[philskin]

Hi phil here I don,t want to jump the gun but ive set aside a small plot and dug about 5cwt of well rotted horse manure into it double dug the plot as well, then I planted 12 gabbages into it with some dwarf beans along the front.  I spaced the cabbages16" _ 18" apart  then I made a cane frame about 30" high and netted it all over including the sides hopefully to stop the birds and the cabbage butterfly.  Now the question is what to feed them on and any other tips you have got would be very gratefully recieved  , thank you all in advance and thanks for taking the time to read this best regards  phil   :?:    ps would love to be placed in the local village show

[WG.]

With almost half a cwt of manure each, I think they will be well enough fed as it is.

If you haven't done so - add lime since manure is acidic & cabbages like it to be alkaline.

[philskin]

With almost half a cwt of manure each, I think they will be well enough fed as it is.

If you haven't done so - add lime since manure is acidic & cabbages like it to be alkaline.

 thanks will do so this afternoon

[WG.]

Have you got root collars on to keep away the root fly?

Anti-slug measures?

[philskin]

Have you got root collars on to keep away the root fly?

Anti-slug measures?

 no I haven,t whats a root collar and could I make then out of items that I may have in my shed

[WG.]

Rake the lime into the surface rather than attempting to mix with manure-rich soil - they don't go well together but (for another year) you are better to omit the manure than to omit lime.

Then search this forum using cabbage root collar* (match all terms)

[philskin]

hi me again ive just made the collars out of some roofing felt left over from my shed project its the heavy felt with grit on one side . I cut them with a 8" diameter, cut the slot half way through and cut a cross in that now two questions in my eagerness to make them have I made them to big ie 8" and secondly is the material to thick ie running the risk of stem damage as the collars have been fitted grit side down thanks again phil :oops:    :?:

[WG.]

The roofing felt you describe is too heavy in my opinion & would give stem damage.   All is not lost - cut it in half and use two notched pieces on each plant.  The plant will push them apart as it grows in the notches.

[philskin]

The roofing felt you describe is too heavy in my opinion & would give stem damage.   All is not lost - cut it in half and use two notched pieces on each plant.  The plant will push them apart as it grows in the notches.

ok will do thanks a lot