Use these techniques for the Brassica or Cruciferae family: cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, turnips, broccoli, collard greens, etc.
- Brassicas are cool loving, heavy feeders and like well fertilized, compacted, alkali soil. Use M3 in the Bountea to encourage faster growth.
- The roots of this family do not pick up mycorrhizae fungi so it is unnecessary to use Root Web in the Bountea (Root Web will not harm the plants).
- Germinate early starts indoors early in the season in commercial starting mix or 4 parts coconut coir to 2 parts to 1 part sand. Alternatively, seed directly outdoors in early Spring.
- Add Humisoil and SuperStart for Plants to the soil one week before seeding or transplanting.
- Apply Bountea Compost Tea with M3 to the seedlings when their first true leaves appear.
- Transplant when about 3″ – 4″ tall into well composted firm ground. Make a hole 1 1/4″ wide by 6″ deep with a dibber (dibbler). Place transplants deeply in the holes and water well using Bountea with M3 if available.
- Make sure the plants have lots of space around them as they will grow larger with the Bountea Growing System.
- Mulch around the plants with compost that has been activated. Onion skins and rotting onions are a particularly good feeding mulch.
- During the season, spray the leaves of the growing plants with Bountea and M3 diluted 10 to 1, every two to three weeks. This will help protect the leaves from disease and pests.
Seeds for giant cabbages can be obtained from many seed suppliers insluding Shumways.
