Brassicas in pots

[Colin_M]

Whilst following the advice of others to start my cabbages etc in pots (as a way of helping them overcome clubroot) I left some kohlrabi in too long.

However it doesn't seem to have done them any harm and I'm wondering if I actually need to plant them out now! These are just in 6" pots:


For anyone who was wondering if they could keep small brassicas on their windowsill, here's your answer! The challenge will proabbly arise when they deveop the big leaf canopy (and the pigeons have still hacked many of them to death, even in our back garden).

Colin

[Primrose]

Colin - I was particularly interested to see your photo because I had a few seeds of Hispi cabbage left in a packet which I sowed about 3 weeks ago and my seedings are now about 3 inches high. I was wondering whether I could experiment with growing them in pots over the winter protected by 5 litre mineral water cloches. As you've obvious had some success with kohl rabi, I might continue with my experiment, although I think I would need fairly deep pots because of their roots. Has anybody else tried doing this? Mine would have be kept outdoors as I don't have a greenhouse.

[Colin_M]

Go for it - you have nothing to lose.

All mine are outside, as they were originally intended to be planted out. The final pots are only 8" deep, but I'd think the bigger maybe the better. Cabbage will eventually produce quite a lot of leaf and a bigger pot will withstand being blown about better. I'd also watch them getting waterlogged, ensuring good drainage (if and when we start getting rain).

Of course, if it doesn't turn really horrible in early October, is there any reason why you couldn't plant these into your plot - with some protective cover initially? Others can advise on this, but you might then get either late Spring cabbage or at least some good Spring Greens.


Colin

[Chantal]

Hi Primrose

My only concern would be that a cabbage is quite heavy and in a pot outside, the cabbage would rock around in the soil when it's windy. This would mean the cabbage would "blow" wouldn't it? I know cabbages like really firm ground as a norm.

I agree you've got nothing to lose and I would give it a try but I think they'd need to be in a sheltered place.

Let us know how you get on