I took advantage of relatively dry weather this last week and got our spring brassicas planted. We’re still having frosts here, and even had temperatures dip below freezing on two morning this week. The cabbage family plants are pretty hardy though, and the temps rebounded quickly and the the little seedlings are none the worse for wear. I got two of the cold frame beds planted first. These are situated behind the new greenhouse on the south side of it and benefit from the somewhat warmer microclimate.
cold frame bed with kohlrabi
I planted one bed with kohlrabi, 30 plants in all. The cold frame is covered with bird netting to keep the deer and other critters from getting to the plants. The netting is a bit tattered but I figure I can get a bit more use out of it. The plants aren’t as big as they were last year, but in 2019 we got so much rain that planting was delayed and the plants kept growing before planting. These plants are the size I like them, with two or three true leaves and a well developed root system. I mulched with shredded newspaper and cardboard, which will keep down weeds and conserve soil moisture before it eventually breaks down and adds organic matter to the soil.
young kohlrabi seedling
I made a short video the day I planted the kohlrabi, and I’ll share it here.
I planted the other bed with a mix of cabbage, kohlrabi and mizuna. For this bed I fashioned a support from bent PVC pipe, and secured bird netting to it with clothes pins. I used the shredded paper mulch here as well.
bed with PVC pipe supports
In the main garden I planted broccoli, cabbage and kohlrabi this morning. I worked up the bed last week, and added compost and other amendments. I put a little organic fertilizer in the planting holes and worked it in the soil, and watered all the plants with Neptune’s Harvest hydrolyzed fish fertilizer after setting them out.
brassica bed
These plants were about the same size as the kohlrabi, with two to three true leaves and a well-developed but not rootbound root system. I will come back and mulch these in a few days.
brassica seedling
I hope you have enjoyed this update on my planting activities. For more detailed timing information please see my Seed Starting and Planting Schedule.