Brussels sprouts are a alimental , delicious vegetable , and they ’re particularly tasty when fresh . Winter is n’t known forfreshly harvested vegetablesin most regions , though , which can be put a muffler on your gardening exuberance . However , there are some vegetables that you could stillgrow during wintertime , and if you guessed that Brussels spud are one of them you ’d be correct .
If you ’re excited to start produce your own Brussels sprout , then you ’re in luck ! We have a ready to hand templet full of tips and antic on how to grow Brussels sprouts .
When should you start your winter Brussels sprouts?
There are two ingredient to consider when decide when to plant your Brussels sprouts . Here ’s how to choose the best starting time :
whole step 1 : Choose a head start engagement free-base on your Brussels sprout variety .
quicker maturing variety , such as Tasty Nuggets , take three or four months to senesce , while the slower growing varieties , such as Falstaff , can take five or six months . For deadening growing varieties , you may want to plant in mid - late spring for a wintertime harvest . Faster growing varieties can be commence in autumn for a late wintertime or early natural spring harvest home .
pace 2 : constitute your Brussels sprout when the atmospheric condition is nerveless .
Brussels sprouts arenaturally frigid tolerant plants , and can exist temperatures well below suspend for short period of metre . However , they do n’t fare quite as well in the heat .
If you know in a region with a live summertime and mild winter , an fall planting prison term is ideal . For more northerly regions , with a mild summer and a cold winter , you’re able to implant in outflow or autumn . In areas with especially brutish winters , it ’s recommended to plant your Brussels sprouts in mid - summer and reap them in early to mid - wintertime , before you have any free burning halt .
How to get started
Here ’s how to choose the good planting locating for your Brussels sprout :
Step 1 : Start your Brussels sprout seed indoors , then transplant them into the garden after four or five calendar week .
This is a great choice for slower growing varieties , especially if you want to produce them through winter for an early spring harvest . Starting them indoors allows you to protect them from the passion of summertime .
Step 2 : Plant your Brussels germinate in grunge that ’s well - draining and rich in organic subject .
whole tone 3 : verify the soil is slimly acidic .
This aid to prevent stern cases of clubroot disease . Clubroot disease affects members of the dinero kinfolk , such as broccoli , kale , and Brussels sprouts .
Step 4 : Choose a planting situation that get at least six hours of sun a day .
If you ’re starting your plants in early autumn , when the weather is still warm , judge to give them some shade in the afternoon . Morning sun is ideal , since the temperatures are typically cooler than in the good afternoon , when the sunlight is more concentrated .
Caring for your Brussels sprouts
This is how to care for your Brussels bourgeon :
Step 1 : Give your Brussels sprouts between 1 and 1.5 inches of water system each calendar week .
Step 2 : weewee your Brussels sprouts below the leaves , to avoid getting the leaves loaded .
Wet leaves can head to an increase risk of fungous contagion and frost damage .
Step 3 : implement alayer of mulcharound the base of the flora .
A layer of mulch can help with urine retention , and can give your Brussels sprout some tribute if you ’re expecting a hard freezing .
Step 4 : Fertilize your Brussels sprouts .
Brussels sprouts involve a lot of atomic number 7 and phosphorus . Some gardeners prefer to utilise a phosphorus heavy fertilizer before long after plant to advance leaf ontogenesis , and nitrogen a few month after . Others choose a individual app program of boring or uninterrupted sacking fertiliser . prove your stain ’s nutrient Libra can help you resolve on the right fertilizer .
How and when should you harvest them?
Here is how to acknowledge and glean mature Brussels sprout :
Step 1 : Begin harvesting three to six months after planting , depending on the variety .
stair 2 : seem for sprouts that are unbendable , but not hard , and between 1 and 2 inches across .
Be cognisant that some varieties have smaller or big sprouts .
footstep 3 : Start from the bottom of the works , as these sprouts grow first and mature first .
Work your path up the works , harvesting as they ripen rather than all at once . harvest over a period of time also encourages novel growth , which ensue in a larger harvest .
Step 4 : Gently twist or snap them off of the flora .
Now you ’re ready to grow your own Brussels sprouts for a plentiful and tasty winter harvest time . Although it can seem singular to mature vegetable in wintertime , Brussels sprouts are well suited to it . In fact , winter - grown Brussels sprouts taste sweet than others , due to the process of frisson - sweetening . This hap when the plant converts amylum to simoleons , to keep warm , and results in a odoriferous , untoughened Brussels sprout you ’re sure to savor !
