How To Grow Brussel Sprouts
2011-02-20 at 12:25 pm pshipley
How To Grow Brussel Sprouts
Welcome to our guide on How To Grow Brussel Sprouts (Brussels). Growing brussels is fairly straight forward. Brussel sprouts are biennials grown as annuals, and are roughly divided into groups according to when they mature. These groups are early, mid-season, and lates. The F1 cultivars perform best and produce higher yields and more compact crops. Brussels are very hardy and can survive temperatures as low as -10C. Heights vary from dwarfs (35cm) to tall forms (75cm). Brussels are good plants for use in inter-cropping as they are slow growing.
Soil For growing Brussel Sprouts (Brussels)
Soil should have a high nitrogen content, and contain manure from the previous season.
Sowing and Growing Brussel Sprouts (Brussels)
Sowing brussel sprouts should take place from mid to late spring, in trays, a seedbed, or in position on firm, moist, ground. They can be thinned or transplanted in early Summer (about 35 days after sowing). If plants are placed closer together the sprouts will be more uniform and smaller in size.
Larger planting spaces produce larger sprouts. These sprouts tend to mature in succession on the plant and therefore can be harvested over a longer period of time.
Plants should be kept moist and taller varieties should be planted deeply. Stems should be earthed up as they grow for further support and any discoloured or weak leaves must be removed to prevent the spread of disease. A top dressing of organic liquid feed or nitrogenous fertiliser can be applied in late summer if the plants need a boost. Keep weeds at bay.
Keep an eye out for:-
Cabbage Root Fly – Roots with white maggots.
Club Root – Swollen rotting roots.
Downy Mildew – White patches on underside of young plants.
Gall Weevil- Round swellings on roots
Canker – Brown or purple patches on the stems.
Grey Mould – Soft sprouts with grey fur on the outside.
Ring Spot – Pale brown spots on the leaves.
Cabbage Aphids – Leaves distorted, discoloured with small grey insects.
Cabbage Moth / White Butterfly – Leaves discolored and skeleton like.
Flea Beetle – Round holes in leaves or leaf loss.
Harvesting and Storing Brussel Sprouts (Brussels)
Knowing how to grow brussel sprouts (brussels) and growing brussel sprouts is one thing but you also need to know how and when to harvest and store your brussels.
Brussel sprouts are matured and ready apx 20 weeks after they are sown. Start picking sprouts from the lower stem then work your way up as the brussels mature. When all sprouts are picked dig up and remove the rest of the plant.
Suggested Brussels Varieties
Early – `Braveheart` F1, `Peer Gynt` F1, `Oliver` F1, or `Diablo` F1.
Mid-Season - `Roger` F1, `Evesham Special`, or `Romulus`F1.
Late – `Cascade` F1, or `Wellington` F1.
Thank you for reading our simple How To Grow Brussel Sprouts (brussels) guide. Why not check out all our other vegetable growing guides and articles from the menu on the right side of the page. Good luck growing brussel sprouts (brussels)!