Brussel Sprouts

Love them or hate them, there’s no denying that Brussel Sprouts are super foods, packed with Vitamin C and Vitamin K. These vitamins are necessary for blood clotting, bone health and aid in the absorption of iron and for tissue repair.

Half a cup (about 80g) of cooked Brussel Sprouts contains:

28 calories, 2g protein, 6g carbs, 2g fibre, 137% RDA Vitamin K, 81% RDA Vitamin C, 12% RDA Vitamin A, 12% RDA Folate.

What  is Christmas without the obligatory sprouts to accompany the roast and spuds? For superior flavour it’s always best to grow your own than relying on the ones you’ll find in the supermarket.

Brussel sprouts can be sown from early March through until early April with the use of a cloche, fleece or coldframe to protect from the frosts.
For the best crop starting them off early is advised and to create a long season of cropping stagger planting of early, mid-seasons and late cultivars.

Early crops should be started off in February in the greenhouse and in modular trays or small pots. These will be ready to harvest from August.

The traditional way of growing Brussel sprouts requires the seedlings to be sown in a separate seed bed and then transplanted in early summer once space is available for them in the main veg plot.

 Seeds should be sown thinly  in rows 15cm and 13mm deep. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle they can be thinned out to 7.5cm apart.

To grow the best sprouts they like a slightly acid to neutral soil that is well-drained and with plenty of organic matter forked in prior to planting. The location  should be in full sun and sheltered from strong winds.

       

 

Transplant the young plants from mid-May – early June, once they have about 7 true leaves and have reached an approx. height of 10-15cm. Space the plants 60cm apart and with 75cm between rows.
They will do well by being watered will prior to moving and then again afterwards. After transplanting, the plants should be watered regularly until they have become established. Once settled they will require watering every 10-14 days and when weather is dry.

A top-dressing of a nitrogen-rich fertiliser such as chicken manure pellets should be applied in July and in September create a mound of soil around the base of the plant for extra support.

Birds

Pigeons are particularly fond of Brussel sprouts, but most birds will try to eat the seedlings, leaves and sprouts. 
 To prevent against damage from birds cover the seedlings in netting or fleece. 

Cabbage Root Fly

Stunted growth is a sign of the larvae that live among the plants’ roots. Eventually the plant will wilt and die unless treated.
The best protection from the Cabbage root fly is to grow the plants under insect-proof mesh or horticultural fleece. This should be done early as possible as seedlings are most at risk of attack.

Caterpillars

Many varieties of caterpillars feed on brassica leaves, the most common of these are the caterpillars of the cabbage white butterflies. The signs of caterpillar damage are holes through the leaves but the caterpillars are usually present on the leaves. 
Insect-proof mesh or fine netting is a great preventative but if you do find the caterpillars then they can be picked off and disposed of

 

For the best flavour the plants should be frosted, but this is dependant on the variety as some varieties will need to be harvested from as early as August.
  The sprouts will grow to the size of walnuts when they’re ready to be picked. Do so by picking from the bottom sprouts and with a sharp downward tug.

The sprout tops can be harvested at the end of the season too.

                            

 

 

 

                       

 

 

 

 

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