Soil Structure/Brassicas

We all understand about soil structure, and that we should not walk upon cultivated soil or compress it as this will destroy the soils very structure.

Planting Brassicas, the ground should be firm, else things like sprouts will be very loose leaved and they can rock in windy weather.

So, combining the two does not make any real sense, yet Brassicas are part of crop rotation. So growing them destroys soil structure in a new bed every year.

I have this year tried only lightly firming them in, conscious of soil structure and most of my sprouts have become very loose leaved and despite some very good staking have been battered and blown around by the wind. Fair enough, we've had some very heavy winds of late, but here in Cumbria we get that every Autumn/Winter anyway.

Your thoughts on this?

Steve...

 

Hiya Steve.

I do all my growing in raised beds, so this is what I do. Autumn digging already done the previous season, where the Brassicas are to go in, prior to planting I tread through the bed on my heels then rake it over. I understand where you're coming from, but maybe it's about the degree of compaction?

 

Just to add, the bed will be dug through once the brassica crop is finished...

 

I don't prepare the ground for Brassicas, just mulch with muck over winter and then plant-through in the Spring. Mine still blow though ... they are in raised beds, and it has got worse since the early years (as the soil has improved).

One thing I haven't done, and mean to every year, is to stake them so that they rock less. I read somewhere that it is [disturbance to] the root hairs that causes them to blow. Growing them in rock-solid ground is contra-intuitive to me, in terms of how well the plants will grow & establish, hence I wonder if stopping them moving is more important than planting them in concrete ??

 

Me too. As I said, I think it's about degree. I've never staked mine (contrary to normal advice) and never had a problem.

 

Having said that, I'm in a fairly sheltered site...

EDIT : BTW, I think it really helps to plant deeply, almost to the top of the leaves.

 

I don't grow that many Brassicas but I do firm my onion bed down before planting, wouldn't do it if the soil was wet though, that would ruin it.

 

I've just checked my Savoys.....they're doing OK but i still feel the ground in my raised bed isn't really suitable for them...it's too 'soft' in my opinion...i just dig over apply muck and gently firm...the last time i grew sprouts a couple of years back in the same type of soil...some did blow but i staked them and they did produce a resonable crop....i still feel brassicas need a firmer soil but i'm really just a beginner in grow veg really....

 

I hope your Savoys stay nice and firm Loli

 

Trust you Searchfield....

 

thats two naughty post today I am keeping a

 

I had a look in my various Veg books. Apart from "firm ground" the only other mention of causes of blown sprouts was them getting checked during growth. Mind you ... one book said that, of all the veg, Sprouts was the one that needing watering only in very dry weather - perhaps I should water in dry, rather than drought, weather?

 

I now always firm sprouts and other brassicas using my knuckles or heels when planting . I don't firm the whole bed. I also put in supports as if I don't they invariably blow over. I've had no problems with blown sprouts now for several years.
As far as regards spoiling soil structure due to compaction, I don't think firming for the brassica crop matters as I dig the bed over and let it settle before the following crop goes in and the soil is then in an uncompacted condition.

 

I'm on a very exposed site so need to stake just about everything (think I should stake the stakes too!), I'm used to that but think I need something much firmer for next year, so might try just firm staking and firmly pushing soil at planting time with my hands. I always deep plant everything as a matter of course anyway.

I'm thinking of a structure rather than staking, something akin to a fence really.

Steve...

 

Something I saw on tv recently, about what Sprout farmers in Norfolk do. They take off the tops to encourage the buttons to form. Maybe this would negate some of the effects of wind damage?