[sunshineband]

I've never had the space for special nursery beds before, so I am sorry if this question seems a bit daft 

I am going to sow leeks (musselburgh - thanks, Elaine!) and cabbages, moving them to their permanent positions when big enough, so ---- is is alright to grow these cabbages in the same bed as cabbages will be planted out into next year?

Don't want to do the wrong thisng and cause a problem next year 

[woodburner]

Hmm I'd like to know too. I expect it won't matter as long as everything is healthy but I'd try and make the seed bed in a corner of the relevent bed for the same year, just to keep like with like. IYSWIM

[DD.]

It's only an opinion, so don't take it as fact - I wouldn't have thought it would hurt.

The plants are going to be in the nursery bed for a comparatively short period and are only going to be small. Nutrient wise they are not going to take much from it.

[sunshineband]

I was a bit concerned about spreading disease ... is this likely?

[DD.]

I'd have thought fairly unlikely within the same plot.

For example what I would NOT do is pass on any brassicas from my plot to someone who did not have club root, but I'd have thought you'd be fairly safe.

[sunshineband]

OK, DD, I love that answer as it really is what I wanted to  hear! !! I am determined to avoid passing round clubroot or importing it, come to that, after a real bad problem on the plot we had years ago.

Thanks for you advice,all

[DD.]

Yes, there's always a danger in giving plants away or accepting them, no matter how well meant, the biggest danger IMHO is brassicas and the dreaded club root. You cannot get rid of it, short of not growing brassicas for many, many years. Even some weeds will perpetuate it.

[Babstreefern]

I wouldn't try it.  There's crop rotation for a reason and that's because of diseases.  For instance, cabbages can get club root.  Get that in your soil, don't bother growing cabbages, etc for a number of years - over 5 at least.  The same with spuds, don't grow them in year after year, or onions.

[sunshineband]

Ours came from a well meaning friend   and I never thought to ask ..... well, we all learn, and this time, with clean soil to start with I am determined to keep it that way.  

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, Babstreefern makes a really good point about accepting plants from other sites. you wouln't be the first to get something nasty by mistake. As for sowing your leeks just draw a drill down the edge of one of your beds and sow, that goes for all your sowings
they'll be up and transplanted before whats in the bed gets large.

[sunshineband]

Could do that I suppose, Jay, but the kids are very keen on the idea of the nursery, and have worked hard to prepare the soil... bear it mind though, thanks

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, sorry thought you didn't have a nursery bed, i'm jealous must get around to making one.

[Salmo]

I do not bother with a designated nursery bed. I just stick them in where there is a space. A yard of row will produce about 20 brassica plants or about 40 leeks.

[sunshineband]

I do not bother with a designated nursery bed. I just stick them in where there is a space. A yard of row will produce about 20 brassica plants or about 40 leeks.

Thanks, Salmo, that's useful to know how many you can fit in