How To Grow Brussel Sprouts

Growing brussel sprouts is fairly easy to do, and they are my favourite. Brussels sprouts are biennials that are grown as annuals. There are various types of brussel sprouts and they are divided into groups according to maturity.

The brussel sprout groups are divided into earlies, mid-season, and lates. Of note is that brussels sprouts are very hardy and can survive temperatures well below freezing. Plant heights vary from dwarf sizes of 35 cm to tall sizes of around 75cm. Brussels sprouts however are quite slow growing.

The ideal soil for growing brussel sprouts is nitrogen rich and well manured. Brussel sprouts should be sown in middle to late spring, ideally straight in a seedbed, in firm but moist soil, in row approximately 6 inches apart. The sprouts should be thinned in early Summer.

If the sprouts are grown close together then they will be more consistent but grow smaller in size. Simply put the more space the sprouts have the larger the size and crop, and the crop will last longer enabling harvesting over a longer period.

Brussel sprouts need careful watering as they like to be kept moist. On taller varieties of sprouts the stems will need to be earthed up as they grow for support. Discoloured or weak leaves must be removed as soon as possible to prevent disease.

As with broad beans keep the bed as weed free as possible. Brussel sprouts are mature and ready to eat around 20 weeks after sowing. Picking brussel sprouts from the lower part of the plant and then work your way up as the plants mature. If you are having problems growing brussel sprouts then find out about Brussel Sprout Pests And Diseases

By Richard Allen -