Planting Out Winter Cabbage
The winter cabbage plants, an F1 hybrid Celtic, have been taken out of the brassica plant-bed where they were sown, and planted out into the main brassica bed.
It is slightly on the late side and the plants are a bit big, so they will have to be watered well and given extra tlc. The winter cabbage were planted in rows 45cm apart, & 40 cm apart within the row. The winter cabbage have been given more space than the summer cabbage so they can produce bigger heads.
The whole of the brassica bed is covered with a micromesh to keep the cabbage white butterfly and aphids off. Some people place empty eggshells on sticks, to frighten the cabbage white butterflies away. A net is a big investment, but it does ensure 100% return on effort, by keeping the pests out.
The net also keeps the pigeons off, which can reap havoc on young plants in a few hours.
Hi
Brassicas are not my strongpoint in the veg garden - but I have grown some excellent Purple Sprouting Broccoli in the past. I’m going to try Kale this year - something to look forward to in the winter and I understand that pigeons aren’t that keen on it. (mmm? can that be true?). I might invest in some of that net - I’m sure it’s well worth the money - so disheartening when the creepy crawlies and pigeons demolish all your hard graft.
Comment by Magic Cochin - June 8, 2007 4:22 pm
Hi
The mesh makes all the difference. Our sprouts went from September through to March last winter, and produced maximum numbers. They paid dividends for all that hard work in getting them growing. It is so sad just to let the insects take them from you.
We got some of our mesh from http://www.wondermesh.co.uk/
Good to hear from you
TopVeg
Comment by TopVeg - June 8, 2007 5:39 pm
[…] F1 Celtic winter cabbage, planted out in June, is growing fast. It is difficult to believe that it will provide cabbages in […]
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