Swede-sowing

Now is a good time to sow Swedes or, as they are known in Ireland, turnips. I'm sowing Marian this year and I'm starting them off in modules.

I did mine a few weeks ago. Slugs got at them! The plants were still in their trays and are large enough to recover me hopes, but I will set some more seeds just incase. Planting them in trays and planting them out when they are quite large is the only way to deel with the Flee beetle I have found.

Flea beetle is indeed a menace with swedes. Like you say, starting them off inside is a great help, and keeping them well-watered after planting out helps too. The flea beetle loves dry ground.

Thank you for the tip Sean, I never seem to have any luck with them but maybe I sow them to soon. Will try another sowing soon.

Deryn, try sowing them in modules and planting them out when they're a couple of inches high.