Clubroot.

[Tiercel]

When I took over my first plot about 12 years ago. The allotments had been going for years, I was advised by the other tenants that Clubroot was rife there, but there was a way round it. When you plant out your Brassicas add a squirt of washing up liquid to the hole. Does not need to be fairy or the dearer brands the cheap ones will do the job just the same.
I can honestly say that in the 8 years I had the plot I had very little clubroot and most of that was on Swedes I did try and put the washing up liquid in the scrape where i was sowing the seeds but it did not seem as effective as with the Brassicas.
Has anyone else heard of or tried this?

[Tiercel]

[valmarg]

No its not something I have heard about or tried.

It does rather seem to deserve a place in the "Who first decided/had the courage to try" book.  A bit like the 'Balderdash and Piffle' progammes on English words.  Where do certain food processing/pickling/cooking, etc recipes come from?  You have to think in some cases - it was a brave soul who tried that!!

The only thing I remember from some gardening progamme years ago, is that clubroot is endemic in peat.  If you want to avoid clubroot, you should sow your brassica seeds in a soil-based compost, thereby avoiding transfering it to your plot.

[cornykev]

Never heard that one Tiercel, I stick to the good old lime, a mixture of potting compost, lime and soil into the potting hole.  ;D ;D ;D

[veggie perin]

Hi Teircel,
Are you 100% sure that it won't kill the plants?
tell you why I ask, quite new to allotments and saw chap at plot putting borax in for clubroot,so thought I'd have a go,did not know quantities and tried teaspoonful with every plant >:( and it killed off row of cabbages and row of brussel sprouts, row with nothing in is thriving (at the moment)  :)
wonder if the borax would have the same effect on marestail?

[cornykev]

If it works on marestail veggie give us a shout, and love the name.  ;D ;D ;D

[Tiercel]

Hi Teircel,
Are you 100% sure that it won't kill the plants?
tell you why I ask, quite new to allotments and saw chap at plot putting borax in for clubroot,so thought I'd have a go,did not know quantities and tried teaspoonful with every plant >:( and it killed off row of cabbages and row of brussel sprouts, row with nothing in is thriving (at the moment)  :)
wonder if the borax would have the same effect on marestail?

Hi Veggi
I am 100% certain that it does not kill the plants.



These seem healthy enough. Apart from where the caterpillers have had them.

[Tiercel]

So much for boasting how good they look. Went to cut 2 today and they both had C R Fly. Ah well such is gardening :)