An experiment in Hugelkulture in containers

[Meadowlark]

Here's a quick status update on the brassicas. The table below shows the height and width of the brassicas in inches comparing the HK plant to the ground plant. For example, broc 1 Hügelkultur (HK) is 15 inches high and 10 inches high in ground.

Consistent, significant outperformance by the Hügelkultur plants thus far.

Brassica type	Height to fruit, in	Width, in
Broc 1 HK-ground	15 -- 10	31--21
Broc 2 HK-ground	14--10	32--16
Cabbage 1 HK--ground	12--8	25--14
Cabbage 2 HK--ground	12--8	23--15
Cauliflower HK--ground	10--7	25--11
Brussels 1 HK--ground	10--8	19--12
Brussels 2 HK--ground	10--9	19--14

Broccoli HK

Cabbage HK

Cauliflower HK

Brussels sprouts HK

 

[Meadowlark]

Most of the leafy veggies have finished their initial production cycle, The table below summarizes the results for those that have finished this initial round of production.

The data is presented in ounces and shows a consistently higher production in the HK containers vs the in-ground plants.

Type	HK Pro​	Gar Pro​	Ratio​
Malabar spinach 8-8	14.1​	2.8​	5.04​
collards 9-2	7.1​	4.9​	1.45​
Swiss Chard 8-20	4.8​	2.5​	1.92​
Turnips 8-21	0.6​	0.4​	1.50​
Bok Choy 8-20	45.3​	0​	#DIV/0!​
ButterCrunch lettuce 8-21	37.4​	15.2​	2.46​
Sylyestra lettuce 8-21	33.4​	13.3​	2.51​
Radish 8-22	13.5​	12.1​	1.12​
Green ice lettuce 8-22	35.2​	15.4​	2.29​
Little gem lettuce 8-22	31.9​	12.8​	2.49​
Romain lettuce 8-22	6.8​	3.2​	2.13​

 

[DirtMechanic]

Most of the leafy veggies have finished their initial production cycle, The table below summarizes the results for those that have finished this initial round of production.

The data is presented in ounces and shows a consistently higher production in the HK containers vs the in-ground plants.

Type	HK Pro​	Gar Pro​	Ratio​
Malabar spinach 8-8	14.1​	2.8​	5.04​
collards 9-2	7.1​	4.9​	1.45​
Swiss Chard 8-20	4.8​	2.5​	1.92​
Turnips 8-21	0.6​	0.4​	1.50​
Bok Choy 8-20	45.3​	0​	#DIV/0!​
ButterCrunch lettuce 8-21	37.4​	15.2​	2.46​
Sylyestra lettuce 8-21	33.4​	13.3​	2.51​
Radish 8-22	13.5​	12.1​	1.12​
Green ice lettuce 8-22	35.2​	15.4​	2.29​
Little gem lettuce 8-22	31.9​	12.8​	2.49​
Romain lettuce 8-22	6.8​	3.2​	2.13​

Man, that is an impressive difference!

 

[Meadowlark]

I can see problems with brassicas, in that decomposition tends to be an acidic process, whilst brassicas like neutral/alkaline soil, as they were originally shore plants. ...

As evidenced by the above photos and tabular data, the problems with brassicas you foresaw simply have not manifested themselves...yet.

I figure I'm about two weeks from harvesting cabbage and broc from the HK tubs...so the problems could still crop up. For now, they are the best I have ever raised or ever seen...including pictures of same from Alaska grown in almost 100% continuous sunlight in summer.

 

[Meadowlark]

Man, that is an impressive difference!

Yes, to me "stunning" is the word! Completely unexpected. Completely.

 

[Meadowlark]

First cabbage harvest from HK container. This one weighed in at 9 pounds and 8 ounces with the head 9 + inches across. There is one other head in the same container, about the same size that will be harvested soon also.

My in-ground comparison cabbage plants are significantly smaller and an estimated 2 weeks from harvest.

One HK tub producing almost twenty pounds of cabbage.... not bad, not bad at all.

Looks like Cauliflower may be the next to harvest.... its forming a beautiful white head now.

 

[Susan BBPM]

First cabbage harvest from HK container. This one weighed in at 9 pounds and 8 ounces with the head 9 + inches across. There is one other head in the same container, about the same size that will be harvested soon also.

View attachment 93413

View attachment 93414

My in-ground comparison cabbage plants are significantly smaller and an estimated 2 weeks from harvest.

One HK tub producing almost twenty pounds of cabbage.... not bad, not bad at all.

Looks like Cauliflower may be the next to harvest.... its forming a beautiful white head now.

Do you have to contend with slugs and cabbage whites in your area?

It's so difficult to grow them in the UK - from what I can tell even the best gardeners don't manage without netting - but even then it's so easy for something to get inside the nets. I love seeing them growing in gardens, but I'm not sure it's possible here - without jumping through hoops and ugly nets and cages everywhere.

I'm thinking of using containers next year. I have a heavy duty portable greenhouse - it's quite big. I'm thinking of putting it on my patio, covering it in net and putting all my brassica containers in there.

 

[Meadowlark]

Do you have to contend with slugs and cabbage whites in your area?

Prevention is quite effective for me.

• Rotation, never planting brassicas in the same location for multiple years.
• Heavy use of legume matter so called green manure turned into the soils green well prior to planting brassicas
• Removal and disposal of brassica plant matter immediately after harvest

I never have used netting and have never felt it was needed. I did purchase some netting once thinking I would keep birds off tomatoes, but decided it was far easier to plant an extra tomato plant or two and enjoy the birds.

 

[headfullofbees]

Do you have to contend with slugs and cabbage whites in your area?

It's so difficult to grow them in the UK - from what I can tell even the best gardeners don't manage without netting - but even then it's so easy for something to get inside the nets. I love seeing them growing in gardens, but I'm not sure it's possible here - without jumping through hoops and ugly nets and cages everywhere.

I'm thinking of using containers next year. I have a heavy duty portable greenhouse - it's quite big. I'm thinking of putting it on my patio, covering it in net and putting all my brassica containers in there.

Slugs don't like lime, so if you surround your brassica stems with lime, that'll help.

 

[Meadowlark]

A second head of cabbage from the same HK tub came in at 8 pounds 11 ounces for a total of 18 pounds and 3 ounces from the same tub.

The cauliflower headed at 7 pounds and 1 ounce.

 

[skinyea]

HK clearly works in tubs. I have never tried growing cabbage as it is so cheap in grocery stores. how does it taste compared to store bought?

 

[Meadowlark]

I refuse to eat store bought cabbage...tastes like cardboard. Garden grown is an entirely different matter, however.

We love it steamed, stir-fried, in soups and in casseroles. It's a whole different veggie from the garden.

 

[Meadowlark]

Summary Report for Fall 2022 Leafy Vegetables

Leafy Veggie	HK Pro​	Gar Pro​	Pro Ratio​
Malabar spinach 8-8	16.2​	4.1​	3.95​
collards 9-2	8.1​	5.7​	1.42​
Swiss Chard 8-20	4.8​	2.5​	1.92​
Turnips 8-21 tops	78​	54​	1.44​
Bok Choy 8-20	45.3​	22​	2.06​
ButterCrunch lettuce 8-21	37.4​	15.2​	2.46​
Sylyestra lettuce 8-21	33.4​	13.3​	2.51​
Little gem lettuce 8-22	31.9​	12.8​	2.49​
Romain lettuce 8-22	6.8​	3.2​	2.13​
Total	261.9​	132.8​	1.97​

Across 9 different leafy veggies, a total of app 395 ounces of produce, the Hügelkultur container grown veggies outproduced inground veggies by an average of 2 to 1.

Three other leafy veggies not included in the above table are still in progress.

 

[skinyea]

I refuse to eat store bought cabbage...tastes like cardboard. Garden grown is an entirely different matter, however.

We love it steamed, stir-fried, in soups and in casseroles. It's a whole different veggie from the garden.

will try it. thank you. will do my research but assuming colder weather?

 

[Meadowlark]

will try it. thank you. will do my research but assuming colder weather?

Yes.