Brassicas and squarefoot gardening

[squarefoot]

All my gardening books tell me that brassicas like to be transplanted into soil which has been well trodden down to firm it. This I have always done. 2 months ago I built 2 x 12foot long squarefoot beds in addition to my small vegetable patch and have been well pleased with the results I am getting. However, what happens to my broccoli if I plant it into loose deep soil without treading it in? I live in a coastal area with frequent very strong winds. Has anyone else had experience of brassicas in deep beds? And if so what was the outcome?

[Cabbagelover]

Good question. All my gardening books say the same about well trodden down soil. Having a square foot gardening bed is something that I might try next year to compliment my vegetable garden but are you able to grow a reasonable amount in each square?

[SmileySue]

I planted brocolli in multipurpose compost in a pot - x 3. They are all just about ready to harvest and I am very pleased. I did not firm it down first - I just put in the compost, made a hole, planted the plant and it has done very well.

[squarefoot]

So far the answer is yes. On average the space is producing 3 to 4 times what I would normally expect. Lettuces have been tricky with 4 large headed to a square, because of the excessive amount of rain we have been having, the bottom leaves got mouldy. This wasn't a problem with the Cos lettuces. I also put in 6 red cabbage plants, with one to a square and they are doing very well and hearting up now inspite of not being trodden in. We have been eating some of the outer leaves to allow space for their neighbours. I planted spring onions around each cabbage and they were quickly overshadowed. However they are still in there and growing quite happily. As per instructions there are 16 carrots to a square and they are growing well in a block. Once set up it does seem very easy to maintain with very little effort. I am growing red and green chard (9 to a square), french beans (also 9), leeks (16), beetroot (9), rocket and lettuces (in any spaces), and some red onions, and of course parsley. They all seem to be co-existing very happily and look thriving - even the lettuces after I cleared away the bottom leaves. We have been eating leaves etc out of the first bed since the third week in June.

[squarefoot]

Thanks for this Smiley Sue. It sounds encouraging. I'll give it a go and see what happens over the winter months.

[malcolmx]

firming is about wind rock on brassicas not about hearting tightness so firm in with fingers when planting and tie into canes as soon as they are big enough to be affected by rain and wind

most books about vegetables are about allotment or open garden growing most just repeat what other writers have already said but raised bed growing concentrates plants and wind insect or disease damage is different By planting last crops in the middle and first crops on the out side wind protection and support are obtained in the early stages by the outside crops protecting the slower growing inside crops
raised beds would be better used if concentric circles were planted and not the square system that is constantly put forward

[squarefoot]

Thanks for that, Malcolmx. I have fixed plastic piping over my raised bed, like hoops on a covered waggon. This has enabled me to provide a variety of protection for plants, starting with fleece in May, followed with netting + green windbreak net material on the windward side. This seems to be coping with the strong winds we have been having. As you suggested, I did press the roots in by hand. So far I have 6 very large and healthy red cabbages on the raised bed, and they are starting to head.
The purple broccoli in the ordinary veg patch are also covered by the hoop system as it was working so well on the raised bed. Covered with a fine pond netting the row has escaped those white butterflies completely. This is the first time I have ever grown healthy looking brassicas! We have been eating some of the outer leaves of all these plants as they are so tasty. Will this stunt their growth?

[malcolmx]

removing some leaves will be ok but dont forget plants feed and absorb moisture through the leaves so it would in the long term result in a smaller but still edible plant