 10, 2009 19:14:10 GMT -5
Karen,
Thanks for the info. I can't wait to see that bright lights chard popping up...
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Post by canadamike on Jan 10, 2009 20:53:25 GMT -5
I second Karen's motion. If after 2 weeks or so they have not grown roughly double the size, get rid of them, they won't do nothing. They really are the worse I know about that rootbound thing.... That said, somebody will step in and remind me of something else that I just don't think of right now...  Wanna bet? |
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Post by Alan on Jan 10, 2009 23:40:24 GMT -5
Brassica types are fairly good for transplanting, though I honestly have only transplanted the obvious stuff such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and the exceedingly rare stuff like greasy and yellow cabbage collards, most others I just broadcast seeds as the seed is relatively cheep to produce or even buy and pretty reliable on it's own, even in soil that isn't opened up very well.
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MikeM
grub
frost-free 365.25 + clayish soil + altitude 210m + latitude 34S + rain 848mm/yr
Posts: 91
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Post by MikeM on Jan 11, 2009 5:12:53 GMT -5
The only real trick is not letting them become too rootbound in their seedtrays or pots -- don't let them slow down or stop growing .
I usually start Brassicas in seedtrays and transplant. It seems to help them a bit to swirl the roots in a slurry of mud and aged manure when transplanting them, but I frequently can't be bothered and they do fine anyway.
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Post by bunkie on Jan 11, 2009 9:48:03 GMT -5
we also transplant them all. i have used cells and paper pots. on occassion they have become a bit root bound, but once loosened and transplanted they are very productive.
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Post by raymondo on Jan 11, 2009 18:09:02 GMT -5
I prefer direct seeding but the slugs love baby brassica plants so I direct seed some and sow some in trays for transplant. Brassicas will grow from root cuttings so I'd imagine that if you topped and tailed a root bound specimen it might grow properly. Perhaps plant some of the root prunings as well. Not worth it for large scale plantings but if you've only sown a few and they inadvertently become root bound it might be worth a try.
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Post by Alan on Jan 11, 2009 18:51:17 GMT -5
Could definitely be something to look into. I think brassica crops are one of the most under utilized crops out there in third world areas and in underproductive gardens in adverse climates, they are fairly resilient to just about anything thrown at them for some degree and there is always a sense of accomplishment if one is saving seed from them, here we dig them up in the fall, place them in storage and replant in spring, it is always a great feeling to see the seed stalks emerge from the plants! A relief to be sure if your worried about producing seed.
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Post by grungy on Jan 11, 2009 20:20:01 GMT -5
Could one of you knowledgeable folk please write me a short article for my blog (you will receive full credit for it) on how to grow and save your own seeds for the brassica family. This is one area where we have grown out seeds for saving yet. Any and all help would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Val (grungy)
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Post by grunt on Jan 11, 2009 22:20:53 GMT -5
Grungy meant to say that we have NEVER grown out seeds for saving.
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Post by orflo on Jan 11, 2009 23:47:33 GMT -5
The best thing to do when transplanting brassicas is to plant them really deep, just up to the first real leaves. Everything that's underneath will form new roots and this will reinforce the plants. Also, they will reach water more quickly when they are deeper (and most of them love water, as long as they don't have permanently wet roots)...
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Post by raymondo on Jan 12, 2009 4:43:27 GMT -5
Grungy, why not summarise Suzanne Ashworth's bit on brassicas in her Seed to Seed book. It covers everything pretty well I think.
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Post by grungy on Jan 12, 2009 5:19:23 GMT -5
Sorry but I don't have the book. I was hoping that someone here who has done it personally would be willing to chip in. But thanks, Raymondo, anyway.
Cheers,
Val / grungy
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Post by orflo on Jan 12, 2009 6:23:45 GMT -5
Are you in a hurry to get this published? If not, i'm willing to write something about it....but not for the two first weeks
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