what can help my turnips/beetroot/onions

ellejay

Hi

I've grown some turnips, beetroot and onions from seed, in little seed trays.
I planted them in the ground, about three weeks ago, but it looks like they're not thriving at all.
I've put glass over them and I water them every evening.

Is there anything I can feed them to bring them on?

Many Thanks,
Lj.

ellejay

anyone?!
anyone got experience of growing them?

deman

Chicken poo.

brian_t

Transplanting is not suitable for some crops especially root crops.

You might get other advice on the beetroot and onions but turnips should always be direct seeded into the plot where you intend to grow them to maturity.

ellejay

brian_t wrote: »

Transplanting is not suitable for some crops especially root crops.

You might get other advice on the beetroot and onions but turnips should always be direct seeded into the plot where you intend to grow them to maturity.

Thanks very much, I wasn't aware of that.

ellejay

deman wrote: »

Chicken poo.

how fresh or old should this be?
would i just lay it on top or kind of mix it in around without disturbing the plant?

Qwerty?

You can buy chicken manure pellets 10kg is about a €10. Personally I have found growth very poor this year.

Are they in a very exposed site?

deman

Qwerty? wrote: »

You can buy chicken manure pellets 10kg is about a €10. Personally I have found growth very poor this year.

Are they in a very exposed site?

Yeah... that's what I meant.

brian_t

Would a liquid feed with something like Tomato Fertiliser not give the crop a more immediate boost ?

Hal Emmerich

brian_t wrote: »

Transplanting is not suitable for some crops especially root crops.

You might get other advice on the beetroot and onions but turnips should always be direct seeded into the plot where you intend to grow them to maturity.

I have always brought on everything in trays and then sown out.
They grow fine but as Qwerty? said growth is poor this year.

brian_t wrote: »

Would a liquid feed with something like Tomato Fertiliser not give the crop a more immediate boost ?

If your gonna do that then all your missing is the pesticides for Supermarket quality Veg.

brian_t

Hal Emmerich wrote: »

If your gonna do that then all your missing is the pesticides for Supermarket quality Veg.

What's the difference between feeding the crop Chicken Manure pellets and feeding it Liquid Tomato food ?

The liqiud fertiliser I'm suggesting will be taken in by the plant quicker.

Qwerty?

I'd say Hal Emmerich is guessing you are not referring to an Organic Tomato Feed.

brian_t

Qwerty? wrote: »

I'd say Hal Emmerich is guessing you are not referring to an Organic Tomato Feed.

Probably but the Chicken manure pellets were not specified as been organic either.

As far as I know you can get organic and non-organic versions of both.

Hal states that "If your gonna do that then all your missing is the pesticides for Supermarket quality Veg."
The difference between Supermarket quality Veg and Home grown veg is the usage or non-usage of pesticides but all vegetables will get fertiliser.

I also stand by what I said about turnips - they are not recommended for transplanting but should be sown direct into their plot.

Qwerty?

True about Organic/Non Organic Pellets.

brian_t wrote: »

I also stand by what I said about turnips - they are not recommended for transplanting but should be sown direct into their plot.

I always plant turnips directly, for no reason other than convenience, but good to know that. I knew it about parsnips and carrots alright, learnt the hard way. Remember thinking I would have massive carrots and parsnips looking at the crown of them, and when I pulled them they were a stubby with loads of 'fingers'.

johndoe99

been growing them for well over a decade, and as "brian t" said: Transplanting is not suitable. He is spot on with regards to beetroot, turnips (and also carrots, parsnips, radishes). The seed must be planted directly into the ground and a polythene tunnel placed on top until they start to thrive.

Regarding feeding, don't use manure pellets on radishes, carrots and turnips as they will get to much nitrogen and will become stalky and jump to making seed. Tomato feed or Miracle Grow is fine (but dilute well).

ellejay

ok, thaks everyone, that's all valuable advice.
I think I'll try soem watered down organic tomato feed.

Next year though, I'll be ready and try sowing directly into ground.
-First time at this.

Thanks,
Lj.

brian_t

Teagasc the Farming advisory body publish a free Guide to vegetable growing which can be ordered or downloaded from their website.

http://www.teagasc.ie/publications/view_publication.aspx?PublicationID=889

redser7

Got it in the post last week. Well worth ordering a free hardcopy

Corsendonk

brian_t wrote: »

Transplanting is not suitable for some crops especially root crops.

You might get other advice on the beetroot and onions but turnips should always be direct seeded into the plot where you intend to grow them to maturity.

Misleading, the first new season swedes commercially in Ireland are grown in transplants, gives them an earlier crop by up to 4 weeks. The only issue is that they produce more side roots.

brian_t

Corsendonk wrote: »

Misleading, the first new season swedes commercially in Ireland are grown in transplants, gives them an earlier crop by up to 4 weeks. The only issue is that they produce more side roots.

My apologies. I thought I was posting in the "> Home & Garden > Gardening" forum.

Corsendonk

brian_t wrote: »

My apologies. I thought I was posting in the "> Home & Garden > Gardening" forum.

Same techniques can still be used on a smaller scale, its not rocket science. Module transplants work for any gardeners looking for an early crop of swedes.

brian_t

I leaving my last word on this topic to Gerry Daly.


If I re plant the swede thinnings will they mature and produce a normal vegetable ? Posted: 05/07/2011

It is not a good idea to transplant swede turnips as the root damage is usually too great and malformed roots develop.
It is is done very carefully, there might be some chance but generally not.

http://www.garden.ie/askgerry_answers.aspx?article=1046

Corsendonk

brian_t wrote: »

I leaving my last word on this topic to Gerry Daly.


If I re plant the swede thinnings will they mature and produce a normal vegetable ? Posted: 05/07/2011

It is not a good idea to transplant swede turnips as the root damage is usually too great and malformed roots develop.
It is is done very carefully, there might be some chance but generally not.

http://www.garden.ie/askgerry_answers.aspx?article=1046

Well I don't have a quote link but the guy that told me about transplanting swedes lectured on vegetable growing at Warrenstown Agriculture College for many years so I would listen to his indepth advice more rather than a multi-purpose gardener like the great Gerry Daly who would have a great broad gardening knowledge but not a specialist knowledge.

simonj

Qwerty? wrote: »

You can buy chicken manure pellets 10kg is about a €10. Personally I have found growth very poor this year.

Are they in a very exposed site?

Pisspoor growth this year.

Try seaweed meal in a liquid feed

I fiund no trouble with transplanted swede or turnip btw!