[andyindevon]

hi last year i watch a gentleman on tv who was blind and grew the most imense brassica`s.He used  i think fish blood bone/ lime /compost and eggshells but in wot proportions i dont know can anyone help

[iwantanallotment]

I think that was on Grow Your Own Veg with Carol Klein?
Sorry Andy, I don't remember proportions or even if they were mentioned?

[andyindevon]

hi iwantanallotment thankyou very much ill see if i can source it many thanks

[chris.selvey]

i can help with the Lime. Apply it about 4-5 weeks before planting, at about 5mm coverig the entire bed, then watering it in or just gentely raking over the top.

Hope this helps

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, always remember to put your lime on in winter and your feed on in spring or something chemical hapens i don't know what but some bright spark will know then i will know.

[Lee G]

Hi, always remember to put your lime on in winter and your feed on in spring or something chemical hapens i don't know what but some bright spark will know then i will know.

T'other way round according to John's book, manure in the Autumn and lime a few weeks before planting.

[Yorkie]

Yes, Lee's right.

[mumofstig]

An old boy on my allotment years ago used to wet the roots of his cabbage and then dip them in lime before  transplanting. he said it kept the club root away...........
anyone else heard of this

[Jay Dubya]

Hi, Lee g is right and i'm stupid i did meant it the other way around but i had a senior moment, DOH!!! But we still don't know the science.

[strangerachael]

I just sprinkle some lime in the planting hole - I think the effect is the same?

[DD.]

If you feed and lime at the same time, a chemical reaction takes place resulting in an excess of nitrogen. This make the plant bolt.

You should have seen my spring cabbage in November about 8 years ago.

Great flowers!

[paintedlady]

now I was always told that lime reacts with the manure and releases ammonia (gas) which scorches the leaves/could kill the plants    Interesting .....

http://www.vegetableexpert.co.uk/SoilAmendmentsForVegetables.html
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1104/limingsoils.asp

[Stevens706]

The blind man concerened was coping with club root.

[CARROTTCRUNCHER]

So Dipping the roots in lime before planting should not be done like some people say . Thanks CC.

[iwantanallotment]

Some of my cabbages last year were just grown in Poundland tubs in firm compost.
Others went in the ground.
Both lots cropped well and to full size - but those in pots/troughs I didn't bother to cut properly, and are now flowering & will soon give me fresh seed. They gave new leaves all over winter that I didn't bother to harvest.

No lime, no fussing....all they got was compost and an occasional dressing with blood, fish & bone.

I'm of the mind that things really want to grow and will, if given basic conditions 

But stand to fall flat on my face, also