Failed Brassica Crop - Ask Extension
Hello,
This is our 6th year growing vegetables in our garden. We direct sowed collards and kale in early spring, and planted four cauliflower and o...
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Failed Brassica Crop #880912
Asked August 10, 2024, 10:08 AM EDT
Hello,
This is our 6th year growing vegetables in our garden. We direct sowed collards and kale in early spring, and planted four cauliflower and one broccoli seedlings that we purchased locally.
The kale and collards were direct sown in a spot where we grew pepper last year. While the cauliflower was planted in a spot where we had peas last year.
They were initally slow to grow. All of our brassica plants have experienced rotting stems, and the rotting
plants smell really bad. The cauliflower plants were about 20-30 away from the raised beds in which the collards, kale and broccoli were planted.
We are wondering what might be the cause of this and what we can do to remedy it. We've pulled all but one collard green plant and would like to know what we can/should grow in this spot. We would like to crop rotate and grow something in the same spot this year and would also like to know what we can grow here next spring.
Thanks for your help and advice!
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Natasha,
I suspect your brassicas had black rot. It can happen in very wet years and yes, the smell is appalling.
This page should be helpful:
https://extension.umn.edu/disease-management/organic-management-black-rot
You should be able to plant anything but brassicas in the same garden next year. Make sure you remove all plant debris when fall comes.
Good luck.