Brussels sprouts are cold, slow-growing plants that can survive frosts. This vegetable, often grown for harvest in late fall, takes 80 to 100 days from seed transfer to harvest with the best temperature for growing is between 7 and 23°C.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Sowing Seeds
Step 1. Sow the seeds in the nursery pot
Do this about 5 to 6 weeks before you want to transplant the seedlings into the garden. Plant the seeds 1 cm deep. You can place the nursery pots indoors near a window or outdoors in a protected area as long as the daytime temperature stays above 10 °C. Seedlings will germinate within 2 to 5 days.
Brussels sprouts need to start in April in order to be planted in May. Brussels sprouts can be directly sown until the last half of June so that they can be harvested continuously
Step 2. Prepare the garden 2 to 3 weeks before planting
Till the soil and mix in organic compost. Brussels sprouts do well in loose, organic soil that retains moisture. They grow well in full sun but can also grow in partially shaded areas.
Step 3. Check the pH level of your soil
Change the levels if necessary, using an appropriate fertilizer. Brussels sprouts prefer a pH between 6.0 to 6.5. The soil temperature should be between 21-26 °C for optimal growth.
Brussels sprouts are voracious plants and will also do well if you fertilize them with boron, calcium and magnesium, especially in the early stages of growth
Step 4. Transfer the seedlings to the garden
They are ready to be moved when they are 4 to 6 weeks old and about 15 cm tall.
- Remove the plant from the nursery pot. Soak the root ball in a common plant fertilizer mixed with water before you plant it in the garden. Follow the fertilizer manufacturer's guidelines to mix the levels of the fertilizer solution properly.
- Give the distance between plants about 61 to 76 cm. If the transplanted seedlings are thin or grow crooked, you can bury them in the soil up to the first leaf to grow, so the plant is not too heavy at the top.
Method 2 of 3: Caring for Plants
Step 1. Water the plant at the base after planting
Water them well throughout the growing season to keep the soil from drying out. Reduce the amount of water a few weeks before harvest; by allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
Be sure to water the plant in sufficient quantities during the growing season as these plants need water for growth and bud development. Although Brussels sprouts need a lot of water, they don't like standing water. However, lighter soils require more watering than heavier soils
Step 2. Fertilize Brussels sprouts with nitrogen fertilizer every few weeks
Stop fertilizing when you reduce watering at the end of the growing season.
In addition, removing the shoots of the plant about a month before harvest will yield greater yields as the plant will divert energy from leaf growth to Brussels sprouts growth
Step 3. Add organic compost on top of the soil around the plant regularly
This will feed the plants and prevent weeds from growing. Brussels sprouts have a very shallow root system, so don't disturb the surrounding soil.
Weed the area carefully with your hands if necessary. Aphids and cabbage worms are pests that usually attack cabbage. Keeping the soil PH at 6.5 or more will help prevent certain diseases such as club root
Method 3 of 3: Harvesting
Step 1. Harvest Brussels sprouts slowly, starting at the bottom of the plant
These cabbages are ripe from the ground up and have their sweetest taste when they are small and tightly covered.
To encourage top development of cabbage, prune off the shoot tips of Brussels sprouts in late summer. Brussels sprouts will have a sweeter taste after some light snow
Step 2. Take the cabbage when it is 2.5 to 4 cm in diameter
Pick it up with your fingers or use a small knife to cut the cabbage.
Cabbage forms in the leaf axils (the point where the leaves meet the stem) and can be harvested about 3 months after planting
Step 3. Harvest the whole stalk with whole cabbage instead of harvesting it slowly
Cut the stems a few inches below the bottom cabbage when the leaves on the plant begin to turn yellow.
Store cabbage in a dark and cool place. Like anything else, cabbage tastes best when it's fresh
Step 4. Done
Tips
You can store raw Brussels sprouts in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 weeks. If they have been boiled and frozen, they can last for 4 to 6 months. If you harvest the cabbage with the stem, you can leave it whole and store it in a cool place for a few weeks
Warning
- Brussels sprouts are susceptible to clubroot disease. Choose varieties that are resistant to disease, change your plant variety annually and remove plant debris from the garden regularly. If clubroot strikes, do not plant Brussels sprouts in diseased soil for at least 5 to 7 years.
- Keep an eye out for pests that commonly attack your plants. Brussels sprouts are usually attacked by cabbage root maggots, which feed on roots and stems. This plant also attracts leaf-eating insects such as cabbage worms, cabbage caterpillars and aphids. Remove these pests from your plants by hand or spray them with a natural insecticide.
