[Hampshire Hog]

Just checked my soil Ph for my Calabrese its neutral (7). Going to plant this week.
Don't plan to lime at this point what do others think??

Cheers HH
.

[gypsy]

I would add a bit of lime when I planted the calabrese.

[sunshineband]

I would add a bit of lime when I planted the calabrese.

I agree. Just rake it in and leave for a week or two before planting. Brassicas do thrive in alkaline soil conditions

[Salmo]

If the pH is 7 you do not need to lime to make things grow. Over liming can make some nutrients unavailable to plants. If you have a history of clubroot some say a little lime in the planting hole helps.

[Aunt Sally]

There are not many established plots that don't have some club root, we add lime to the planting hole.

[Hampshire Hog]

Thanks all.

Looks like a little bit of lime in the planting hole but not the whole bed to both avoid club root and over liming.
Planting tomorrow then!


Cheers HH

[Kristen]

Looks like a little bit of lime in the planting hole but not the whole bed to both avoid club root and over liming.
Planting tomorrow then!

Do you have clubroot?  Not something I have experience of, but folk on the forums seem to work around it by growing the plants out significantly (all the way to, perhaps 6" pots, certainly 5") and planting those more mature plants into holes that are limed. Might be worth delaying planting, and potting/growing on instead, if you have a Clubroot problem.

[Hampshire Hog]

Thanks for advice Kristen.

Don't think I have club root. Just aiming for optimal growing conditions as I haven't done that well with brassicas in the past.

Cheers HH

[Kristen]

Don't think I have club root. Just aiming for optimal growing conditions as I haven't done that well with brassicas in the past.

Right Ho! As your soil is spot-on neutral I think some Lime would help. Best just to apply and incorporate a few weeks before planting.

Make sure you firm them in really well, Brassicas like really firm roots - and if your site is exposed I would stake them too (to stop them rocking - I think I read that it is the root hairs getting knocked that upsets them, hence the firm soil and [if necessary] staking to prevent any wind-rock).  Earthing up the stems as they grow can help too, as well as planting deep in the first place.

[sunshineband]

Following on from Kristen's advice, I firm the whole bed before planting, by treading even across it. Then firming around the plant --planted right up to its seed leaves --- with weight on my knuckles. Seems to do the trick.

Tall stuff get staked early on before the stem grows into a funny shape. We have a very exposed and windy site.

[ptarmigan]

When you stake (also got v windy site) do you use a garden can or something a bit more sturdy?

[sunshineband]

When you stake (also got v windy site) do you use a garden can or something a bit more sturdy?

I use a wooden stake hammered well in to the ground, close to the plant. Usually about 3-4cm square, and with the end pointed up to make life easier. Then tie with baling twine in a figure of eight so the stem doesn't rub on the wood. Some people use strips of old tights but they are not on my clothing list    Strips of fabric do the job well too

[ptarmigan]

Cheers!  I must have something like that in the stack of 'might come in useful' stuff behind the shed.  And old tights too!

[Goosegirl]

I also have a very windy site and canes just aren't strong enough. I use hedging stakes hammered into the ground for brassica support. My pea/bean netting is tied onto the stakes at intervals but I leave some spare at the top so, if the peas outgrow the height of the netting on the stakes, I tie canes onto the stakes about half-way up and tie in the rest of the netting to the canes.