Brassica Growing, coping with Club Root

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Some Thoughts on Growing the Commoner Brassicas- With Especial Emphasis on Beating the Dreaded Club Root

One of my objectives over the years has been to obtain a reasonable crop of brassicas from a plot of sandy loam which is infected with the club root fungus. Added difficulties are that it is a long way from any water supply and is attacked by pigeons and cabbage root fly!

Until such time as cultivars of brassica which have considerable resistance to club root are developed ordinary growers, those without recourse to the chemicals used by farmers, have to develop their own solutions. The following system has given a high degree of success, producing reasonable crops for both table and show.

Sow seed in a peat based compost, transplanting to 24 Plantpaks or three inch pots and grow on until the roots are sufficiently well developed to allow the plant to be removed without the compost block falling to pieces. Harden off and plant out as follows:

At each planting station remove the soil to produce a hole approximately nine inches in diameter and six inches deep.
Add long term fertiliser (I use Vitax Q4) and fork into base of hole.
Remove the plant from its pot and plant it at the bottom of the hole, in the centre, up to its seed leaves (cotyledons), firm the soil well with your knuckles.
Water in using heavily limed water (1lb lime to 2 gall, water) at the rate of one gallon to every four plants.
When the water has soaked into the soil cover the stand of plants with bird netting or Agryl fleece, well pegged down.

Arguments in favour of this system are:

A plant with a strong root system, though not immune to club root, will produce a crop.
The limed water makes sure that the soil immediately surrounding the roots is on the alkaline side, thus producing the correct pH conditions for brassicas. It also inhibits the club root fungus.
The crust produced by the lime may well deter the cabbage root fly from laying its eggs (though I have no proof of this).

In addition the slow release fertiliser used, Vitax Q4, contains molybdenum which prevents whiptail in cauliflowers, and provides the plants with most of their nutritional requirements throughout their development.

The hole provides shelter from winds and forms a suntrap while the plant is small. It also provides an exact watering spot with no run off or waste problems. The plants will push up the netting or fleece as they grow.

Gradually hoeing will cause the edges of the hole to crumble in, enabling adventitious roots to form.

NOTE: Clubroot Resistant Varieties

You can now obtain club root resistant cabbages and cauliflowers - see NVS Shop Vegetable Seeds

This article originally appeared in the Members Bulletin, the journal of the National Vegetable Society, which is sent quarterly to members. You can Join the National Vegetable Society here

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