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How to Grow Brussel Sprouts
Index
- Sowing Instructions
- How to Transplant
- Crop Maintenance
- How to Harvest
- Storage
- Pests & Diseases
Sowing Instructions
- Sowing Time: Mid Spring
- Sowing Location: Outdoors, direct into soil or in seed beds
- Its best to sow seeds in a seed bed & transplant later to save space on your vegetable plot
- If sowing directly into rows, sow thinly, roughly 4 seeds every 60cm
- Soak soil before sowing, cover seeds lightly with soil
- Require 15°C to germinate
How to Transplant
- Transplant seedlings into rows once they have developed 4 or 5 true leaves
- True leaves are leaves which develop after seedling's seed leaves
- Space plants 60cm apart
- Plant seedlings with the bottom leaves just above the soil
- Remember firm planting helps to produce firm, tight Brussel Sprouts
- Soil: A firm, fertile soil is essential
- If the soil is poor, it is necessary to dig in manure as early as the previous autumn
- If the soil is acidic, it is vital that you add lime
- Apply general fertilizer such as growmore plant food three weeks before planting out
- Rake in fertilizer to keep bed firm
Crop Maintenance
- Earth up crop over the Summer months
- Plants may require supporting as they can get top heavy
- Keep watered in dry periods
Harvesting
- Harvest from September onwards
- Sprouts can be picked off stem when they are firm and at least 1 inch in diameter
- The bottom sprouts mature first so pick these first
- Remove any yellow or brown sprouts and discard carefully as you go
Storage
- Sprouts are best used fresh and are ideal for Christmas time
- However you can freeze your sprouts
- Simply blanch your sprouts prior to freezing
Pests and Diseases
- Pests: Caterpillar of the white butterfly and Slugs
- Damage: Caterpillars can defoliate plants very quickly
- Important to check plant as often as possible to get rid of any such pests
- Other pests and diseases to look out for are cabbage root fly, club root, pigeons & aphids
