2/28/21

A Note About Our Class Tonight

We Master Gardeners are all volunteers, and while we have acquired basic Zoom skills, sometimes unforeseen technical issues arise.

Class 7: Growing Brassicas Please bear with us, be patient and Sue Kraemer understanding if any technical glitches Master Gardener pop-up during tonight’s presentation.

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Another note The information contained in Growing Groceries presentations is based on WSU home gardening publications and other science and research based materials. Resource lists are provided on the King County Growing Groceries website and at the end of some presentations. To enliven the learning experience, speakers may use examples from their own garden experience and draw from their personal gardening successes and failures.

Photo Credit: Sue Kraemer 3 4

1 2/28/21

The Mustard Family (/Cruciferae) Brassicaceae Includes Many

Photo Credit: Sue Kraemer • Arugula ( vesicaria and • Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) tenuifolia) • Kale () • Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) • Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea) • Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea) • Mustard greens (Brassica juncea) • (Brassica oleracea) • Pac Choi (Brassica rapa) • Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) • Radish (Raphanus sativus) • Collards (Brassica oleracea) • Rutabaga (Brassica napus) • Sea kale () • Turnip (Brassica rapa)

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Growing Brassicaceae Leafy Greens Arugula, Collard greens, Kale, and Mustard greens

Graphic Credits: vox.com

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2 2/28/21

Kale and Collards Kale and Collards (Brassica oleracea and Brassica napus) (Brassica oleracea and Brassica napus) Soil Temp Days to Thin Row Fertilizer Champion Winterbor Seed Depth • Collard Greens for Germ. Emergence To Spacing Life Needs ○Champion ○Flash 55-75°F 1/4" 5-17 12-24" 18-36" 3 years Medium • Kale from Territorial ○Winterbor • Start indoors February to May for April ○Redbor to mid-July transplanting ○Red Russian • Direct seed March to mid-July for ○Dwarf Green Curled summer to winter harvest (row cover ○Dwarf Scotch Curly recommended) ○Lacinato • Direct seed or transplant in August for ○Scarlet winter harvest Photo Credit: Sue Kraemer Red Russian Lacinato (B. napus)

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Kale and Collards Kale and Collards

Photo Credit: sunset.com • One of the most cost-effective vegetables! • Harvest leaves from the bottom up at any size • Cool weather and frost bring out best flavor • Stores well in refrigerator • Nutritional value: low ; high in K, A, and C

Photo Credits: Sue Kraemer Biennial: lateral buds in spring

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3 2/28/21

Kale and Collards Mustard Greens (Brassica juncea) (Brassica oleracea and Brassica napus) Soil Temp Seed Days to Thin Row Seed Fertilizer for Germ. Depth Emergence Plants To Spacing Life Needs

• Edible the 40-75°F 1/4" 2-15 6-18" 9-18" 3 years Medium next spring! • Direct seed early spring or late summer • Very easy to grow! • Early pollen for • Avoid heat to prevent bolting bees • Harvest young leaves or full heads

Green Wave Mustard Mix Tatsoi Photo Credits: Sue Kraemer

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Pac Choi (Brassica rapa) Arugula Soil Temp Seed Days to Thin Row Seed Fertilizer for Germ. Depth Emergence Plants To Spacing Life Needs Roquette (Eruca vesicaria) 45-75°F 1/4" 2-15 12-18" 18-36" 3 years Medium • Direct seed early spring or fall • Best in spring and fall • Best directly sown • Direct sow after danger of frost • Most tolerate moderate • Start indoors 4 weeks before frosts transplanting in spring or fall • Harvest frequently and Wild () • Avoid heat to prevent bolting Joi Choi when young • Harvest as soon as mature to avoid • Flowers are edible! bolting

Photo Credits: commons wikimedia Bopak

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4 2/28/21

Perennial Kale Favorite Recipes

• Seakale (Crambe Maritima) Kale pasta Arugula salad ○ Buy transplants in spring ○ Grown by Thomas Jefferson ○ Hardy to -5°F Photo Credits: https://www.monticelloshop.org/

• Kosmic (Brassica Oleracea) ○ Transplant root cuttings Photo Credits: cookpad.com Photo Credits: foodnetwork.com in spring Kale, bacon, and sun-dried Arugula, olive oil, lemon juice, ○ Does not tomatoes and Parmesan cheese ○ Hardy to 10°F

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Broccoli (Brassica oleracea)

• Broccoli Growing Brassicaceae ○Umpqua ○Thompson for Buds and Flowering ○Waltham Heads ○Green Magic Umpqua ○Emerald Jewel Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, and Cauliflower • Brokali or sprouting broccoli ○Atlantis ○Apollo

Apollo

Photo Credit: UBC Botanical Garden

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5 2/28/21

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) Broccoli (Brassica oleracea)

Soil Temp Seed Days to Thin Row Seed Fertilizer for Germ. Depth Emergence Plants To Spacing Life Needs

55-75°F 1/4" 5-17 12-24" 18-36" 3 years High

• Direct seed April through June (row cover recommended) • Start indoors 4 – 6 weeks before transplant in April through June • Start autumn overwintering varieties May-July for transplanting June-August • Harvest when heads are tight and dense • Start overwintering sprouting broccoli from mid-May to • Cut side shoots to promote production June, transplant by end of July-September • Stores well in refrigerator

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Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

Soil Temp Seed Days to Thin Row Seed Fertilizer for Germ. Depth Emergence Plants To Spacing Life Needs • Early types grow fast, so 55-75°F 1/4" 5-17 18-24" 2-4’ 3 years Medium harvest promptly • Include 2 or 3 wrapper leaves • Direct seed March – June (not recommended for fall when cutting heads planting) • Early types store for 1-2 • Start indoors 4 – 6 weeks before transplant in March months at 36⁰F through June • Later types up to 6 months at 36⁰F

Charmant Ruby Ball Photo Credit: frugalupstate.com

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6 2/28/21

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea)

Soil Temp Seed Days to Thin Row Seed Fertilizer for Germ. Depth Emergence Plants To Spacing Life Needs

55-75°F 1/4" 5-17 12-24" 18-36” 3 years High

• Direct seed April – June (not recommended for fall planting) • Start indoors 4 – 6 weeks before transplant • Blanching: to ensure completely white heads, tie the inner • Harvest heads when florets are tight and dense leaves around the head when it starts to form • Overmature florets will separate • Stores well refrigerated

Snow Crown Graffiti

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(Brassica oleracea) Brussels Sprouts Brussels Sprouts (Brassica oleracea)

Soil Temp Seed Days to Thin Plants Row Seed Fertilizer for Germ. Depth Emergence To Spacing Life Needs 3-4 • Best after couple of frosts 55-75°F 1/4" 5-17 24" 18-36” High years • Mature buds will be about 1 • Direct seed: not recommended to 1 ½ inches • Start indoors 4 – 6 weeks before transplant • Harvest from the bottom up • Start May-June for transplanting June-August for fall crop • Or, mature entire stock by • Timing is important: follow variety specific instructions cutting off top at growing point • Store refrigerated

Rubine Hestia

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7 2/28/21

Turnips (Brassica rapa) and Rutabagas (Brassica napus)

Soil Temp Seed Days to Thin Plants Row Seed Fertilizer for Germ. Depth Emergence To Spacing Life Needs

Growing Brassicaceae 55-75°F 1/4-1/2" 5-17 6-8" 12-16” 3 years Low Root Crops • Direct seed spring through summer • Sow turnips July-early Sept for fall/winter crop Radishes, Rutabagas, and • Sow rutabagas in July for fall/winter crop Turnips • Thin when form two true leaves • Harvest when small for sweetness • Pick young turnip greens • Store refrigerated Purple top Joan turnip rutabaga

Photo Credits: UBCDIYnetwork Botanical Garden Photo Credits: Sue Kraemer

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Radish (Raphanus sativus) Radishes Soil Temp Seed Days to Thin Row Seed Fertilizer for Germ. Depth Emergence Plants To Spacing Life Needs • Let flower and reseed over winter 55-75°F 1/2" 4-11 1-2" 8-12” 4 years Low • Flowers are edible • Direct seed spring to early summer • Direct sow mid-August to early September for fall crop • Extend harvest by planting every two weeks • Thin promptly when form two true leaves • Avoid dry or crowded conditions (slow growth, pithy, hot) • Harvest young • Let a few bolt: green seed pods are edible • Remove tops before refrigerating

Cherry Belle Daikon

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8 2/28/21

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)

Brassicaceae Pests and Diseases

• Perennial for years of harvest • Fertilize top 3-4 inches of soil and dig shallow trench • Space 1 to 2 feet apart and cover with 2 inches soil • Will grow fast and spread • Harvest in fall and winter after leaves have died back

Photo Credit: Heidi McKibbin Photo Credits: Heidi McKibbin

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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Clubroot

• Identity pests • Prevent problems before they start • Affected Crops: all members • Monitor with careful observation of the family • Control with mechanical and biological practices first (not eradicate) • Prevention and Control ○ Rotate crops ○ Check pH: above 6.8 Photo Credit: agric.wa.gov.au ○ Provide adequate and ○ Provide drainage Photo Credit: Wikipedia ○ Remove weeds Braconid wasp Aleiodes indiscretus laying eggs in a caterpillar

Photo Credit: Sue Kraemer

Photo Credit: /articles.extension.org

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9 2/28/21

Downy Mildew Aphids

• Affected Crops: broccoli, • Affected Crops: all members Brussels sprouts, cabbage, of the family cauliflower, and kale • Prevention and Control • Prevention and Control ○Remove debris ○ Rotate crops Photo Credit: wsu.edu ○Avoid high levels of nitrogen ○ Avoid overhead watering ○Encourage natural enemies ○ Give plants plenty of space ○Spray off with water hose ○ Remove diseased plants ○Control honeydew collecting and plant parts (don’t place ants in home compost!) Photo Credit: territorial seeds Photo Credits: Sue Kraemer

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Cabbage Maggot Flea

• Affected Crops: Brussels • Affected Crops: all family sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, members broccoli, mustards, radish, and turnip • Prevention and Control ○ Reduce weeds • Prevention and Control ○ Row covers ○ Rotate crops ○ Reduce weeds ○ Row covers

Photo Credits: wsu.edu

Photo Credits: wsu.edu and territorial seeds

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10 2/28/21

Cabbage Worm Pests and Diseases Mystery four-legged creature! • Affected Crops: all family members

• Prevention and Control ○ Use row covers ○ Remove debris ○ Attract beneficial insects

Photo Credit: Sue Kraemer Photo Credit: Sue Kraemer

Physical barrier: “blackberry defense”

Photo Credits: territorial seed garden planner

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Make Sure You Know

• Species name • How your plants pollinate • Market maturity vs seed maturity Growing • If your plants are hybrids Brassicaceae Saving Seeds Notes

https://www.seedsavers.org/savingPhoto Credit: Wikipedia -seeds-for-beginners

Photo Credits: UBC Botanical Garden

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11 2/28/21

Varieties of the Same Species Can Cross Brassicaceae Includes Many Vegetables Pollinate

• Arugula (Eruca vesicaria and Diplotaxis tenuifolia) • Kale (Brassica oleracea) • Broccoli (Brassica oleracea) • Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea) • Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea) • Mustard greens (Brassica juncea) • Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) • Pac Choi (Brassica rapa) • Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) • Radish (Raphanus sativus) • Collards (Brassica oleracea) • Rutabaga (Brassica napus) • Turnip (Brassica rapa)

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Most Brassicas Are Ready to Eat Before Most Brassicas Are Pollinated by Insects Seeds Form

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12 2/28/21

Seed Saving Guide Chart Hybrid Parent Plants

• Let flower and reseed over winter • Hybrids will give you surprises!

Photo Credit: Sue Kraemer

https://www.seedsavers.org/seed-saving-chart Photo Credits: Sue Kraemer

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Books on Seed Saving Awesome Work Going On!

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Resources My Kale and Chard Survived! • Home Gardening in Washington, #EM057E • Radish Fact Sheet #FS127E • HortSense: http://hortsense.cahnrs.wsu.edu/ Search/MainMenuWithFactSheet .aspx?CategoryId=5&PlantDefId= 44 • Territorial Seeds: www.territorialseed.com • Seed Savers Exchange: www.seedsavers.org Photo Credit: Sue Kraemer

Photo Credits: Sue Kraemer

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Questions King County Master Gardener Program https://extension.wsu.edu/king/gardening/

Master Gardener Foundation of King County http://www.mgfkc.org/ Demonstration Gardens Plant Clinics Education Outreach Science-based Publications

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http://www.mgfkc.org/resources/growinggroceries

Gardener Education Supported by

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