Home >> Home & Garden >> Planting Brussels Sprouts

Planting Brussels Sprouts

This vegetable has been grownnear Brussels, Belgium, since the fourteenthcentury, hence its name. It is a minor crop inAmerica even though its popularity has in-creased during the past 30 to 40 years.

It is an erect single-stalked plant, developingbuds or small heads (sprouts) in the axils of theleaves. These heads or sprouts when fullydeveloped are 1-2 in. in dia. and resembleminiature heads of cabbage. They are mild inflavor, rich in vitamins as well as calcium andiron.

Varieties

The better types for the home gardener are:'Long Island Improved', 'Catskill' and 'Jade'.'Half Dwarf' is a standard variety in Calif.

Culture

The general cultural requirements for brusselssprouts are about the same as for Cabbage andcauliflower. The plant will standconsiderable freezing and can be harvested inthe fall until severe freezes occur. The bestquality sprouts are obtained in the fall with thesunny days and light frost at night. Brusselssprouts are grown as a fall crop.

The plants are spaced 24-30 in. apart in therow and 30-36 in. between rows. Seed planted inthe outdoor seedbed in late May should producestrong transplants for their permanent place inthe garden by late July. Soil preparation andfertilization is the same as for Cauliflower andCabbage except that this crop is not as sensitiveto a high soil acidity as Cauliflower. Too muchnitrogen and hot weather tend to producesprouts that are loose, open, not compact and ofpoor quality.

Buckleya

The sprouts begin forming first in the axils ofthe lower leaves, approximately 2-3 monthsafter transplanting. In harvesting, the firstpicking should not be delayed after the lowerleaves begin to turn yellow. In picking, thelower leaf below the sprout is broken off and thesprout is removed by breaking it away from thestalk. As the lower leaves and sprouts areremoved the plant continues to push out newleaves at the top and in the axil of each leaf abud or sprout is formed. In this mannersprouts may be harvested for a period of 6-8weeks.

Storage

The sprouts will keep well in storage at 32° F.and a high relative humidity of 9o-95% for aperiod of 4 to 6 weeks. The whole plant isremoved from the garden just prior to severefreezes and placed in the storage pit or storagecellar.

Disease and Insects

Most of the pests of Cabbage and Cauli-flower also attack brussels sprouts and thecontrol measures are the same.

Other Gardening Articles:

| Cow Raising | Duck Raising | Geese Raising | Goat Raising | Guinea Fowl Raising | How to Build a Rooftop Garden | How to Make a Greenhouse | How to Make a Rock Garden | Hydroponic Gardening | Bees | Mushroom Growing | Ornamental Grass | Pigeon Raising | Pig Raising | Planting a Coconut | Planting a Lime Tree | Planting Aloe Seeds | Planting Apple Trees | Planting Apricot | Planting Artichokes | Planting Asparagus | Planting Avocado Trees | Planting Bamboo | Planting Banana Trees | Planting Beans | Planting Blackberries | Planting Blueberries | Planting Bonsai Trees | Planting Broccoli | Planting Brussel Sprouts | Planting Cabbage | Planting Cactus | Planting Carrots | Planting Cauliflowers | Planting Celery | Planting Cherry Trees | Planting Chestnut | Planting Chrysanthemum Seeds | Planting Clematis | Planting Corn | Planting Cranberries | Planting Cucumbers | Planting Currants | Planting Dates | Planting Eggplants | Planting Elder Berries | Planting Endives | Planting Fig Trees | Planting Ginger | Planting Ginseng • Planting Goose Berries | Planting Gourds | Planting Grapes | Planting Grass Seeds | Planting Hickory Nut Trees | Planting Hyacinth | Planting Hydrangea | Planting Jerusalem Artichokes | Planting Lemon Trees | Planting Mango Seeds | Planting Mustard | Planting Nectarine | Planting Okra | Planting Olives | Planting Onions | Planting Orange Trees | Planting Orchids | Papaya Planting | Planting Paprika | Planting Parsleys | Planting Parsnips | Planting Peach Trees | Planting Peanuts | Planting Pear Trees | Planting Peas | Planting Pineapples | Planting Pomegranate Trees | Planting Raspberries | Planting Rhubarbs | Planting Spinach | Planting Strawberries | Planting Sunflower Seeds | Planting Sweet Potatoes | Planting Tomatoes | Planting Tulips | Planting Yams | Planting Yuccas | Raising Turkey Chicks | Root Pruning | Rat Control | Raising Sheep | Tips on Growing Melons | Tree Grafting | Beekeeping | Bird Watching | Build Your Own Water Garden | Chicken Raising