Brassica Growing Guides

Cauli's, Sprouts, Cabbage and more... brassicas can be a real struggle for some growers, but if you're willing to give them a go Collie Flowers is sure to have a guide to help you on your way to harvesting happiness.

Our Top 10 Tops for Growing Healthy Brassicas:

1. Warm Start: While brassicas thrive in cool weather, they germinate best in warmer conditions (25-30ºC). Use a heated propagator or warm windowsill for faster germination.
2. Rich, Alkaline Soil: Brassicas love deep, fertile soil with a pH of 6.5-7. Improve your compost with garden lime and organic matter to ensure nutrient-rich, well-drained soil.
3. Careful Transplanting: Handle seedlings by the leaves, not stems. Gradually move them to larger pots, planting deeper each time, and firm the soil well when transplanting outdoors to prevent wind damage.
4. Harden Off: Before planting out, acclimate your plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over several days.
5. Wind Protection: Shelter plants from strong winds to prevent windrock, which can damage roots and stunt growth. Consider using windbreaks or net tunnels.
6. Feed and Water: Brassicas are heavy feeders. Ensure consistent watering and supplement with nitrogen-rich feeds if leaves yellow, and trace elements if needed.
7. Proper Spacing: Give plants ample space to grow. Follow seed packet recommendations for ideal spacing to avoid overcrowding and promote healthy root spread.
8. Pest Control: Protect your brassicas from pests like slugs, caterpillars, and aphids. Use netting or other pest control methods as needed.
9. Weed Management: Keep the area weed-free to avoid competition for nutrients. Mulching can help but be cautious of providing shelter for slugs.
10. Timely Harvesting: Harvest crops like cauliflower and cabbage as soon as they're ready to avoid bolting and pest damage. Enjoy your brassicas at their peak!

Our guides are regularly being updated to reflect new stocks we bring in, but if there's something you're looking for and can't find here, just drop us a message because I'm sure we can help out.