How to Grow Brussel Sprouts

Brussels sprouts, also known as Brassica oleracea, are a great addition to any vegetable garden. Unlike other vegetables, they prefer cooler fall and spring weather and are hardy enough to endure a frost. And when they're ready to harvest, they provide valuable nutrition for your family. Brussels sprouts have been known to protect against colon cancer and contain beneficial amounts of vitamin A, vitamin C, and folic acid.http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=10 Brussels sprouts can be very easy to grow and are easily gardened right along side related veggies, such as cabbage and broccoli. The information provided below will give you easy, helpful steps for how to grow Brussels sprouts.

• Although there are dozens of different varieties of Brussel sprouts, a few of the more popular include:

1. Bubbles: Tolerates warm weather and drought, resistant to rust, hybrid, matures in 80 to 85 days.Cornell University: Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners - Brussels Sprouts University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
2. Content: Dark green, round sprouts, dense, tightly wrapped leaves, medium to hard pick, matures in 130 to 150 days.Pfyffer Associates: Brussels Sprouts Information Cucurbit Breeding: Vegetable Cultivars: Brussels Sprouts
3. Jade Cross Hybrid: Large dark green sprouts, resistant to Botrytis and yellows, matures in 90 to 100 days.Iowa State University Horticulture Guide: Cole Crops University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
4. Long Island Improved: Excellent producer, good eating quality, stores well, large plant, good yield, harder to produce heavy, uniform crop with this variety, open-pollinated, matures in 90 days.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
5. Prince Marvel: Small to medium round oval sprouts, mild tasting, tight, sweet sprouts, hybrid, matures in 90 to 100 days.Iowa State University Horticulture Guide: Cole Crops University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
6. Oliver: Medium green color, less dense, mild flavor, easy-to-pick, attractive sprouts, hybrid, matures rapidly in 85 days.Pfyffer Associates: Brussels Sprouts Information University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
7. Royal Marvel: Tight sprouts, very productive, tolerant to bottom rot and tipburn, hybrid, matures in 85 days.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
8. Rubine: Red plants and sprouts, not as productive as hybrid green types, open-pollinated, matures in 105 days.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
9. Valiant: Smooth, uniform sprouts, hybrid, matures in 90 days.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts

• Brussel sprouts need to be planted in a sunny location. Soil should be a fertile loam that is well draining and high in organic matter.
  1. The pH level should be between 5.8 and 6.8.University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Brussels Sprouts
  2. Brussel sprouts prefer cool weather, with a temperature between 60 to 65 degrees F.AZ Master Gardener Manual: Brussels Sprouts
  3. They do best if temperatures do not exceed 70 degrees F. or go below freezing.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden
  4. Soil should have plenty of organic matter and be fertilized before seeds are planted.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden

• Although the seeds can be planted directly in the field, it is recommended that they are transplanted to the field when they are six weeks old.NC State University: Brussels Sprouts West Virginia University Extension Service: Growing Brussels Sprouts Plants should have four to six mature leaves and a well-developed root system when transplanted.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden Seeds should be sown in seed flats in a protected area.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
  1. Seeds should be planted 1/4 to 3/4-inch deep.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden
  2. Rows should be spaced 2 to 3 feet apart.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden
  3. Plants should be spaced 12 to 18 inches apart.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden
  4. Seeds should be transplanted to your garden at least 90 to 100 days before the first frost date for your area.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
  5. When transplanting, add about 1 cup of starter fertilizer solution to each plant.University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Brussels Sprouts West Virginia University Extension Service: Growing Brussels Sprouts
  6. Water the plants when transplanting to avoid wilting.West Virginia University Extension Service: Growing Brussels Sprouts
  7. If planted seeds directly into the garden, thin seedlings so they are between 12 to 18 inches apart.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden Seedlings that are thinned can then be transplanted elsewhere.

• Brussel sprouts are grown similar to other cole crops such as cabbage and broccoli.University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Brussels Sprouts Special attention needs to be paid to water, fertilizer pests, diseases and weeds. Mulching and leaf removal are optional things that you can do to help improve your Brussels sprout crop.

• Water: Brussel sprouts require ample moisture or the crop will fail.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
  1. Because they have shallow root systems, they will require at least weekly watering if rainfall is insufficient.Iowa State University Horticulture Guide: Cole Crops
  2. Apply between 1 to 1.5 inches of water each week.NC State University: Brussels Sprouts
  3. Try to keep soil levels even because moisture fluctuations during heading can cause sprouts to split open and become bitter.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden

• Fertilizer: Brussel sprouts require plenty of nitrogen while they are growing to keep them vigorous. However, the amounts and frequency it should be applied varies depending on who you ask. Most will tell you to apply one side-dress application at some point such as when the plants are 12 inches tall, three to four weeks after planting or when the plants are half grown.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts Iowa State University Horticulture Guide: Cole Crops
  1. Reapply the fertilizer every three to four weeks.University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Brussels Sprouts
  2. Other sources suggest reapplying the fertilizer two more times every two weeks.West Virginia University Extension Service: Growing Brussels Sprouts
  3. If you add too much nitrogen, it can cause loose sprouts and splitting.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden

• Weeds: Because Brussel sprouts are a long season crop, weeds can become a problem.NC State University: Brussels Sprouts Weeds need to be removed to prevent them from competing for water, nutrients and light.Iowa State University Horticulture Guide: Cole Crops
  1. Use shallow cultivation (3 inches or less) to avoid damaging the roots.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
  2. Chemically controlling weeds can be done by using preemergence herbicides or by using herbicides as a supplemental to cultivation.NC State University: Brussels Sprouts

• Pests: Brussel sprouts can have trouble with pests. Some of the more damaging include aphids, harlequin bugs, cabbage loopers, diamond back moth, imported cabbage worm, cutworms, cabbage maggot, thrips and web worms.NC State University: Brussels Sprouts
  1. Control should be done using insecticidal soaps or insecticides.
  2. Treat caterpillars with products that contain Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium that causes a fatal disease in caterpillars.Iowa State University Horticulture Guide: Cole Crops

• Disease: Brussel sprouts do not have too much trouble with disease. However they have been known to get blackleg, blackrot and Alternaria leaf spot.
  1. Blackleg and black rot are both spread by seeds, transplants and insects. If found, remove the diseased plant and dispose of it.University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Brussels Sprouts
  2. Alternaria leaf spot is a fungus that can be treated with fungicide.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden
  3. Avoid problems with disease by rotating crops.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden

• Mulch: Applying mulch can help conserve soil moisture, protect young plants from insects and reduce weed growth.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden

• Removing Leaves: Commercial gardeners remove leaves on the Brussels sprout plants to help accelerate harvesting once the plants are between 2 to 3 feet high.University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Brussels Sprouts This is not necessary in the home garden.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts However, if desired, here are some suggestions on how to do it:
  1. Remove six to eight leaves on the lowermost part of the stalk as the sprouts develop.University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Brussels Sprouts
  2. Two to three leaves can be removed each week.University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Brussels Sprouts
  3. Always leave several of the largest, healthiest, fully expanded upper leaves.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts

• Brussel sprouts grow at the base of each leaf. They should be harvested when they are still green, firm and about 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Harvesting can occur all at once or several times.NC State University: Brussels Sprouts

1. Lower sprouts will mature earlier.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
2. Expect to start harvesting about 90 to 100 days after seeding.University of Illinois Extension: Watch Your Garden Grow: Brussels Sprouts
3. Harvest before the lower leaves turn yellow.West Virginia University Extension Service: Growing Brussels Sprouts
4. The flavor of Brussel sprouts are improved by a light frost.Iowa State University Horticulture Guide: Cole Crops
5. When picking, break the leaf below the sprout away from the main stem.West Virginia University Extension Service: Growing Brussels Sprouts The sprouts can then be broken or cut off the stem.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden
6. Periodic harvests can occur every one to two weeks during warm periods with two to six sprouts being removed each time. When weather cools, harvesting should be delayed to once every three to four weeks with 10 to 15 sprouts removed.NC State University: Brussels Sprouts
   1. Start at the bottom and work your way up the plant.West Virginia University Extension Service: Growing Brussels Sprouts
   2. Remove the lowermost leaves when harvesting periodically, if you have not already.University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture: Brussels Sprouts
   3. Harvesting can continue until a freeze occurs.NC State University: Brussels Sprouts

• After harvesting, you will want to clean your Brussel sprouts and remove any loose leaves. Toss out any sprouts that are soft, damaged or too large.NC State University: Brussels Sprouts Store them in a cool area.

1. You may want to store the whole plant in a cool area right before freezing and remove sprouts as needed.West Virginia University Extension Service: Growing Brussels Sprouts
2. Brussel sprouts can be stored for up to six months in a area that is 32 degrees F with a 95 percent humidity.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden
3. Do not store them near fruit which produces ethylene and will make the sprouts bitter.Utah State University Cooperative Extension: Brussels Sprouts in the Garden

• Now that you've added Brussel sprouts to your garden, you might want to check out Mahalo's other vegetable garden pages such as How to Grow Carrots, How to Grow Potatoes, How to Grow Tomatoes, How to Grow Pumpkins or How to Grow Green Beans. Before long, you'll not only have the best garden in your neighborhood, you'll also be serving the healthiest meals.