How to Grow Brussel Sprouts:Brussels Sprouts Cultivation

Brussels sprouts are a cool vegetable crop that loved by people all around the world. Despite its greenish color, your kids must be loving it as a portion of delicious food for sure. Also, you will be able to introduce this amazingly delicious vegetable for your home garden as well. 

When it comes to home gardening, you will be able to find millions of home gardens that have been decorated using different methods.

If you are a fan of this vegetable, you will have to give priority to Brussels sprouts at the home garden.  The edible part is greenish buds or the nodes of this vegetable. Even though there are some other methods in different cultures, edibility has not been modified yet. 

Although there are fewer parts of this vegetable, you will have to wait a bit longer when compared to other vegetables. If you are a home gardener, you will be able to cultivate this crop under your supervision until a significant yield.  It is considered as one of the most demanding crops to grow as well. 

If the crop has to be defined, it will be meaningful as slow-growing, challenging, and long-seasonal vegetable cop. Although the greenish color is deceitful to be an easy crop to be grown, you will have to put a bit strength to grow Brussels sprouts for sure.

There are some specific values and determinations for Brussels sprouts to have cultivated. In short words, it is a crop that can be grown in the cool valleys which have a higher elevation in the country. Belonged to the family that cabbage, Cauliflower, and broccoli star, Brussels sprouts has kept its name in a higher position with different characteristics.  Also, it is said that Brussels Sprouts is a vegetable that contains high amounts of vitamins and dietary fiber as well.

In this article, you will be explained such nutritional value, all factors related to the cultivation, and how to use the outcome in the recipes.

05 Health benefits of Brussels sprouts

Brussels Sprouts, the cruciferous vegetable is one of the best things in your home garden that can achieve several advantages for your family. These ten health benefits will boost up your agitation towards the Brussels Sprouts eventually.

Nutrients

Although the calorie content is lower than the other vegetable in your home garden, this plant will let you have enough fiber in your daily meals. Also, the high amounts of nutrients will be able to deliver you a healthy life for sure.

The vitamin K will reduce the ability to make clots in your bloodstream as well as Vitamin C will bring up a shiny skin.  Also, it has been found that Brussels sprouts contain vitamin B6, potassium, iron, thiamine, magnesium and phosphorus in small amounts.

Antioxidants

It is a known fact that Brussels Sprouts contain enough antioxidants that can relieve the stress of your cells in different parts of the body. These antioxidants will be a heal for most of the chronic diseases that can bring up adverse effects.  Also, kaempferol is one of the widely accepted antioxidant, which is recommended for having a healthy life. It is available in Brussels Sprouts in large quantities.

Avoid Cancers

Successful researches have proved that the antioxidants have been able to overcome cancer threats in your body. Whenever there is a risk factor to produce cancer cells, the antioxidants will work hard to relieve those threats. Also, some studies have revealed that Brussels Sprouts can generate detoxification enzymes by 15–30% to the bloodstream.

Fibrous Sprouts

If you have half a cup(78g), you will get almost 2.5g of fibers in the food. This fiber belongs to the dietary category, which can assist you in the digestion process. If you are having troubles with the digestion, Brussels Sprouts will be one of the best things to have included in the diet.  Also, increased fiber intake is associated with other benefits such as reduced heart diseases as well. These things will ensure a healthy life for both your heart and stomach.

Regulate Sugar Levels

Several studies have revealed that the cruciferous vegetables are capable of regulating the sugar release to the bloodstream. Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant which can reduce the adverse effects of the sugar in your body. As there is lots of fiber in the sprouts, people will be able to reduce their sugar levels. Brussels sprouts have also been regular food for the people who have been suffering from diabetes as well.

Origin and Transmission

The Brussels name is believed to have come from Belgium, which means this unique vegetable has got a long history in human civilization. The written history says that it had been a popular food in the Romans times as well. There are some news sources which say Brussels sprouts had been cultivated in the mount valleys of Eastern Europe as well.  The written literature has confirmed that the Brussels sprouts had spread all around Belgium in the 1200s.

Although many traces confirmed of a time when the food culture was more developed in those times, Brussels sprouts had become more popular among people due to its taste. Belgium is a famous country for its bakery products even at present. 

After so many modifications and successful varietal experiments, Brussels sprouts came into America in the early 1800s where there were so many friendly climatic factors. Since then, Brussels sprouts were a popular crop among the farmers. 

At present, not only farmers but home gardeners do their cultivations with Brussels sprouts which are embracing on the plate.

Family

The scientifically recognized as Brassica oleracea, Brussels sprouts are coming from a noble family known as the cabbage family, which contain so many famous members. Cabbage, Cauliflower, and so many other Mustard members are in the family. Also, the family is identified as the Mustard family because of so many Mustard relatives who deliver so many delicious tastes for their customers.

However, Brussels sprouts belong to the Brassicaceae family in its official form.

Varieties

As a plant species that have originated for more than almost a millennium, many selections, as well as varieties, have been found related to the Brussels sprouts. These varieties might have different characters as well as resistivity for the pests. However, it is necessary to be aware of them before use because you will not be able to cultivate even in your home garden unless you remember their different requirements.

Jade Cross E:

It is the variety with larger sprouts. Also, you will be able to harvest them after 90 days. They can be cultivated in the home garden as a decorating variety as well. If you are going for field cultivation, you will have to conduct a nursery period for having vigorous plants.  When compared to other types, these stalks can easily be removed from the branch.

Royal Marvel

It is a modified variety of the Brussels Sprouts. The most crucial character of this variety is the resistivity of several diseases. The bottom rot is a disease that this variety can withstand.  There are other fungal diseases such as soft rot that this variety can overcome with the genetic order. When it comes to physical features, you will get the sprouts in a compacted manner.  Also, the harvest will be ready in just 85 days since the field planting.

Bubbles

It is also a modified variety which can tolerate temperate situations. As a crop that requires a cold climate, this particular variety has been introduced for the hot regions all around the world. Most importantly, it can tolerate rust and similar fungal diseases such as soft rot. It is a recommended variety for the home gardens because of these unique features.  The harvest will be available in just 80-85 days, less than other types.

Rubine

When it comes to Rubin, the most important feature is being a novel variety. You will not be able to see the usual sprouts in this variety for sure. Reddish shoots will let you have an incredible feeling. The market demand is also higher when compared to the standard looking sprouts. The unpleasant feature for this variety is taking too long until the harvesting. You will have to wait for more than 100 days. It is said that the expected duration for the harvest is 100-105 days.

Oliver

It is a traditional variety that has originated in Belgium and Eastern Europe. The most significant feature for this variety is to have impressive rounded shaped sprouts. Also, you will be able to get the harvest within just 85 days. The stalks can be removed without doing damages to the nodes as well. The taste and the nutritional values are said to have increased in this variety.

Prince Marvel

When it comes to the sweetest taste, this variety is being used for producing confectioneries and related products. The sweet taste has been able to attract people over the last decades in the United States.  The sprouts stay compacted, which is easy to remove from the stalks. The harvest will be ready within 90 days since the transplanting.

How to grow brussel sprouts

Brassica oleracea require a bit longer growing period when compared to other vegetables. Also, it is longer than the other members in the Mustard family as well. If you are going to cultivate this crop in your home garden, you will have to stay almost 80 to 85 days until the harvest. 

It is essential to provide the natural factors for this crop for a high yield. The frost is considered as a significant factor that could reduce the harvest in a higher margin.  Although the vegetable consists of greenish color parts all along with the plant, it is considered as an annual crop which lets you have several harvest chances in the year. 

When compared to other vegetables, you will not need much space for the cultivation. The maximum height for this crop will be up to 30 inches, and the width will be below 8 inches, which means you don’t need much spacing. 2x1ft spacing will have to be maintained for this crop even at the field. 

When to Plant Brussels Sprouts

If you have a warmer climate, the field establishment has to be commenced with the fall. If it is a vast field, you will have to conduct a successful nursery period to obtain the seedlings for the holes in the area. Even if it is a home garden, the transplanting is a good practice that can increase the vigour of the plants.

If the direct seed sowing is going to be practiced, mid-summer will be the best time to do it. The essential moisture and the temperature will induce the rapid rooting of the Brussels sprouts plants.

The most important thing you need t to remember is that you need to finish the transplanting or the direct seeding in the field before the mid-winter. Since the most favorable factors for germinating will end by the fall of summer or early of the winter. Although you can manage all other aspects, Brussels sprouts germination requires the thorough contributing of nature.

Topping

It is an essential practice to have an increased harvest with the Brussels sprouts. As the lateral branching has to be increased, the toppings have to be removed in the plants. Only the fully grown plants are pinched in this practice. Then the plants will get an idea that they are on to destruction, and then they will produce the sprouts as the solution.

It is a must-do practice for Brussels sprouts to ensure uniform cultivation. It is necessary to do the topping at the entire field at the same time. Although it is a home garden or a massive area, the uniformity of the plants’ height will assist you in many operations. Letting to have a good look when the plants are at a pest attack, ease of harvesting, fertilization, and the observation are other benefits you get from the topping.

Seed rate

It will be enough to have 600g – 700g of seeds per acre. As for thee, sources are not massive, and you will be able to saw them in the field without any support. Also, it will be better if you can treat them with hot water for the quick germination as well. If the black rot is a threat to your field, seeds will have to be treated with 50c temperature of about half an hour.

The fungicide treated bases are also available at the market for withstanding the fungal in the soil. You need to remember that it is not essential to treat these seeds if it is a home garden. Because you can easily sterilize the entire small field, you have.

Light

As the spacing has been a limiting factor in the home garden, you will be able to cultivate the crop in the spaces where the lighting has to be provided in the maximum frequency.  It is said that the plants require continuous 06 lighting hours per day for the best results.

If the lighting is a factor that you cannot maintain, you will have to expect immature sprouts as the harvest. Although there are plenty of artificial sources that can provide the light, it will be crucial if you can give the natural sunlight to your crop.

Soil

Unlike most of the other crops, Brussel Sprouts love having slightly alkaline where the plant gets a higher growth rate. The sprout maturing has also become more effective in the alkaline.

If you are having troubles with the Alkalinity, you will have to provide them artificially. Also, soil fertility is a factor you need to concern. Unless there are not enough nutrients in the soil, you will have to add them along with the fertilizer. It is recommended to conduct a soil test before the field establishment because the 80 long crops will not have enough time to absorb the essential nutrients to the plants. 

The nature of the soil has to be firm.  These plants don’t favor the earth in a compacted form. Because the spreading of the roots will avoid the more, the soil is compacted.

Soil moisture is also a thing you need to bother because the plant requires more water to metabolism as well as seed filling. For example, more than 90% of the plants are filled with water. 

When it comes to the organic matter in the soil, it will be enough to maintain half of the ground as the organic matter. Although soil fertility is not a huge matter, the well-drained soil is a necessity for this soil. The soil Ph is a value that requires t be maintained 6.5 or above. Also, if you have to add the materials, you will have to add them before the field establishment as well.

Water

Like it has been explained earlier, not only Brussels sprouts plants but the sprouts contain high amounts of water. For example, the water percentage of sprouts is almost 90%. It is vital to provide a continuous water supply to these plants.

If the water source is a bit away or you are having a broad field, it will be better if you can establish a proper irrigation method.  Drip irrigation or sprinkler irrigation are recommended for these plants. 

The specific value for water requirement for these plants is 1-1.5inch per week. Although the water is not required until the rotting area is soaked, it will be better if you can supply the water up to the mentioned level.

Temperature

Usually, these plants prefer a colder climate during growth. Also, they love having continuous daylight of at least 06 sun hours per day. The temperature has to be around 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit to have a perfect growth cycle. Also, it is necessary to maintain these values for the seed filling as well.

The seed maturity requires a bit lower temperature during the night time. Even though these plants can survive a frozen couple of days, they will not tolerate more than those two days. Also, providing a tough time may produce sprouts with some delicious taste as well. That has been confirmed in the very recent time after several studies.

Therefore you need to remember that the temperature is a thing which requires a particular value all along. Also, the humidity is a factor which requires for all other activities as well.

Fertilizer

These plants prefer organic matter more than any other plant in the field. If you have already provided the organic fertilizer in sufficient amounts, they will not ask for any nutrients. Also, it is essential to remember that having organic matter can work on the water draining too. 

You need to make sure that your soil is enriched with organic matter more than the half volume to ensure proper cultivation. If there are some growth retardation, you will have to apply fertilizer when the plants are 12 inches tall and then again after a few weeks. 

However, these 100 kg N, 60 kg P2O5 and 40 kg K2O amounts will improve the conditions of the plants.  Also, if you are having cultivation above the home gardening grade, you will have to apply a half dose of N and full doses of P and K fertilizer in the transplanting.

Weeding

It is needed soon after the plants emerge from the ground. Although the expected period is less than 90 days, you need to control the weeds to ensure a field free from the pests as most of the weeds are hosts for the problems. 

Also, the wedding lets you have mulch around the plants. As the soil moisture is needed to the Brussels Sprouts plants, you need to conserve the existing soil water. Therefore, farmers are recommended to control the weeds.

Most importantly, you need to conduct this operation even if you are going to practice these things in the home garden.  When it comes to the Brussels Sprouts in large scale, you will need something more such as Stomp 30 EC (Pendimethalin) 2.5 liter ha-1. That will be able to remove the pests from the field. If you are going to use these things in the home garden, it is recommended to be avoided as these chemicals are not for your family consumption. You will have  to use either mechanical or hand weeding for these things.

Plant Protection

It is essential to identify potential threats to the plants in your field. Even if it is a home garden, you will have to take the immediate actions to remove them from your collection as the Brussels Sprouts have got other members such as cabbage, Broccoli, and Mustards. 

Even though you are going to make up your mind, it will be necessary to remember that the pests and diseases will move straight away to other members of the same family. There are pests and conditions for the Brussels sprouts plants.

Aphids

They can be seen on the upper side of the leaves of the Brussels sprouts plants. If you can’t recognize them, the yellowish color body will mean that they are the Aphids. They do the damage to the plants by sucking the sap from the plant. The affected area may become pale color. 

If they are in your home garden, you will be able to use repellants or remove them by hand. Also, Monocrotophos (0.05%) or Malathion (0.1%) will be the solution for Aphids in larger quantities.

Cabbage Diamondback Moth

It is considered as one of the most potential threats not only for Brussels sprouts but for the entire family. The Greenish or brownish color caterpillars suck the sap from the plants.

The plants then become weak, and the damage will start since then. Also, the affected areas will be visible as the holes in the plant. You will not have anything to do for these things as the damage has already been done.

Removal with the hand is the possible thing at the home garden. When it comes to high amounts, Spraying of neem-based formulations  4 ml will have to be applied on the field. 

Leaf Webber

It is also a destructive pest for this crop. The adults lay their eggs on the clusters on the undersurface of the leaves. The name has been made up because the green color adults web the leaves and stay inside the nest to grow. 

The flowering and sprouts formation is harmed with the involvement of these pests. As it can easily be seen on the plants, you will be able to go for the control measures. They can be controlled by removing the webbed leaves and the adult pests from the field. Also, the chemicals can be used for the areas where problems are staying in large quantities.

Diseases

These diseases will be available in the Brussels sprouts. Therefore staying for the symptoms will let you save the hard work in the harvest.

Black rot

It is the most harmed disease for the Brussels Sprouts. You will not be able to find a solution after the disease spread up to the stem.  The bacterial enters the plant over the leaf surface areas. Therefore you will be able to observe some lesions on the surface area.

The greenish-yellow color spots are early symptoms. If you don’t take immediate actions for these patches, the brownish color lesions will arise, and the plants will suddenly die. Also, there will be some veined parts over the leaf surface in black color. You have got some black rot-resistant varieties as the best solution as well as you may use Seed treatment with Agrimycin-100 (100 ppm) for the significant results. 

Downey Mildew

It will be a headache to you if you have a nursery full of Brussels sprouts. The whitish color powdery looking substances will be available on the surface of the leaves. When the density o the threat is high, the Powdery Mildew will be available on both sides of the leaves.

These are not the very first things that can be observed. All you get to keep are greenish color small patches on the downside of the leaves. Then they become lighter and harm. These spots will become yellow and damage the plants by retarding the growth in the crucial time of in the life cycle. 

There are lots of fungicides that can be used to destroy the fungus on the leaves. Also, one of the best ways to overcome this fungus matter is to remove the weeds that host the fungus.

Leaf blight

You will be able to see yellowish rings in the plant. Mostly, they can be seen on the leaves. Also, these spots will be enlarged up to concentric circles that let us know the damage. They will retard the growth and stop the emergence of the sprouts as the outcome. Finally, the dead spots will weaken the plants. Some resistant varieties can overcome leaf blight. Also, you can practice Seed treatment with hot water for the best results.

As it is a fungus that makes the damage, captan, Thiram, and Homai will be the best fungicides in the market.

Harvesting

There are prominent 02 ways to practice harvesting. Whatever the way you use, you need to have a proper practice when harvesting. Because the Sprouts are things that could easily affect by small damages, the first method involves harvesting with the stalk. It is said the harvest can be kept for a more extended period with this method.  In the second method, Sprouts are extracted for the ease of procession.

When practicing the harvesting, it is vital to harvesting Tender knobs which are fully developed. The most important thing to remember is to leave the Tender knobs until they become fibrous.  Harvesting can be arranged from 1-3 times a week.

Sources :

• Brussels Sprouts Cultivation: How To Grow Brussels Sprouts From Seed To Harvest Paperback – by Lucky James (Author)
• How to Plant & Grow Brussel Sprouts: Complete Guide By Hollie Carter
• Brussel Sprouts Recipes: A Brussel Sprouts Cookbook with Delicious Brussels Sprouts Recipes (2nd Edition)  Kindle Edition by BookSumo Press  (Author)  Format: Kindle Edition

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