Tips for successful swede growing?

I used to grow swedes very successfully on my previous allotment, but on my present one I have had no luck at all. The plants grow tall, but the stem never swells. I'm trying yet again this year and will try feeding with phostrogen in case it's a trace mineral shortage, but I would be interested to hear other folk's experience.

 

Hi there Manteur. I grew swede quite successfully last year. It was the first time on my then virgin soil. Most of them were around 6" or so round (some larger). I had a few tiddlers, but that was because of not allowing enough space after thinning. I DID notice within the flesh some patches of mottling. I read that this was due to a trace element shortage (I forget which one), but it seems that maybe they like a well-balanced soil. Cheers...freddy.

 

Swedes don't do well if planted too early Manteur. May is the time to plant.

 

Thanks, Freddy and Alice, I'll hold off for a bit, then give a bit of feed. I'll say if it works.

 

Swedes are a veg that I've had poor results with when grown in a back garden. Mine either flop over and never swell up or make a promising start and then keel over with mildew! I tried increasing the pH but with no better results.

I once watched a farmer friend of mine harvesting his beautiful big swedes one day and asked him how come he was so succeddful with his crop. He just said "I plant 'em on the hill and then forget about 'em". And that was his secret - plant them on an exposed hillside in Dorset and let Nature take its course. I lavished care and attention on my swedes but could never get any as good as his.

Perhaps they're just one of those vegetables that do best when they're not too pampered.

 

Flinty i grew swedes on my virgin soil last year planted seed where i wanted them to grow thinned to
8in apart got really big and then lost them all to toprot at least i think it was.
you wouldent have known there was anything wrong untill tried to pull one for sunday lunch, the tops came away in my hand and inside was rotten i was gutted because they looked so nice didn't bother this year