As a he althy, tasty winter vegetable, Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea “Gemmifera”) are very
popular and easy to plant and cultivate if you follow a few rules. The harvest of the ripe floretsbegins in October and can last until March. However, the soil must be well prepared in the fall before planting.
How do you plant Brussels sprouts correctly?
To plant Brussels sprouts successfully, prepare the soil in the fall by digging deeply and adding compost or manure. In spring, fertilize and rake the soil before planting 10-15cm seedlings 50-70cm apart in late May to mid-June. Water regularly during growth and possibly cut off shoot tips in September.
popular and easy to plant and cultivate if you follow a few rules. The harvest of the ripe floretsbegins in October and can last until March. However, the soil must be well prepared in the fall before planting.
In late year, the bed is dug at least a spade deep, and a bucket of well-rotted compost or manure is spread for every two square meters. The ground rests over the winter. In the spring, the soil is then raked and another 125 grams of complete fertilizer (€45.00 on Amazon) or - in the version for organic gardening - a mixture of two parts horn shavings, one part sulphate of potash and four parts bone meal are incorporated in the same amount. The deeply fertilized, solid soil prepared in this way offers the best conditions for planting the seedlings.
They are planted out in the last week of May until mid-June. Pay attention to strong seedlings that are at least 10 to 15 cm tall. Plant the seedlings at a distance of around 50 to 70 cm from each other, because the Brussels sprouts need some space to develop well. When planting, press the seedlings firmly and water them generously as they grow.
Since Brussels sprouts are not planted until late in May, the free space in the bed can be used to plant lettuce or other intermediate crops such as bush beans. If the plants have not produced enough florets by the end of September, cut off the shoot tips. This promotes the rich production of cabbage florets. From mid-October the first Brussels sprouts have ripened. You can harvest fresh and according to your needs by breaking off the ripe florets from bottom to top. The taste improves significantly after a light frost, so the best harvest time is November and December. The plant does not survive severe frosts outdoors. After the first light frosts, dig up the Brussels sprouts including the roots and plant the plant in a cold frame or in the basement. So you can harvest until March.
When planting, pay attention to the type of Brussels sprouts you choose. The “Hilds Ideal” variety requires alonger development time, but is less sensitive to frost due to its large cover leaves. Because of its sensitivity to frost, the “Wilhelmsburger” variety is only suitable for the autumn harvest. When planting, just try different varieties. Brussels sprouts can be prepared in many interesting ways and offer a he althy taste experience.
