Brussels sprouts are a fall vegetable; there is not enough cool spring weather in most regions to bring sprouts to harvest before summer. Brussels sprouts require about 3 months to reach harvest size.
Sprouts--buds or heads that resemble miniature cabbage--form in the axils of leaves. Sprouts appear first at the bottom of the stalk and must be picked as they mature. Remove leaves as buds are picked to make the harvest easier; the top leaves are never disturbed.
Brussels sprouts can easily bear light frosts and they can even take freezing weather if the thaw afterwards is gradual. But it is best to complete the sprout harvest soon after the first frost.
For Brussels sprouts growing tips see How to Grow Brussels Sprouts or Brussels Sprouts Growing Success Tips at the bottom of this post.
Here are common Brussels sprouts growing problems with cures and controls:
Seedlings fail to emerge from soil; seedlings are eaten; roots are tunneled.Cabbage maggot is a small gray-white, legless worm to⅓-inch long; adult is the cabbage root fly, looks like a housefly. Flies lay eggs in the soil near the seedling or plant. Maggots will tunnel into roots leaving brown scars; some plants may be honeycombed with slimy tunnels. Exclude flies with floating row covers. Remove and dispose of damaged plants. Apply lime or wood ashes around the base of plants; time planting to avoid insect growth cycle. Plant a bit later when the weather is drier. Companion plant with mint.
Brussels sprouts are a fall vegetable; there is not enough cool spring weather in most regions to bring sprouts to harvest before summer. Brussels sprouts require about 3 months to reach harvest size.
Sprouts--buds or heads that resemble miniature cabbage--form in the axils of leaves. Sprouts appear first at the bottom of the stalk and must be picked as they mature. Remove leaves as buds are picked to make the harvest easier; the top leaves are never disturbed.
Brussels sprouts can easily bear light frosts and they can even take freezing weather if the thaw afterwards is gradual. But it is best to complete the sprout harvest soon after the first frost.
For Brussels sprouts growing tips see How to Grow Brussels Sprouts or Brussels Sprouts Growing Success Tips at the bottom of this post.
Here are common Brussels sprouts growing problems with cures and controls:
Seedlings fail to emerge from soil; seedlings are eaten; roots are tunneled.Cabbage maggot is a small gray-white, legless worm to⅓-inch long; adult is the cabbage root fly, looks like a housefly. Flies lay eggs in the soil near the seedling or plant. Maggots will tunnel into roots leaving brown scars; some plants may be honeycombed with slimy tunnels. Exclude flies with floating row covers. Remove and dispose of damaged plants. Apply lime or wood ashes around the base of plants; time planting to avoid insect growth cycle. Plant a bit later when the weather is drier. Companion plant with mint.