Don't be afraid to plant Brussels sprouts in the garden! With the right care, you can harvest the aromatic florets well into January and thus ensure healthy vitamins on the table even in winter.

How to plant Brussels sprouts in your own garden

Brussels sprouts belong to the cruciferous vegetables. That's why you should never put Brussels sprouts in the same spot two years in a row. By changing them every year, you prevent the dreaded clubroot from spreading and making the soil unusable for cruciferous varieties for a long time. Follow the roadmap for growing Brussels sprouts:

  • March: prepare the ground
  • April: sowing
  • May: plant out and prick out
  • July: fertilize, pile up
  • August: pile up
  • September: fertilize
  • harvest from September to January depending on the variety

Prepare the ground well. As a heavy feeder, Brussels sprouts need very nutrient-rich soil. Loosen the soil deeply and refine it with compost soil, stable manure or horn meal. Green manure, for example with phacelia, which is worked in before planting the Brussels sprouts, is beneficial in spring. From the second week of April you can sow directly outdoors. It is even better if you prefer seedlings in March on a frost-free windowsill. This significantly shortens the time until the first harvest. The small plants come into the bed at the latest at the end of the ice saints.

Keep well moist and fertilize twice

Brussels sprouts need a lot of space so that the florets can develop well. So only sow very thinly and prick out the rows as soon as the first seedlings have developed six to eight leaves. Leave only the strongest seedlings at a distance of 20 centimeters. At first, water only moderately so that sufficient roots can form. Later, keep the rows nice and moist without waterlogging. Cover the soil with mulch (€239.00) such as lawn clippings, or plant intermediate crops such as lettuce, peas, carrots or spinach between the sprouts. Since Brussels sprouts are left on the bed for a long time, you make good use of the space in the bed and at the same time prevent the soil from drying out.

Fertilize the Brussels sprouts at least twice during the growing season, either with manure or horn meal. The florets do not tolerate too much nitrogen, they will then not become firm. Pile up the soil several times so that the plants develop more roots and find a secure footing. Regular weed pulling is just as important as examining the plants for pests.

tips and tricks

Wait until the first frost has set in to harvest the Brussels sprouts. The cold gives the delicate florets the right aroma.

Category:

Vegetable garden