"british spring greens" - what are they?

BrandNewDay

All winter, we've been eating lots of yummy spring greens from the supermarket. I know they're similar/related to kale, and they are similar/related to collard greens (common in America).
We would like to plant some (I suspect it's something you plant in the fall) but we don't know how to find their seeds at the garden center or any of the catalogs.

Golden_Anemone

I believe that the tops of Brussel Sprouts plants are often sold as spring greens but spring cabbage seeds are avalable from seed merchants. See here for example. Cut early before hearts form for greens.

Pazu

Hey, I can help someone! Spring greens are traditionally the new growth or tops of any brassica that have been harvested but the stumps have been left in the ground to shoot a bit more. Almost a crop for nothing. However I suspect that the stuff we buy in the supermarket are some type of spring cabbage.

BrandNewDay

Pazu wrote: »

Hey, I can help someone! Spring greens are traditionally the new growth or tops of any brassica that have been harvested but the stumps have been left in the ground to shoot a bit more. Almost a crop for nothing. However I suspect that the stuff we buy in the supermarket are some type of spring cabbage.

That's what I want! I want those greens! How do I go about growing my own?

Pazu

Hi BrandNewDay
The greens you grow in the garden will not be as big as the supermarket ones but they will be really tender. You will need a piece of ground where they can stay for a long time! Look through the seed catalogues for a variety of spring cabbage that is suitable for spring greens.Don't feed the soil.Sow seeds in late July/ early August 12mm deep, at 5cm intervals. Rows should be 30cm apart. When the seedlings are about 5cm high thin to 30cm apart. Early spring greens can be harvested in mid March, full hearts in mid April and if you cut a cross in the top of the remaining stump you will have late spring greens in a few weeks time.
Pazu:beer:

ninz39

very importent to cover brassicas with fine netting otherwise they will be eaten first by the caterpillers (cabbage white butterflys lay there eggs on them) and if they survive that onslaught the pigeons will finish the job off. No pigeons in your area just plant greens and watch them appear as if by magic.

kemmyjoe

Ninz, that's exactly what's happened to me. Everyday last summer I was shaking little white things off, and then noticed all the tops eaten late last year and never realised it was pigeons until I saw a couple standing on the tops. We put up some CD scarecrow lines about a month ago but is it too late for them to grow back. We want to clear the ground for something else but don't know if we should wait for them to make a comeback or give up with them. They are eaten to shreds (supposed to be purple sprouting but not seen anything yet).

Lotus-eater

Kemmyjoe, don't worry, my PSB isn't ready yet either, I think everyone's in the same situation, it's been very cold.