Hello I am new to this site but already find it informative.
I am in the process of installing raised beds on my allotment and have a concern re growing Brussel sprouts and Cauliflowers in them.
I am aware that the best soil for both should be undisturbed and compacted. The first is true of raised beds but not the second.
Does anyone have experience of growing these crops in beds.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Raised Beds.
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oldherbaceous
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Welcome Glebeguy, nice to see another new name on this site. 
I don't actually use raised beds myself, but i know people that have, and had problems with brussels growing in them.
I would disagree a little with ground that is for cauli's and brussel's needs to be undisturbed and compacted. As long as the ground has settled, and the plants are planted really fimly, there should not be a problem.
It may also help if you dig a three inch deep hole out first, then plant in the bottom of these, this has two benefits, one of holding water when you water the plants, and as the season progresses they fill up with soil which helps to stabilize the plants.
With the cauli's they don't like being checked, so keep them well watered and fed, and you won't go far wrong.
I don't actually use raised beds myself, but i know people that have, and had problems with brussels growing in them.
I would disagree a little with ground that is for cauli's and brussel's needs to be undisturbed and compacted. As long as the ground has settled, and the plants are planted really fimly, there should not be a problem.
It may also help if you dig a three inch deep hole out first, then plant in the bottom of these, this has two benefits, one of holding water when you water the plants, and as the season progresses they fill up with soil which helps to stabilize the plants.
With the cauli's they don't like being checked, so keep them well watered and fed, and you won't go far wrong.
Kind Regards, Old Herbaceous.
There's no fool like an old fool.
There's no fool like an old fool.
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Clive.
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Hello,
We garden in open ground and not raised beds...both at home and at work.
For Brussels we pull out a V trench, with a draw hoe, about 6 inches deep and set out the plants in the bottom of the trench. The Brussel ground will have been dug during the Winter and left undisturbed up until planting time ready for V trenching.
During subsequent hoeing, as the plants grow on, soil is returned to the trench with a slight firming of the soil by pressing with foot each side of plants as we work along the row. Cauliflowers and Broccoli are treated to a simialar V trench. Whilst Spring Cabbage perhaps a V trench half as deep.
The soil at home here is quite light and sandy and the firm each side of the plant during hoeing usually does the business except for Broccoli that we have sometimes had to put a cane against.
Hopefully this may translate ok to a raised bed.??
Clive.
We garden in open ground and not raised beds...both at home and at work.
For Brussels we pull out a V trench, with a draw hoe, about 6 inches deep and set out the plants in the bottom of the trench. The Brussel ground will have been dug during the Winter and left undisturbed up until planting time ready for V trenching.
During subsequent hoeing, as the plants grow on, soil is returned to the trench with a slight firming of the soil by pressing with foot each side of plants as we work along the row. Cauliflowers and Broccoli are treated to a simialar V trench. Whilst Spring Cabbage perhaps a V trench half as deep.
The soil at home here is quite light and sandy and the firm each side of the plant during hoeing usually does the business except for Broccoli that we have sometimes had to put a cane against.
Hopefully this may translate ok to a raised bed.??
Clive.
My thanks to those who responded to my query re growing sprouts in raised beds.
I think I will retain several beds of open ground and grow them in he traditional way.
Thanks again.
I think I will retain several beds of open ground and grow them in he traditional way.
Thanks again.
I am 65 years of age. I have been gardening seriously for about 10 years. I have an allotment in Darlington. I am Chairman of our association For the moment!! I enjoy fell walking and reading a good book.
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carlseawolf
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hi there and welcome,
i have raised beds but not grown any brassicas in them yet , but have heard brussels are hard to grow in beds .
on last weeks GROW YOUR OWN VEG she grew brassicas in raised beds but started them in pots first and grew them on into 12" pots before planting them out , she had purple sprouting brocolli in the beds and they grow big and tall and hers seam fine.
i do have a raised bed ready for summer cabbages which was prepared in october but i'll still be raising the plants in pots first.
hope this helps
www.freewebs.com/carlseawolf
i have raised beds but not grown any brassicas in them yet , but have heard brussels are hard to grow in beds .
on last weeks GROW YOUR OWN VEG she grew brassicas in raised beds but started them in pots first and grew them on into 12" pots before planting them out , she had purple sprouting brocolli in the beds and they grow big and tall and hers seam fine.
i do have a raised bed ready for summer cabbages which was prepared in october but i'll still be raising the plants in pots first.
hope this helps
www.freewebs.com/carlseawolf
A seed planted today will make a meal tomorrow
www.freewebs.com/carlseawolf
www.freewebs.com/carlseawolf
I've had no success in growing sprouts or cabbages in my raised beds as the soil is so soft after years of manure and "no digging/no standing on" treatment. However, I can grow Kale, Purple Sprouting or Broccoli without any trouble.
This year I'm going to conquer the cabbages (and sprouts). I had planned a new potato bed which is proving to be a nightmare to dig out as it's on ground that has only been used by animals for the past 100 years or more. So - I'm going to use that bed for brassicas instead and put the potatoes into one of my raised beds.
Why didn't I think of this sooner?
This year I'm going to conquer the cabbages (and sprouts). I had planned a new potato bed which is proving to be a nightmare to dig out as it's on ground that has only been used by animals for the past 100 years or more. So - I'm going to use that bed for brassicas instead and put the potatoes into one of my raised beds.
Why didn't I think of this sooner?
I tried sprouts one year on a 'no dig' site, and they all 'blew'. Following year I rammed them into an open site, compacting the earth as hard as I could, and they were fine. So .....
Cabbages headed up nicely. Have never, NEVER been able to grow a decent cauli, so have given up for the time being!!!
Broccoli and italian black (cavelo nero) did fine on my pseudo raised beds (no dig beds without the raised bits!!!!)
Interesting to hear replies, as I am considering constructing some proper raised beds this year, and always enjoy fresh sprouts.
Cabbages headed up nicely. Have never, NEVER been able to grow a decent cauli, so have given up for the time being!!!
Broccoli and italian black (cavelo nero) did fine on my pseudo raised beds (no dig beds without the raised bits!!!!)
Interesting to hear replies, as I am considering constructing some proper raised beds this year, and always enjoy fresh sprouts.
Trying to grow brassicas without firming in is asking for trouble, raised beds or not. I try to cultivate on a no dig system but eventually i have to get the spade out to dig the spuds and stick the boot in regarding brassicas.I use two beds a year to grow my brassicas and always dig them over to get rid of the hard pans caused by firming in ,its a case of striking a balance .
I have been converting my lottie into 10' by 4' beds and refrain from walking on them. Potatoes are followed by legumes which are cut off at ground level , not dug up, and then followed by brassicas. These are all raised in roottrainers/modules and then placed in a planting hole the size of the rootball and firmed in by hand.
This 'compromise' works in N. Yorks on silty loam and gives me success - that is if I beat the aphids, whitefly, pigeons and other relatives of the curse.
This 'compromise' works in N. Yorks on silty loam and gives me success - that is if I beat the aphids, whitefly, pigeons and other relatives of the curse.
WigBag
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carlseawolf
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I'm pleased to say today i have twenty four summer cabbages ( primo 2 ) in my raised beds coming to maturaty , and have just harvested one and the cabbage ball weighed 2lb and is firm .
So the answer is yes you can grow brassicas in a raised bed.
So the answer is yes you can grow brassicas in a raised bed.
A seed planted today will make a meal tomorrow
www.freewebs.com/carlseawolf
www.freewebs.com/carlseawolf
I GROW ON RAISED BEDS IN MIDDLESBROUGH, LAST 2 YEARS, AND WILL NEVER GO BACK TO A NORMAL GARDEN AGAIN.
IT IS A LOT EASIER TO MANAGE FOR US OLDIES,,64,,
AND I GROW EVERYTHING IN THEM,BUT I DO HAVE A SPACE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ALLOT.FOR MY SPROUTS.
I TRIED BOTH WAYS LAST YEAR AND THE WALKED ON GARDEN WAS BETTER.
TRY EVERYTHING ITS THE JOY OF GARDENING ?????
IT IS A LOT EASIER TO MANAGE FOR US OLDIES,,64,,
AND I GROW EVERYTHING IN THEM,BUT I DO HAVE A SPACE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ALLOT.FOR MY SPROUTS.
I TRIED BOTH WAYS LAST YEAR AND THE WALKED ON GARDEN WAS BETTER.
TRY EVERYTHING ITS THE JOY OF GARDENING ?????