When to sow and plant brassicas for an early and abundant harvest

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[@spritzpistol]

Yep, Steve is spot on, spout tops are the best of the brassicas in our eyes. It’s win, win, leaves, and sprouts! Thanks Steve. No matter how much I think I know, you always come up with something new! Also, folks, take a look at Steve’s ebook, it’s brilliant, one of my “go to’s” for my allotment. Cheers Steve for your kindness in sharing your immense knowledge. 🎉

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks for that lovely and timely feedback! The ebook has been a fun project for those wet and windy winter days, only just getting started though, just laying the groundwork, it's a long project! : All the best - Steve

[@lindagoss5919]

What do you do with sprout leaves? Eat in salads or stir fry or?

[@SteveRichards]

Pretty much any way you'd use cabbage Linda. I love them steamed myself, but lots of people chop into stir-fry and salads : All the best - Steve

[@christinegardiner1059]

I just wanted to add a thanks for all your hard work in not just the gardening side of things but also the whole teaching us all who watch yourself , it’s tough to decide in our tiny garden what actually goes into it , but watching your clips helps , thanks for sharing your knowledge 🌺🌸🌺

[@SteveRichards]

believe it or not I have the same challenges, deciding what to plant, in my case it's more balancing how much space I dedicate to winter plants vs summer plants : All the best - Steve

[@r.perkins2103]

Thank you for giving your time and valuable experience. Can you do a bit on planning ahead on how to clear a bed then immediately fill it with starts to get the best from your space, and when and how to feed properly. Two things I struggle with. Thanks.

[@SteveRichards]

So much on this already. A good place to start is the chapter of my ebook on planning: steverichards.notion.site/The-basics-fabeb9d9ba5d4227a63226824a29ac82 then the chapter on advanced gardening techniques: steverichards.notion.site/Advanced-growing-techniques-e7f2f64582a446a198e96d4165f5828a finally each veggie has its own growing guide and every guide has a section on this topic specific to that specific veg: steverichards.notion.site/Individual-growing-guides-bc279089de074c0ab0bfedc4f41d54dd all of these links include videos : all the best - Steve

[@fionamcwilliams6922]

Sprout tops are the best. Peased that I have managed to overwinter a good selection of brassicas in the greenhouse they will be planted out in the next week. Looking forward to see how they get on thanks Steve as always Regards Fiona

[@SteveRichards]

What types do you have Fiona?

[@fionamcwilliams6922]

So I have 3 varieties of collards ... vates flash and Morris heading.plus curly kale and Nero di toscana and 2 cabbage...greyhound and winter jewel. All my first try at overwintering so keen to see what's works

[@SteveRichards]

That's the joy of over-wintering, there's almost no documentation to rely on, it's all try and see. The key is often timing, sow too early and grow too big and they go to seed in early spring, grow too late and they don't thrive and you're better off starting in Jan/Feb. The collards are particularly interesting to me, as I've not tried those over-winter, so I'd love to hear how they go. The curly kale tends to do really well not going to seed until mid June, the nero tends to go to seed for me in late May : All the best - Steve

[@lynnpurfield9430]

Thank you so much Steve. I think I have worked out where I am going wrong. We built a lot of waist high beds in the polytunnel (and greenhouses actually). This was to plant all types of greens and salads into compost bags (turned on their backs) and have autumn and winter leaves. That works absoluetely like a dream. However, my fantasy was to take some of those little plants and put them outside in spring so we are ahead of the game but it's just not working because they start going to seed. No problem of waste because they can still be eaten and juiced and we have guinea pigs who are very grateful. So, what is going wrong? Well, I have a strip light on at night and also use my tumble drier in there most days. It does stay quite warm. I reckon I need to make a distinction between what little leaves we plan to eat in autumn and winter and what little plants we hope to plant out in spring and put those in a separate unheated place with natural light. I think I have a plan now. Brilliant! Thank you again. I won't be starting much brassica until.Autumn and hope to have a new set up by then. In the meantime, it will be micro greens in the bedroom and just asian greens, lettuces, herbs and salad stuff.

[@markshaw5835]

I managed to keep my over wintered cabbages alive although I did lose a few. The weather warmed up alot so 8ve planted mine out, after leaving them outside outside a week or so to get used to it. Your information is amazing and has helped me alot through my gardening journey

[@SteveRichards]

Thanks Mark

[@harrym2523]

Great videos, can you please do a video of snapshots of your weekly meals? Remember you did a nutrient analysis a while ago but keen to see what you make from the bounty!

[@SteveRichards]

Here’s a sample: Home grown winter meals | eat well in winter! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qorWaGSOfpKKm7M

[@lynnpurfield9430]

This is fabulous Steve, thank you. I need to watch a couple of times ♥️

[@SteveRichards]

You might find these guides useful, they are a little old now and I need to update them as I've improved a bit, but they are still worth a read/watch steverichards.notion.site/Year-round-growing-guides-f34b6af9f8e249049a338c0421f30373

[@SteveRichards]

This video was prompted by your earlier question Lynn

[@lynnpurfield9430]

@@SteveRichards I guessed so. The video is extraordinarily generous. Thank you so much. I am awake around 4am doing research and will definitely get my 'Seaside Steve' clipboard out to log some important brassica info. I am more a 'pen and paper' girl 😍

[@lynnpurfield9430]

@@SteveRichards ♥️

[@SteveRichards]

it helps that you garden at home, pen and paper is more difficult for me being out and about all the time

[@bethanskitchengarden]

I'm always amazed at how much you have growing Steve, I'm intrigued to grow Brussel sprouts for their leaves and bonus summer crop but I think it's too late to start the seeds now, hopefully I will remember to start them off this coming Autumn. Thanks for all the tips, ideas and advice 😊

[@SteveRichards]

You can certainly start now with the Brussels Bethan, you just plant closer together than normal and then remove the sprout top to bring on the sprouts a bit earlier. If you started now you'd be eating leaves in June and sprouts in August, just sow another batch in March/April for winter harvest : All the best - Steve

[@bethanskitchengarden]

@@SteveRichards Thank you Steve, this is so hopeful, I will get my sprout packet out and get sowing, thanks very much 🙂

[@bambispoon4305]

Hi Steve, I’ve been loving your videos-especially finding out your methods to get all year round produce. I’ve also been fascinated with your covered beds and would like to try and make some myself. I cant find any videos from you on this topic. Perhaps I’m mussing something! I would really love to see you talking in detail about the beds you’ve constructed. Thanks for all your videos and inspiration

[@SteveRichards]

If you look in the description of this video, you will find a link to my ebook, open up "The Basics" section and there you will find a chapter on building raised beds, coldframes and tunnels. It’s free to read and there are videos too : all the best - Steve

[@glassbackdiy3949]

Good show, cheers Steve. Long range weather models looking ominous 2-3 weeks could get a bit nippy!

[@SteveRichards]

They don't mind a frost, but regardless they should be fine under fleece and a poly low tunnel, unless it's really cold and doesn't get above freezing for days on end, which to my knowledge has never happened here in March. My forecast until 6th March is nothing worse than a light frost though, which they won't mind at all : All the best - Steve

[@Pixieworksstudio]

Hi Steve, this is so interesting. The ones you sow in March - when are you likely to be harvesting those?

[@SteveRichards]

It depends on the varieties, but june/july. If you look at my sowing guide for march you will see all of the harvest dates for each variety : all the best - Steve

[@Pixieworksstudio]

I see, I will do that thank you. There is a lot of info in there@@SteveRichards

[@SteveRichards]

Here’s the link steverichards.notion.site/March-2023-861971b42da74b22ada6ebd5634d78e1

[@micaheron]

I found last year my cauliflower and broccoli bolted in June because it was so hot so I’m trying sowing a bit earlier to see if I can beat the heat. But I probably should’ve watered them everyday during summer 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@SteveRichards]

I don't bother with cauliflower in summer, partly because as you say it's too hot, but also because it takes up so much space that's better used : All the best - Steve

[@captainshiznit]

Hi Steve. Do you have a video showing how you built your hinged hoop netting? Cheers.

[@SteveRichards]

If you look in the description, you will find a link to my ebook, open up The Basics section and there you will find a chapter on building raised beds, coldframes and tunnels. It’s free to read and there are videos too : all the best - Steve

[@captainshiznit]

@@SteveRichards lovely, thanks so much Steve

[@captainshiznit]

@@SteveRichards just wanted to say thanks again Steve. I've just finished putting hoop netting over one of my beds following your design and it's just ideal. Keep up the great work. John.