Dakota Gardener: Brussels sprouts, re-evaluating a detested vegetable (2024)

FAQs

Dakota Gardener: Brussels sprouts, re-evaluating a detested vegetable? ›

A more flavorful method is to roast them in the oven in a little oil with your favorite seasonings such as garlic salt and parmesan. They become crispy and caramelized when baked. Another reason that Brussels sprouts have a bad reputation is that older cultivars used to taste bitter.

Apply ½ cup per 10 feet of row of nitrogen-based fertilizer (21-0-0) at 4 and 8 weeks after transplanting or thinning to encourage vigorous plant growth. Avoid applying additional nitrogen after sprouts begin to form. High nitrogen levels cause loose sprouts and splitting to occur.

Cause: If a batch of otherwise healthy seedlings fall over and wither seemingly overnight, they are likely victims of damping-off, a fungal disease that attacks stems at the soil surface and is usually deadly. Excess moisture or nutrients create conditions that promote damping-off.

Brussels sprouts can be a little tricky to grow. Problems most likely to be encountered include; Wilting young plants: Plants may wilt after planting due to lack of water. Adequate water at planting and subsequently is required.

Onions and Garlic:

These pungent alliums are great companions for Brussels sprouts. Garlic and onions have strong scents are effective in deterring common pests like aphids and some beetles. Plus, they occupy a different space in the garden bed, ensuring efficient use of space.

Tomatoes and other nightshades, like eggplants, need a lot of nutrients to grow. Brussels sprouts are also heavy feeders, so two should not be planted next to each other as they will compete for the same nutrients.

Farmers often remove the lower leaves to speed up harvesting. Leave the leaves in tact. They produce the energy for the plant. The more energy produced the bigger the sprouts.

Brussels sprouts need protection from pests such as cabbage butterflies and pigeons, so are best covered with fine-mesh netting. Water whenever the soil starts to dry out and support taller plants with canes.

Are coffee grounds good for brussel sprout plants? ›

I never thought a plant that made a vegetable so disliked could look so beautiful. So do brussel sprouts like coffee grounds? You Bet they do!

Brussels sprouts need room to spread out, so space them 18- 24 inches apart in an area that gets 6 or more hours of sun daily and has well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6.8.

Lack of nutrients: Like other members of the cabbage family, Brussels sprouts are heavy feeders. Plant this crop in compost-rich soil and fertilize periodically throughout the growing season. Consider having a soil test to determine if nitrogen levels are adequate.

Although a healthy vegetable, consuming too many Brussels sprouts can be unsuitable for people on anticoagulants since it contains vitamin K, which results in blood clotting. Another issue with consuming Brussels sprouts excessively is that it can lead to gas and bloating.

Brussels Sprouts: Brussels sprouts have a longer growing season than zucchini and require cooler temperatures to thrive, while zucchini prefer warmer temperatures. Additionally, Brussels sprouts can be susceptible to some pests, such as aphids, cabbage moths and cabbage worms, which may also attack zucchini plants.

Kalettes look like a miniature ornamental kale but grow similar to Brussels sprouts. “Kalettes will produce the best when planted in fertile soils with pH 6.5-7.5. The crop should be well-fertilized and irrigated in dry weather.