The brassica plants I'd ordered arrived - just as the weather got hot, hot ,HOT!
I bought Kale and Brussels Sprouts - because they both produce the most from the smallest space.
They came from Browns Seed Company this year and the quality was excellent. I waited until evening before planting out after they had been in the shade and in water .
Surrounded with the wire netting frames brought with me from Clay Cottage and covered with enviromesh to keep the Cabbage White butterflies and any other critters out .
Hope I can keep them alive through this heatwave.
Back Tomorrow
Sue
I'm sure you will. I love the reason for the choice. xx
ReplyDeleteI love caulis and cabbage but they take up the same space for just 1 crop
DeleteGood idea to use the mesh, so frustrating when all the delicious greens get eaten by caterpillars
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
Should be able to use the enviromesh year after year - it seems good quality
DeleteGood luck! You look slap bang in the middle of it at the weekend
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to keep things that appeciate 'normal' English weather from going to seed or just withering and dying in this heat isn't it. ALL my Rocket, Mixed Leaves and Mizuna went to seed in the space of two days last week. Oh well I have cut them right back and will see if anything sprouts again before replanting the bed.
ReplyDeleteI just can't water all the things that really need water - it would need gallons!
DeleteYep, I've also planted up my 'Winter' veg! Leeks and cabbages so far and I've started off some purple sprouting broccoli seeds and kale in the hope I'm not too late for next Spring!!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping my leeks survive despite the drought. I never have any luck with starting brassicas from seed so buy plants and this time I'm sharing with BiL
DeleteHeat, insects and critters always seem to be the challenge. You've installed some good protection and chances are all will be good. My luck is no good this year: the tomato plants got covered in blight and I'm down to one squash plant and one pumpkin. On the bright side, my 2 pear trees are doing well.
ReplyDeleteMy squash plants are hanging on - looks like at least 4 flowers have set so far
DeleteOooh, new plants, new plants!!!
ReplyDeleteHopefully food for winter
DeleteAll your hard work should pay off.
ReplyDeleteThis year I found mesh covered hoops and put them over my cabbage and broccoli plants. We have WIND here on the prairie and so ended up with some holes but for the most part, it kept out the moths. I have the most lovely crop of both and then had some volunteer tomatoes come up. Those are thriving now. The broccoli continued to give me side heads up until now. I didn't pick any after May but was still amazed at it's growth. Farmer finally pulled them out tonight. I used those same hoops on my spinach and Chard when it started getting really hot in June since that raised bed gets afternoon sun/heat. The spinach gave up but it really helped the Chard get going (still going!) I don't think I'll get another year out of those hoops but they were worth the money this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to look into something similar to what you have.