[beaker141]

Hi,

Can anyone suggest why my Swedes (Best of All variety - Wilkos seeds) have stopped growing and/or have just grown into a big long stalk.

I planted in seed trays then planted out on 4th July, during September I harvested a couple of small but quite well rounded specimens which were great and I thought these would grow the same.

Alas they all look like those in the pictures now.

Of those I did harvest, they had lots of roots but they did look a bit like bits of the flesh had been marked by something.

I hope the pics uploaded ok - I didnt know what to do with 2Mb picture files and a 128kb upload limit!

Thanks

Stuart.

[Yorkie]

Not sure about the swedes but there's a link re photos here if you haven't already read it 

[beaker141]

Thanks Yorkie.

[mumofstig]

The swedes may be forming a flower stalk, in other words they are bolting.

it's not really recommended that you transplant swede, if you must then it needs to be done while they are really small as it does tend to make them bolt......and the dry weather early in the year didn't help, as swede like a lot of water.

If it's any consolation mine haven't grown very big this year either

[binner]

nor half of mine, we had some nice ones but the rest are like yours, i planted mine in the ground where they are now from seed

[rainbow1]

Mine look the same too.

[willnbirdie]

Bolting sounds like it to me.  As mentioned transplanting is not a good idea but we have done it very successfully for the last 2 years by planting the seeds in old toilet rolls and planting out when the first leaves show.  Did find an advantage to this as plants already spaced correctly and weeding was much much easier (no confusion as to which little seedlings were weeds and which were swedes - we did the same with parsnips - fab).

willnbirdie

[Sue33]

mine are similar to this as well, i've put it down to not being planted into the soil firmly enough - wind rock 

[beaker141]

Thanks guys, not one to share in others misfortune but it makes me feel better knowing its not just me !

I had to do the transplant this year as I only got the allotment late in the season and wanted something growing in seed trays whilst I prepped the plot.

What do I do now, just dig them up and chuck them ?

[Sue33]

i haven't taken any of mine up yet, does it matter that it's not round, surely a root is a root, try cutting it up and seeing if it boils up ok, and let me know 

[mumofstig]

i haven't taken any of mine up yet, does it matter that it's not round, surely a root is a root, try cutting it up and seeing if it boils up ok, and let me know 

the trouble with those in the picture, and some of mine, is that by the time they're peeled.............there is no root 

[Dirt Diver]

Just to add my two penny worth - mine were planted direct in the ground but a bit late, about June and they had great tops but no swede just a long root.

Thought may be I should not have used a freshly composted raised bed.

What do you think?

[beaker141]

I had lots of leaf at first, you could barely see through to the roots for the dense coverage, but they have gradually either been eaten or dropped off and been picked up by me.

Is that normal or is it important to protect against cabbage white etc. I didnt bother as it was a root I wanted and didnt care about the leaf as opposed to cabbage where you would want the leaf intact?

[madcat]

I've been putting my poor crop down to the very dry start of the summer - not enough water to grow and a limit to how many watering cans I could haul out the stream before work.  I also didnt thin properly - my excuse is it was too dry, but really I just didnt get round to it.  But maybe its not just me being lazy ......   

The long straight root does peel and cook okay - but woodier perhaps than a proper root - but the effort/return ratio is a bit disheartening.   

[rainbow1]

I've been putting my poor crop down to the very dry start of the summer - not enough water to grow  

That was my theory as well. Better luck next year let's hope!