Brassicas

Question 1

Varieties

Winter Cabbage

Answer 1

Celtic (F1)
January King (AGM)

Question 2

Sowing and transplanting.

Winter cabbage

Answer 2

In seed beds, in drills 15cm apart.
Thin seedlings to 8cm,mid April to mid May.
Transplant mid June to July when seedling have 6 leaves.
Plant 30 to 40cm apart depending on variety, holes 15cm deep, rows 40 - 60 cm apart.

Question 3

Ground occupancy, harvesting and storage.

Winter Cabbage

Answer 3

20 to 35 weeks.
Harvest by cutting with a sharp knife close to ground level.
Harvest before frosts with 15cm stem, hang in nets or on wooden slats, cover with straw or newspaper to protect from cold.

Question 4

Disease

Winter Cabbage & Brussels Sprouts

Answer 4

Club root - fungal disease.
Can persist in soil for 20 years.
No cure, follow good garden hygiene, crop rotation. Dig up and destroy infected plants.
Prefers acid soil, lime if necessary.

Question 5

Pest

Winter Cabbage and Brussels Sprouts

Answer 5

Cabbage root fly.
Lays eggs next to vulnerable plants.
Use small square of carpet underlay or cardboard to make collar to go round young plants to prevent this.

Question 6

Brassicas general information.

Answer 6

Important to rotate brassicas because of club root which can survive in soil for 20 years.
Clubroot likes acid soil, maintain pH 6.5 to 7.00 - lime if necessary.
Do not manure soil before planting - this can be done in the previous autumn.
Plant in firm soil, better not to dig before planting.
Leafy brassicas benefit from nitrogen fertiliser during growing period.

Question 7

Varieties

Brussels Sprouts

Answer 7

Bosworth (AGM)
Nelson(AGM)
Revenge (AGM)

Question 8

Sowing

Brussels sprouts

Answer 8

Sow in seed bed - mid March to Mid April, 15cm apart
Thin seedlings to 8cm
Early crops can be obtained by sowing under glass in Feb or in Aug of previous year.

Question 9

Transplanting

Brussels Sprouts

Answer 9

Transplant mid May to mid June when seedlings are 15 to 20 cm high.
Plant 60 to 75 cm apart depending on variety.
Ground occupancy 30 -35 weeks

Question 10

Special requirements

Brussels sprouts

Answer 10

In Autumn stake tall varieties, draw the earth up around the stems to keep them secure.

Question 11

Harvesting Brussels sprouts.

Answer 11

Harvesting October to February
Pick sprouts with a downward pull starting at base when sprouts are about the size of a walnut.
Whole stems can also be cut and stood in water or earth - sprouts taken off when needed.
Storage - freezing.