The brassica bunch

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I believe, because of the flooding in Queensland, that market gardeners will have very little winter crops available.
It is probably wise to prepare vegetable beds to plant out vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
Dig in poultry manure and an all-purpose plant food ready for planting when seedlings become available.
Broccoli can be planted up until the end of April and to produce tender heads, apply a side dressing of fertiliser every five or six weeks.
Cauliflower is related to broccoli, but takes longer to grow (14 to 24 weeks).
Cabbage is easier to grow than broccoli and cauliflower but it also likes fat growth – nitrogen being the activator.
During growth, either apply mulchings of poultry manure or side dressings of sulphate of ammonia.
If planting cabbage on the coast, occasionally add sulphate of potash while cabbages are maturing
The aforementioned are in the brassica family, which white butterflies love, of course the eggs they lay produce leaf-eating grubs.
This can be controlled by applying a vegetable dust and, if necessary, spray with Carbaryl, taking time to read the instructions on the spray carefully.
There are many other vegetables that be grown now for winter soups and stews, including English spinach, silverbeet, carrots, broad beans, peas, leeks and parsnips.

This week

  • Mangoes are ripening on trees, providing a great meal for bats – they can be picked while green and will ripen on a sunny windowsill.
  • Next Sunday 17 March Sunday is St Patrick’s Day; traditionally when sweet peas are planted.
  • During summer, not only did the army grub do untold damage to lawns, but now black beetles are invading. The same products can be used for both pests. Fertilise as soon as possible to encourage new growth before winter and continue watering Seasol down to the damaged root system to encourage recovery.

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