Cabbage, Collards

[hdan]

I'm seeing online shouldn't grow cabbage, collards together. Is this true? It is same plant family. Or is it ok long as planted on opposite ends of raised apart with another crop in between?

Also, did I post correctly this time?

 

[digitS']

I don't fully understand the serious need to separate the two. Let's say that counting both, the gardener has 20 plants. Might there be less risk of pests if 10 are separated by 30 feet from the other 10? I suppose so. Soil nutrient depletion? Yeah, if they are otherwise crowded and it would probably be better to have different species of plants alternating in a bed or in near rows.

That being said, what about the suppression of pests and applying fertilizers in a somewhat cabbage/collard specific way? The gardener's time and efficiency may be enhanced with having the plants in close proximity.

Twenty plants are not like 20 acres of monoculture cropping. In that scenario, it may be that a single issue quickly becomes a 20 acre problem. Presumably, most gardeners will have some measure of diversity within their 1000 square foot garden. This diversity, in and of itself and perhaps of a casual nature, will lessen the crops as targets for pests. It will also allow for better use of nutrients available to the plants if not in a single season but over the seasons of gardening.

Steve

 

[hdan]

I'm not most gardener's.
I'm learning.

 

[flowerbug]

what i learned so far is that the cabbage moths will be involved unless you manage the plants somehow to avoid them. and that some critters will eat your plants before you get any growth or harvest. and that there are certain aphid species which you won't know about until you plant them and ...

i really like anything close to cabbage family but almost all of them i plant here don't do so well. turnips are so far the only ones that i've managed to plant that some i could actually get to grow and provide results along with some chance of also getting flowers too and more seeds. that's the fun part for me. to see the flowers and the whole cycle have some chance of repeating.

 

[digitS']

The pests that I have the most trouble with in the brassicas – including cabbage & collards – are the aphids.

Continuous checking is required. The more open plants allow some tolerance. The cabbage allow zero tolerance. As soon as I see any aphids, I need to spray with either insecticidal soap or neem oil. I prefer soap but will use the neem if I think that the bugs need a one-two punch.

Despite the cabbage butterflies being around so much, seldom do the caterpillars cause much trouble. It may be because the soap or neem takes them out early. However, if I am not vigilant with aphid patrol, the cabbage can begin to roll the leaves with the aphids protected inside. The cabbage can become so damaged as to be useless.

Aphids will also stunt broccoli, collards and other brassicas. Peppers and eggplants will also be aphid damaged, literally any garden plant — probably from different species of the pests. That seems to mean that some years, they are less trouble in some plants and, honestly, I think that the House Sparrows and hornets are my very helpful partners at taking the bugs out.

Steve

 

[hdan]

I did read that moths and aphids could be a problem with cabbage & collards. I was thinking about putting a row cover over them but not sure if that would stop them. But maybe slow them down anyway.

This is my first time planting cabbage, collards. Could be my last time also.
New experience I guess.
I've been planting lettuce and seen aphids. I don't plant a lot of lettuce, so manage to keep it under controll.

 

[hdan]

This is what I've started so far.

 

[heirloomgal]

I'm seeing online shouldn't grow cabbage, collards together. Is this true? It is same plant family. Or is it ok long as planted on opposite ends of raised apart with another crop in between?

Also, did I post correctly this time?

I think the best way to evaluate claims like this @hdan is to try it yourself. There is so much online information about gardening, much of it contradictory too. It's easy to get lost in the tsunami of information. Some cautions don't really apply to backyard gardening, so don't let it intimidate you. I've never rotated crops myself or separated cruciferous veg. When I first started gardening I was starting at -0, and had no experience, so I used to stress quite a bit about things and then someone said to me, 'Relax. They're plants. They want to grow.' And I have honestly found that to be good advice. You are working with a good partner with plants, because they want the same success you do.

 

[Gardening with Rabbits]

I had a huge aphid problem with kale and realized that they loved the Red Russian kale. For a couple of years I grew the Russian kale on the last row and used them like bait and really it worked. I started some Red Russian for this year. I would like to eat it, but I will plant it on the end again. I have more trouble with slugs and cabbage than anything else. I really have not seen anything bother the collards.