As a healthy, tasty winter vegetable, Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea "Gemmifera") are very popular and easy to plant and cultivate if you follow a few rules. Harvesting of the ripe florets begins in October and can last until March. However, the soil must be prepared well in autumn before planting.
In the late spring, the bed is dug up at least a spade deep, and a bucket of well-rotted compost or manure is applied to every two square meters. The ground is dormant over the winter. In the spring, the soil is then raked and another 125 grams of complete fertilizer or - in the variant for organic gardening - the same amount of a mixture of two parts horn shavings (32.93€), one part potassium sulphate and four parts bone meal is worked in. The deep, fertilized, solid soil prepared in this way offers the best conditions for planting the seedlings.
They are planted out continuously in the last week of May until mid-June. Watch out for strong seedlings that are at least 10 to 15 cm tall. Plant the seedlings at a distance of about 50 to 70 cm from each other, because the Brussels sprouts need some space to develop well.
When planting, press the seedlings down firmly and water generously as they grow.
Since Brussels sprouts are not planted until late May, the free space in the bed can be used for planting lettuce or other intermediate crops such as French beans. If the plants have not set enough florets by the end of September, cut off the shoot tips. This promotes the rich formation of cabbage florets.
The first Brussels sprouts ripened from mid-October. You harvest freshly and according to your needs by breaking off the ripe florets from the bottom up. After a light frost, the taste improves significantly, so the best time to harvest is in November and December. The plant does not survive heavier frosts outdoors. After the first light frosts, dig up the Brussels sprouts together with the roots and pound the plant in a cold frame or in the basement. So you can still harvest into March.
When planting, pay attention to the selection of the Brussels sprouts variety. The Hilds Ideal variety requires one
longer development time, but is less sensitive to frost due to its large cover leaves. Due to its sensitivity to frost, the "Wilhelmsburger" variety is only suitable for the autumn harvest. Just try different varieties when planting. Brussels sprouts can be prepared in many interesting ways and offer a healthy taste experience.