www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk

A family business since 1894

WHITEHALLGarden Centres

Grow Your OwnBrassicas

*Cabbages *Cauliflower *Broccoli*Brusels *Kale

Lacock, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 2LZTel: 01249 730204

Norton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol BS14 OBTTel 01275 832296

www.whitehallgardencentre.co.uk

Broccoli like other brassicas can fail inloose and starved soil. Ideally the groundshould be firm and rich in organic matter.Pick a reasonably sunny spot where theplants are going to grow to maturity. Dig inautumn. Work in plenty of well-rottedmanure or compost if the soil is poor.In spring apply a general fertiliser such asGrowmore. Also use protective collars ifcabbage root fly is a known problem, thisapplies to all brassicas.

Prepare the soil inthe same way thatyou would anycabbage addadditional fertiliserprior to planting.

Pick a reasonably sunny spot, which hasnot been used to grow cabbages or anyother brassicas in the past 3 years. As with all brassicas choose a firm, non-acid soil, which has reasonable drainage.Prepare the site a couple of monthsbefore by adding some extra humus intothe soil. Two weeks prior to planting applya Growmore or similar fertiliser.

Choose a sunnyposition. Dig inautumn – and digin some well-rottedmanure. Use lime ifnecessary inwinter. In springapply a generalfertiliser two weeksbefore planting.

Cabbages Cauliflowers Broccoli Brussels Sprouts

Crop CareHoe regularly and provide some means ofprotection from the birds i.e. undernetting. Summer care consists of wateringin dry weather and applying a mulch toconserve moisture. Occasional feedingwith a liquid fertiliser will improve the crop.With the approach of winter draw up soilaround the stems and stake the plants ifthe site is exposed.

Crop CareBirds can be a problem, protect theseedlings from sparrows and the maturecrop from pigeons. Hoe regularly, to keepweeds down. Water the plants during dryweather. The mature crops rarely needwatering if the soil has been properlyprepared. Brussel sprouts do respond wellfrom a foliar feed in early summer

Crop CareIf birds are a problem protect theseedlings from sparrows and pigeons.Hoe around crop until the plants are largeenough to suppress weeds.Water if the weather is dry. Always apply aliquid feed as the heads begin to mature.In autumn earth-up the stems of springcabbage. During winter, firm down anyplants loosened by wind or frost.

Crop CareHoe regularly and provide some means ofprotection from birds i.e. some kind ofnetting. Cauliflowers must never be keptshort of water, especially in the earlystages, or very small heads will quicklyform. Feed occasionally as this crop is ahungry one. With summer varieties bend afew leaves over the developing curd toprotect it from sun. Protect the wintercrop from frost and snow by breaking afew leaves over the curd. Harvesting

The time to cut is when the flower shoots(spears) are well-formed, but before thesmall flower buds have opened. Once inflower the spears are woody and tasteless.Cut or snap off the central spear first. In a few varieties this will be a cauliflowerlike head. Side shoots will be producedand these should be picked regularly. The spears are generally 4-6” long andcropping should continue for about 6 weeks.

HarvestingBegin picking the sprouts (buttons) at thebase of the stem when they have reachedthe size of a walnut and are still tightlyclosed. Snap them off with a downwardtug or cut them off with a sharp knife. Work up the stem at each croppingsession, removing yellow leaves and anyopen sprouts as you go. Remove only afew sprouts at a time from each stem.When all the sprouts have gone, cut off thestem tops and cook as a cabbage. Dig upand dispose of the stems.

HarvestingIn March thin out the spring cabbagerows. Young leaves can be used as springgreens. Leave the remaining plants toheart up for cutting in April or May.Cabbages are harvested by cutting with asharp knife close to ground level. With spring and summer varieties cut a1/2” deep cross into the stump and asecond crop of small cabbages willappear.

HarvestingBegin cutting some of the cauliflowerswhile they are still fairly small rather thanwaiting for them all to mature and producea glut.Cut in the morning when the heads stillhave dew on them, but in frosty weatherwait until midday.

Sowing Time April-May.

Sowing TimeMarch-April.

Sowing TimeSpring Winter Summer July-August. March-May. April-May.

Sowing Time Winter/Spring Summer AutumnSept-October. January-March. May-June.

l 6’’ k

SOW VERY THINLY

1/2” DEEP

l 6’’ k

SOW VERY THINLY

1/2” DEEP

l 6’’ k

SOW VERY THINLY

1/2” DEEP

l 6’’ k

SOW VERY THINLY

1/2” DEEP