Brussels sprouts are members of the cabbage family known for their edible buds. Although they have existed since ancient Rome, they were named after the city of Brussels, Belgium, where they were first discovered around 1750. They belong to the cole crop family which includes cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and kale among others. Although they would need much patience as they require a long growing season, this plant does not discriminate. You can grow them in any vegetable garden and breed them in many ways to highlight its flowers, leaves, and roots. Brussels sprouts thrive in cool weather, as they taste much better when harvested in the garden after a light frost. There’s nothing to worry about if you are in a place with a warmer climate since you can still plant them in fall. In other words, anyone can learn how to plant brussels sprouts and greatly benefit from it.
Growing Brussels Sprouts
- For cold-season vegetables like brussels sprouts, a raised bed is recommended to cope with constantly changing seasons.
- Few days ahead of planting or transplanting, mix in several inches of manure or compost and other rich organic matter.
- When sowing seeds directly into the soil, place them 2-3 inches apart as brussels sprouts need room to spread out, then plant them ½ inch deep in an area that gets 6 or more hours of sunlight daily.
- Transplanted seedlings or seeds grown indoors should also be planted 12 to 24 inches apart in a well-drained and fertile soil.
- Water them well and check regularly for soil moisture. Give the brussels sprouts 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week.
- Put a 3-inch layer of mulch to maintain moisture and prevent weeds.
- Harvest brussels sprouts when their heads are plump and green in color. It should measure 1-2 inches in diameter.
Just like many other plants, planting brussels sprouts requires patience, attention to detail, and more research. When done correctly, these three things combined with the knowledge you got from this article will guarantee your success as a gardener. These steps on how to plant brussels sprouts are so effective and flexible that you can also apply the same procedures when you decide on using another planting location.
Growing Brussels Sprouts in Containers
Whether you are sowing or transplanting, planting brussels sprouts entails the same process even in containers. Just follow the 7-step guide given to you above and you’re good to go! The only difference this time is that you have to carefully choose the pot. A 5-7 gallon pot that’s 12 inches deep and ranges from 12-14 inches in diameter is ideal for growing brussels sprouts in containers. But if you are planting in a frost-free area, you might want to use a clay pot since they provide good drainage and proper air circulation.
Growing Brussels Sprouts Indoors
If you want to supervise your growing plant at the comfort of your home, planting them indoors is the best choice for you. Refer to the same instructions and always remember to place the sprouts on the area in your home that receives 6 hours of direct sunlight.
Troubleshooting
Brussels sprouts are usually easy to look after, but not all things work out as planned. Sometimes, they can be a bit tricky, too. Whether you are growing brussels sprouts indoors or in your garden, you can still encounter some challenges. Here are some of the most common brussels sprouts growing problems:
Wilting Plants
This can happen after planting due to inadequate water. Enough water is not only required at the beginning, but also in the days or weeks to follow.
Failure to Grow
Make sure that your soil is very fertile because that is a necessity for brussels sprouts to perform well. They are more tolerant of drought compared to other plants but come summer time, they are in dire need of moist soil.
Main stem becomes dark-colored
This is usually caused by Rhizoctonia fungus which also causes damping off. The affected plant will not grow strong heads as a result. To avoid this, make sure the soil is not cold and moist but is well-drained.
Leaves are partially eaten
Cabbage webworms are the usual culprit for this. They are green in color with a light stripe in their bodies. Cut off and destroy eaten leaves along with the caterpillars and keep the garden weed-free.
Club Root
This is when roots become swollen and leaves turn into yellow and may look pale. The best remedy would be adding lime to make soil more alkaline.
Birds
Birds can cause problems as they sometimes eat seedlings and leaves. To protect your plants against birds, cover them with horticultural fleece or mesh.
Tunnels in Sprouts
Cabbage root fly tunnels the sprouts. The only choice to escape this would be to plant under an insect-proof mesh in your garden.
Chewed Leaves
Snails eat leaves. You can easily handpick this pest at night, or set a trap at soil level to drown them.
Loose Sprouts
Warm temperatures are to blame. Plant the crops at a time when it is going to mature during autumn.
Some of these brussels sprouts growing problems can be a real handful at times. But once you have fully familiarized yourself with how to plant brussels sprouts, you will be able to grow them well and later on, cook them for a tasty feast. You might have heard of their bad reputation resulting from their significant flavor, but that only happens when they are overcooked. Despite the challenges, they are still crops worth having as they provide you with food when any other vegetable might be absent during winter. Dubbed as a total health package, brussels sprouts are packed with nutrients, that’s why it’s exceptionally good for everyone. It boasts of its abundance in Vitamin C, which helps boost our immune system by aiding the production of white cells in our body. Do you still need me to say more or have you already decided on planting this wonder vegetable?
