How to grow Brussels Sprouts?
- Latin Family: Brassicaceae
- Latin Genus: Brassica
- Ease of Growing: Moderate
- Growing Type: Annual
Brussels Sprouts produce edible axillary buds resembling small cabbages all along the stem. These are a crop you either love (some people adore them) or hate, though don't be too quick to judge until you have tried them fresh from your own garden and cooked up just right.
Brussels Sprouts History
As the name suggests, this crop likely originated in Belgium, or northern France, sometime in the 17th or 18th Century.
Soil Preference
- PH (min/max): 6.0 - 7.5
- PH Ideal (min/max): 6.5 - 7.0
Brussels Sprouts like a heavy, moisture retentive soil. It should be rich in organic matter and all nutrients for well balanced growth. They like lots of potassium and phosphorus, but don't need too much nitrogen as this can adversely affect the flavor of the sprouts.
How to care for Brussels Sprouts?
Brussels Sprouts don't do well in hot weather. They require cool soil, cool weather and short days for best growth, and are not recommended as a spring crop because the sprouts would have to mature in hot weather, which would seriously impair their flavor and quality.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist at all times.
Fertilizer
Like most of the Brassicas, Brussels Sprouts are heavy feeders. They like lots of potassium and phosphorus but do not need too much nitrogen, as this can adversely affect the flavor of the sprouts. Early varieties require a higher soil fertility than mid- or late-season varieties.
Seeds
Seed Viability: 8-Mar
Germination Percentage: 75.0
Brussels Sprouts are usually self-incompatible and must be cross-pollinated by insects. This means there must be a number of plants flowering at the same time. All of the Cole crops are the same species and will cross with each other. To maintain purity you have to ensure that only one type flowers at once. The alternative is to isolate them, either by distance (1000 yards for different varieties, 1500 yards for different crops), or by caging them (don't forget they need insects for pollination). Save the seed from at least 5 plants to maintain some genetic diversity.
Seed is produced in long pods and should be gathered when the older bottom pods first start to split open. Watch them carefully as they shatter easily when they are fully ripe. Cut the seedpod bearing stems and dry them in a warm place (I put small quantities in a paper grocery bag so I don't lose any seeds). The large seeds are easily handled and cleaned. Of course it is essential that they are thoroughly dry before storage.
Light
Sun: min. 6 hours daily
Needs full sun for best growth.
Conditions:Cool
Season:Long Season
Storage
For longer term storage they are usually frozen.
Storage Req: Freezer
Storage Temp: 32°F
Storage Length: days
Brussels sprouts will store for a few weeks in a plastic bag in a refrigerator (don’t wash them). For longer term storage they are usually frozen.
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-21 days
Problems
Boron deficiency
All plants of the Cabbage family are susceptible to boron deficiency, which manifests itself as hollow stems. Compost should supply the plants with all the boron they need.
Brussels Sprouts Types
- Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts produce compact green axillary buds (that look like miniature cabbages) all along the stem.
Pests
- Cabbageworms
- Cabbage Root Maggot
- Flea Beetle
- Birds
- Thrips
- Leafhoppers
- Aphids
- Cutworms
- Nematodes
- Slugs and snails
- Groundhog
- Raccoons
- Gophers
- Deer
Diseases
- Boron
- Wirestem
- Clubroot
- Fusarium Wilt
- Blackleg, Aerial Stem Rot
- Damping Off
- Downy Mildew
- Powdery Mildew
Related Plants
Greens, Juicing
Sprouts
Seacale
Kohlrabi
Collards
Anise
Caraway
Cumin
Cauliflower
Culantro