Reply To: Perennial kale – protection needed?

[shelly]

Thank you Charles,

I usually have to net all my brassicas to protect them from cabbage whites so I will probably include the perennial kale too – unless you think it has some natural resilience? I have already seen lots of white butterflies in my garden over the last couple of weeks – maybe the warm spell has made them hatch early here?

Anyway, two further questions for you if I may –

1) Around the end of March I planted some seed potatoes about 10cms deep into a layer of cow manure and topped this with a 20 cm layer of straw. I have never grown potatoes this way before and am wondering how long it should take to see any growth? (No visible foliage yet)

2) We recently planted asparagus crowns and following the instructions given by the seller we covered them with about 15 cms soil. Since doing this, I have read that you are supposed to cover the crowns with soil gradually as the spears grow. I am worried the spears might not be able to push up through the 15 cm of soil I buried them under..Should I remove some of the soil or will the crowns be okay buried under this depth?

Sorry to ask so many questions! I very much appreciate any advice you could give.

Kindest regards, Shelly.