I use a liquid organic fish emulsion but any organic vegetable fertilizer will do. The first feed takes place about six weeks after planting and the second six weeks later. Fertilizing – Because brussels sprouts are in the garden for such a long time, I fertilize twice during the season to encourage healthy growth.In dry conditions, water deeply twice a week and use a mulching material like straw, grass clippings, or shredded leaves to retain soil moisture.
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Watering – Consistent water is essential to producing large, productive plants.There are four main summer tasks to consider when growing brussels sprouts: Summer care and maintenanceīrussels sprouts need a long growing season so don’t slack off in summer. Promote healthy growth of brussels sprouts by providing ample moisture, feeding several times during the growing season, and topping the plants in early autumn. Also, add compost to the planting medium to increase organic matter and water retention. You can also grow brussels sprouts in containers, but choose large pots or fabric planters that offer plenty of root room for the big plants. The fabric can be placed directly overtop the plants (leave plenty of slack for growth) or you can float the fabric on hoops. If you wish to protect your plants, cover immediately after planting. This prevents the butterflies from laying eggs on the leaves. If direct seeding, sow a seed every six inches, eventually thinning to 18 to 24 inches apart.īecause members of the cabbage family, like brussels sprouts are susceptible to pests like imported cabbage worms, I cover the plants with a lightweight insect barrier fabric. I like to dig in a few inches of compost or aged manure before planting as well as a granular organic fertilizer or kelp meal. Space plants 18 to 24 inches apart and rows three feet apart.
#Brussel sprout plant full
Brussels sprouts are a cool weather vegetable and grow best in full sun and fertile soil. Planting brussels sproutsĪs the seedlings are hardening off, prep the garden for transplanting. Starting Brussels sprout seeds indoors under grow lights allows you to give the plants a healthy head start before they’re moved to the garden.
#Brussel sprout plant how to
If you’re not sure how to harden off seedlings, check out this article. This essential step acclimatizes the young plants to outdoor growing conditions. About a week before you intend to transplant the seedlings into the garden begin to harden them off. Keep the soil consistently moist, but not wet, and fertilize with a liquid organic vegetable food every few weeks to promote healthy growth. Once the seeds sprout, remove any covers. Cover with a growing dome or a sheet of plastic wrap to hold humidity and encourage good germination. You can use a sunny windowsill but you’ll produce stockier seedlings under grow lights.įill seed flats or pots with a high quality seed starting mix and sow seeds a quarter of an inch deep. Instead, I like to start the seeds indoors and then transplant sturdy, healthy brussels sprouts seedlings into my garden. You can direct seed, but I find the young plants are susceptible to garden pests like slugs. In warmer climates, brussels sprouts are planted in mid to late summer and harvested in early winter. I start my seeds indoors in mid to late May, moving the seedlings to the garden after four to six weeks of growth.
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In cold climates they’re planted in late spring to early summer and harvested about four months later. Timing is everything when it comes to growing brussels sprouts.
![brussel sprout plant brussel sprout plant](https://www.gardenershq.com/VegetableImages/brussels-sprouts.jpg)
If you’re growing a purple variety, you’ll have purple sprouts. If you’re growing a green variety, you’ll have green sprouts. The edible parts are the small, cabbage-like heads that form along the stem at each leaf axil. And, once they’re ready to pick, they hold their quality for about two months so you can harvest the crop gradually.īrussels sprout plants also very ornamental, growing two to four feet with large bright green or purple leaves, depending which variety you’re growing. First, this is a vegetable, with a long ‘days to maturity’, whose harvest begins in late autumn, long after most other crops are finished for the season. There are so many reasons to find space for brussels sprouts ( Brassica oleracea var gemmifera) in your garden. Plant in a vegetable garden or tuck a few seedlings in your flower garden too. If you love this cabbage cousin as much as I do, read on to learn how to grow a bumper crop of crisp, crunchy brussels sprouts.īrussels sprout plants are incredibly ornamental, especially the purple varieties. Growing brussels sprouts isn’t difficult but it does require patience as the plants take about four months to go from seed to harvest. Boy, have times changed! Now I grow several varieties every year, waiting impatiently for the harvest season to begin in late autumn. As a kid I was definitely not a fan of brussels sprouts.