12 May - Tomatoes & Brassicas

It's the second week of May and the temperatures have cooled a little due to heavy rain showers and a very strong wind. However, the forecast is for improving weather by mid-week so I'm hanging on until then before putting out the brassicas and runner beans. I've already prepared the ground and frames for both so it will just be a matter of planting them out. So, by the end of this week hopefully I'll be setting out Primo II summer cabbage, Ruby Ball F1 red cabbage, Trafalgar F1 Brussels Sprouts, Scarlet Emperor runner beans and a few rows of Lollo Rossa lettuce. (Pictured, the plants hardening off ready to be planted out).

If you are going to grow cabbages and other brassicas you need to protect them with nets - both pigeons and cabbage white butterflies will utterly ruin the crop otherwise. My brassica frame is merely two strong 'goal posts' buried into the ground with net stapled between the posts. Over the top I hang black pond netting which is much stronger than the green pea netting; the edges are weighted down with stones. You can use enviromesh or even fleece tunnels; just ensure you protect them. My system is easy enough to use as I can just remove the stones from one side and flip up the net so I can work underneath - if you are growing Brussels Sprouts for the first time be aware that they can grow to three foot, that's why my posts are fairly high.

The tomatoes in the greenhouse have required some attention this week too. As I have vine or ‘indeterminate’ varieties of tomatoes, I need to start pinching out the side shoots that grow between a main leaf and stem. This will ensure that the tomato plant will develop truss after truss of flowers and fruit as it grows on a single cordon tied on to a cane. If you have a bush or ‘determinate’ variety then side shoots should be left in place. (Pictured, the 45 degree shoots between a main leaf and stem which need to be removed from the cordon varieties of tomatoes). 

That's it, I'll be posting more at the end of the week when the promised fine weather arrives. Bye for now.