Growing Brussels sprouts plants in the garden

Brussels sprouts may not be the favorite food of many, but as a winter vegetable it is a healthy addition in the cold season. All the better if it can be harvested in your own garden as needed. For the cultivation of the Brussels sprouts you have to bring some knowledge with you, because the plants are heavy eaters with one or the other requirement for care and conditions. Interested hobby gardeners can find out what is required for a successful Brussels sprout harvest in the following guide.

Location

With regard to the location, the Brussels sprouts are quickly satisfied. For an optimal yield and strong plants, however, it should be a sunny place that is somewhat protected. In addition, the crop rotation should be observed. Since the Brussels sprouts themselves are among the heavy eaters, the chosen bed should not have been used as a cultivation area for other heavy eaters in the three years before.

Substrate

The substrate for growing the Brussels sprouts must be rich in nutrients, humus and yet loose. Garden or vegetable soil enriched with compost and loosened up with sand is ideal.

Prepare the bed

So that the Brussels sprouts thrive right from the start, they need optimal conditions in the bed. For this, it is best to spread plenty of well-rotted compost on the bed in the autumn before the planned cultivation of the Brussels sprouts. The natural fertilizer is then worked under by digging or, if the soil is already loose, simply raked in. If you miss this point in time, you can make up for the measure in spring. Then it should take at least two, better still four, weeks for the Brussels sprouts to set in. During this waiting time, the nutrients are distributed more evenly in the soil and settle out. In addition, with the help of various soil dwellers, important processes take place in the substrate. This will be optimal

Conditions created in the ground. In the case of soil that tends to compact, it is advisable to bring in the sand already mentioned to loosen it. So much should be mixed in that a moist, crumbly structure is created.

Variety selection

Different varieties are possible depending on when the Brussels sprouts are to be harvested. Basically, Brussels sprouts plants are divided into early and late varieties. With some a harvest is therefore already possible in September, with others not until December. Especially if the way to the garden is connected with a journey, you should carefully consider whether winter varieties are the right choice - because the Brussels sprouts harvest should be distributed as widely as possible.

More early Brussels sprouts varieties are:

• Early Tall Half
• Falstaff
• Nelson
• Predora
• Hossa
• Wilhelmsburger

With these you have to pay close attention to whether they are frost-resistant varieties or not. Brussels sprouts are not always ripe very early, which means that the harvest has to be completed early. However, no exposure to cold is necessary to achieve the sweet taste.

Late varieties that are recommended include:

• boxer
• Gronninger
• Hild's ideal
• Igor
• Harald
• Fortress

Pre-breeding

The Brussels sprouts can be sown directly in the bed, but better results can be achieved by growing them early in the house. The procedure is as follows:

1. The potting soil is placed in small plant pots or - more practical - in pot plates.
2. The Brussels sprouts are placed in twos or threes in each pot and lightly covered with soil.
3. The substrate is well moistened but not washed away.
4. Prepared in this way, the growing vessels are brought to a bright place. The ideal germination temperature depends on the respective variety.
5. For the first three to four weeks, the substrate should be kept slightly moist but never wet. A cover is not necessary.

The ideal time to pre-germinate the seeds is in early spring or - again, depending on the variety - in late winter. February or March is ideal for most Brussels sprouts cultivated forms.

Cultivation

Outdoor cultivation can begin between April and May, for this purpose the plants that have been pulled out are first pricked out. Only the strongest specimens should be planted. Then proceed as follows:

1. A distance of 50 centimeters is marked out in the row and between the rows.
2. The Brussels sprouts are used individually and watered well.
3. To stabilize the plants and make harvesting easier, a simple wooden frame can be built. Two piles are inserted vertically at the beginning and end of each row. A connecting rod is placed on top and fastened.
4. Another rod can be connected to the framework from each plant. This construction protects the Brussels sprouts from wind damage and also has another practical use in protecting the plants.
5. Prepared in this way, the plants tend to be kept dry after the initial watering. The following waterings are carried out floating but at longer intervals. This stimulates the growth of the roots in depth.

to water

Have the Brussels sprouts grown well after the first three to four weeks and through that At first cautious watering has developed strong roots, the plants need a little more Humidity. Especially during the summer growth it is important to water frequently and, if possible, not to let the soil dry out.

Tip: If you use pond water and plant manure in summer, you can combine watering with fertilizing. A mulch layer made from grass clippings also reduces evaporation and maintenance.

Fertilize

The high nutrient requirements of Brussels sprouts and the long time until harvest can make it necessary to re-fertilize the bed. As already mentioned, plant manure, for example from nettles, and pond water without chemical additives can be used for this purpose. Compost, horse manure, grass clippings and horn meal can also be used. If the bed is sufficiently prepared with nutrients, one is enough

Fertilize around August.

Tip: Excessive watering or prolonged rain can wash away nutrients and lead to growth spurts that favor a deficiency. If the leaves are discolored, they should therefore be re-fertilized - regardless of the time.

Plant protection

Fleas, sawfly, cabbage fly and cabbage white butterfly can cause problems for Brussels sprouts. Before that happens, however, the cultivation can be protected against the pests. Close-meshed protective nets that are stretched directly over the plants or the scaffolding described above are advisable. If it is lying on the wooden frame, it is much easier to check it underneath. Just like the harvest. To protect against fleas, keeping the soil moist throughout, as well as a layer of mulch and the spreading of plant manure help.

Tip: The greater the distance between the individual Brussels sprouts, the lower the risk of pests and diseases.

harvest

Depending on the variety, the Brussels sprouts harvest can begin as early as September or continue into March of the following year. A complete harvest of the individual plants is neither necessary nor useful. It is cheaper to pick as needed instead. The largest tubers are twisted off each time. These should each be two to four centimeters in diameter. Late varieties, which, like Hilds Ideal, are only harvested in winter, require a longer cold period for the pleasant and slightly sweet taste. Only the combination of sun and cold ensures an increased storage of sugar, as this is no longer converted into starch or is converted much more slowly. In order for the sugar to accumulate in the Brussels sprouts, the tubers must remain on the plant. So it is not enough to simply freeze them after the harvest. This is not the case with Brussels sprouts that ripen early. The Nelson variety, for example, can be harvested as early as September. Not only do they not need frost, they can hardly stand it or not at all. The reason for this is that more sugar is stored in the small tubers anyway. So the taste is sweet anyway. In turn, it should be noted that the harvest must take place depending on the weather. If there is persistent or severe frost, all Brussels sprouts must be harvested as quickly as possible before they die.

Conclusion
Growing Brussels sprouts in your own garden is no problem if a few points are observed during preparation and care. If you have the necessary knowledge and choose the right variety, you can also be a beginner in gardening and vegetable growing Achieve large yields quickly and, during the cold season, have fresh winter vegetables as needed for a long time to harvest.