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Winter Tips: Kale, Cabbage & Broccoli

These tips  for helping your brassicas in winter were sent in by readers. We’ve not tried all the tips – so if you try a tip, let us know how you got on in the comments box below.

Winter CabbageWe’re always happy to get comments, tips and even full articles for the site from gardeners: just contact me or pop your tip in on the comments box below.

  • Cutting Winter Kale
  • Avoiding Frost Damage to Broccoli
  • Saving Winter Cabbage

Cutting Winter Kale

If you are cutting your winter Kale on a “cut and come again” basis, when you do cut the leaves its a good idea to cut at an angle, about 45 degrees would be great.

This helps to prevent rot and disease, plus it aids water run off. Keeping the cut and the plant fresher for the next cut.

With thanks to Henry for sending in this winter tip – Cutting Winter Kale

Avoiding Frost Damage to Broccoli

If you want to avoid losses caused by even a light frost, try this old method.

Locate north on your plot and dig a little soil away from the base of your broccoli plants on the north side.

Then go around to the south side and using a spade gently tilt the plant over, then build up a little soil and compact it so that the plant head lays over a little.

This will ensure a slow thaw out in the worst frosty days, thereby avoiding browning and spoiling the tops of your much cared for winter food.

With thanks to Henry for sending in this tip for avoiding frost damage to broccoli

Saving Winter Cabbage

If we get a mild slow start to winter, cabbages can start to put out too much leaf. This will affect the heart and size later in the season and they may not be fit to stand a very cold snap. So what to do?

Root Pruning! This will slow down growth to normal but not stop it totally.

Dig your shovel in about a foot out and a spade depth down forming a square around the plant. This chops off the thin roots that will eventually weaken the whole system when its strength is most needed.

Just push the spade right down do not wiggle it about then pull it out and tread the soil back down. Job done!

With thanks to Henry for sending in this winter tip – Saving Winter Cabbage

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