Saturday 25 February 2012

Allotment news

I intend to make a big effort to post allotment updates in this blog this year, every time I do something major out there. The news today is that the seeds for this year's planting have arrived by mail order from Suttons . It is to be:

  • Onion - Sturon  (from sets). 
  • Cabbage - Kilaxy (a club-root resistant variety - club root seems to affect the whole plot, and I haven't yet grown a decent cabbage here)
  • Brussels sprouts - Crispus 
  • Broccoli - Ironman 
  • Swede - Invitation (also club root resistant, though I've not actually had a problem with swedes)
  • Carrot - Maestro
  • Broad Bean - The Sutton
  • Runner Bean - Best of All (Trying 'tall' runner beans this year - if we get a summer storm, they will probably blow over, but the dwarf ones don't seem to crop very well)
  • Potato, 1st early - Lady Christl (Another try to grow some really good 'new' potatoes...)
  • Potato, 2nd early - Maris Peer 
  • Potato, maincrop - Desiree (red potatoes which grow really well here)
Planting won't be starting for a wee while as the soil is still very wet and cold. I am supposed to be rebuilding the cold frame soon, as the existing one has rotted to the point where it is almost unusable. I just need to get myself motivated for that job! But all the brassicas started in the cold frame last year, and made good strong plants before planting them out, which was probably key to the excellent broccoli and sprout crop we had.

More to follow!

2 comments:

drgeoo said...

Google quotes the Royal Hortilcultural Society: Club root, or
Plasmodiophora brassicae, is loosely described as a fungus but is in fact more closely related to the slime moulds. It produces resting spores that can contaminate soil for up to 20 years. In the presence of susceptible plant roots, these resting spores germinate and infect the root hairs, causing the distortion. The fungus produces more resting spores in the affected tissue, which eventually rots and releases them back to the soil, ready for the cycle to start over again.
If the disease is known to be present, try to give plants a head start by growing them on in healthy soil to a larger than normal size before planting out, so that they begin growth in the affected soil with a larger than usual healthy root system. [So new soil in the new cold frame?]
Grow transplants in pots of at least 9cm (3½in) diameter, which give plants head start with a larger than usual healthy root system
Beware of spreading contaminated soil on tools, wheelbarrows or footwear.

Club root is reduced (but not eliminated) by raising the soil pH by liming. On acid soils, lime at the rate of 500g per sq m (15oz per sq yd), with lighter dressings of 270g per sq m (8oz per sq yd) in future years
Along with the liming regime, take care to improve drainage, by making raised beds for example
Keep down susceptible weeds like shepherd’s purse, charlock, wild radish
Some cultivars show some levels of resistance: calabrese ‘Trixie’, swede ‘Marian’ and kale ‘Tall Green Curled’. Cabbages ‘Kilaxy’ and ‘Kilaton’ and cauliflower ‘Clapton’ are also show resistance

Richard Dorrell said...

Many thanks for the information, drgeoo. I have read up on Club Root myself, and think I was successful with my Broccoli and Sprouts last year thanks to starting the plants in pots, as you suggest. But I haven't been lucky with cabbages, which is why I have bought Kilaxy seed this year. Ialso added some lime to the plot last year, but probably not enough. As to drainage... have you seen how much it rains here?!!!