How to grow cabbages - planting them out

How to plant brassicas

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Sunday, 24 March 2019 at 3:00 pm

Find out how to plant-out brassicas including sprouting broccoli and cauliflower, in our How-to guide.

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Brassicas form the mainstay of the vegetable plot all year round in the form of summer and winter cabbage, cauliflower, sprouting broccoli, calabrese and Brussels sprouts. Whether you've raised your own brassicas from seed or opted for ready-grown seedlings, spring and early summer is the time to plant them out.

You Will Need

Young brassica plants
Soft string or twine
Hand fork or trowel
Seed trays or modules

Total time: 20 minutes

Step 1

How to plant brassicas - planting them in the soil

Harden off greenhouse-raised plants by standing them in a sheltered spot outdoors for a week before planting. Before putting into the ground, make sure the compost around the seedling is moist by standing pots in trays of water for an hour. This will help roots establish quickly.

Step 2

How to plant brassicas - creating a ridge

Use a length of bamboo to keep rows straight when planting. Take out a hole large enough to accommodate the roots of the young plants, using a trowel. Depending on variety, aim to plant at 30cm - 45cm spacings.

Step 3

How to plant brassicas - planting the brassicas

Knock the plant from its pot and set in the planting hole so that the top of the rootball is level with the surrounding soil. Use the trowel to fill in around the roots with soil. Firm around roots with your fingers and water well.

Step 4

How to plant brassicas - watering the plant

Label the plant or row, then remove line. Water well while plants establish, and cover with fleece or fine netting to keep off cabbage white butterflies and birds.

Step 5

How to plant brassicas - using eggshells to ward off slugs and snails

If slugs and snails are a problem, place a thick layer of eggshells around each plant to protect it until it becomes established.

All brassicas like rich, hearty soil, so manure the ground well the autumn before planting.

Boots. Photo: Getty Images.

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