[ladybird]

:oops:     I have tried, on a number of occasions,  to grow sweedes on my allotment.  My efforts have been completely without success!  I find that seed sown will germinate, grow nicely for three weeks, then wilt and die! I am told by other lotie holders that growing them is impossible on the these allotments. They have also tried and failed!
       The base soil is, here in kent, of chalk,, with a topsoil of sandy loam. I shall be pleased to learn if anyone has any ideas :?:

[John]

Hello Ladybird

Swedes are brassicas and like cabbages require quite a high ph - 6.00 to 7.00. That's the first place I'd look at, even on a chalky soil.

Lack of lime seems to be the biggest failiing on allotments. I don't know why

Like other brassicas, they are susceptable to club root, cabbage root fly etc. If you can grow good cabbages, treat the swede like a cabbage and you should be fine.

Perhaps you could start them off in modules or pots? Bit like handling cabbages in club root infected soil, get them off to a good start.

Hope this is of value, and good luck.

[ladybird]

Hi John,
Sorry for the delay in replying, have been away for a couple of weeks
Thanks for the advice on sweed growing, I don't think the soil P.H. is the problem as I had it tested by "which" when I took the plot over, and it showed quite a high P.H.
I will try your tip for starting the seeds off in pots and see how things go from there.
                 Many thanks,   Ladybird.

[agapanthus]

I too have very sandy soil and other lottie holders on the field have had loads of problems growing them. Would it be beneficial to dust a bit of lime in the drill when sowing? I really would love to grow them

[milkman]

I got my best results last year by sowing them directly into a bed which had been mulched with mushroom compost (which is lovely and limey), and covering them in a viromesh tent until they were well established.  

I think I also kept them watered and thinned them when they got bigger.

[WG.]

I too have very sandy soil and other lottie holders on the field have had loads of problems growing them. Would it be beneficial to dust a bit of lime in the drill when sowing? I really would love to grow them

If you can grow cauliflower, I can't see that swedes would need much different by way of lime.

Direct sow them late (early to mid-June).  If you have compost left, try some of them in improved pockets by removing a small spadeful of sandy soil & replacing with a compost / soil mixture.  They will get needed boron from the compost.  

Compare with results in regular soil.  Report back in October.  

[agapanthus]

I too have very sandy soil and other lottie holders on the field have had loads of problems growing them. Would it be beneficial to dust a bit of lime in the drill when sowing? I really would love to grow them

If you can grow cauliflower, I can't see that swedes would need much different by way of lime.

Direct sow them late (early to mid-June).  If you have compost left, try some of them in improved pockets by removing a small spadeful of sandy soil & replacing with a compost / soil mixture.  They will get needed boron from the compost.  

Compare with results in regular soil.  Report back in October.  

Yeeessssssss sah!!!!!

[WG.]

... and get a cap so that you can doff it !!

[agapanthus]

I've got one!!!!!....was doffing away!! :shock: