Brussels sprouts are slow growing plants that can withstand frost, suitable for cold climates. Often grown to be harvested in late autumn, this vegetable takes from 80 to 100 days after transplanting the seeds to be harvested, and is best done with temperatures between 7, 2 and 23.8 ° C.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Part 1: Planting
Step 1. Sow the seeds in a seedbed
Do this 5 to 6 weeks before you plan to transplant them into the garden. Plant the seeds approximately 1.25cm deep. You can keep the seedbed indoors near a window or outdoors in a protected area for as long as the temperature remains above 10 ° C. Germination takes 2 to 5 days.
Sowing of Brussels sprouts should be done in April to transplant in May. Brussels sprouts can be sown until the end of June for a continuous harvest
Step 2. Prepare the garden 2 to 3 weeks before planting
Loosen the soil and mix with natural compost. Brussels sprouts do best in organic soils that retain moisture. They grow best in full sun, but tolerate partial shading.
Step 3. Check the soil pH level
Amend, if necessary, using a suitable fertilizer. Brussels sprouts like a pH level between 6.0 and 6.5. The soil temperature for optimal growth should be between 21 and 26 ° C.
Brussels sprouts absorb many substances and can have benefits using boron, calcium and magnesium, especially in the early stages of growth
Step 4. Transplant the seedlings into the garden
They are ready when they are 4 to 6 months old and about 15cm tall.
- Remove the plants from the seedbeds. Wet the roots using a generic plant fertilizer mixed with water before planting in the garden. Follow the instructions to prepare a proper fertilizer solution.
- Space the plants 61 to 76 cm apart. If the seedlings are stunted and grow curved, you can cover with soil until the first leaves appear to prevent the plants from weighing too much.
Method 2 of 3: Part 2: Cure
Step 1. Water the plants at the base after you transplant them
Keep watering throughout the growing season to prevent the soil from becoming too dry. Reduce the amount of water a couple of weeks before harvest; between one watering and the next, the soil can also dry out.
Make sure you water your crop properly during the growing season as plants need it for suckers to develop. However, Brussels sprouts need a lot of water, but not stagnant. That said, friable soils will need water more frequently than heavier soils
Step 2. Feed the Brussels sprouts with nitrogen fertilizer every two to three weeks
Do not give more fertilizer when you reduce the water at the end of the growth period.
Furthermore, removing the tops of the plants a month before harvest will increase production because the plant's energy will be aimed at developing the sprouts and not the leaves
Step 3. Add natural compost to the soil around the plants regularly
This will feed the plants and form a barrier for weeds. Brussels sprouts have a shallow root system, so avoid turning the soil around the plants.
Weed the area carefully, by hand if necessary. Aphids and cabbage worms are common weeds that attack suckers. Keeping the PH of the soil at 6, 5 or a little higher will help prevent certain diseases such as cabbage hernia (a fungus that grows in the soil)
Method 3 of 3: Part 3: Collecting
Step 1. Harvest the Brussels sprouts slowly, starting at the base of the plant
Suckers mature from the base up and are sweeter when still small and closed.
To encourage the development of top suckers, tear off the top of the plant in late summer. Brussels sprouts develop a sweeter flavor after a few light frosts
Step 2. Collect the sprouts when they are about 2.5 to 4 cm in diameter
Detach them with your fingers or use a small knife to cut the gems.
Sprouts take their shape in the axilla of the leaf (the point where the leaf connects to the stem) and can be harvested about three months after being planted
Step 3. Collect the entire stem with the buds intact, instead of collecting these one by one
Cut the stem about 5 cm below the last bud as soon as the leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow.
Store the sprouts in a cool, dark place. Like most things, sprouts taste best when fresh
Step 4. Finish
Advice
You can store raw Brussels sprouts in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 weeks. Blanched and frozen, they can be kept for a period of 4 to 6 months. If you harvest the buds with the stem, you can keep in a cool place for several weeks
Warnings
- Beware of common weeds on your plants. Brussels sprouts are attacked by cabbage root caterpillars, which eat the roots and stems. They also attract leaf-devouring insects such as cabbage worms and caterpillars and aphids. Get rid of the worms with your hands or sprinkle them with a natural insecticide.
- Brussels sprouts can get sick from cabbage hernias which swell and deform the roots. Choose disease-resistant varieties, rotate them annually, and remove damaged plants from the garden on a regular basis. If this disease develops, do not plant Brussels sprouts in infected soil for a period of 5 to 7 years.
