- Choose a sunny site with deep, firm & moisture-retentive soil
- Raised beds or traditional plots are perfect.
- Plant 60cm apart and firm in well
- Place a brassica collar around base of stem to prevent cabbage root fly (you can do this by cutting a 10cm disc from cardboard, then cut into the centre)
- Net against pigeons and cabbage white butterflies – you could make a hoop tunnel approx. 1.5m high, and cover with insect proof mesh/net.
- May need earthing up or a stake for strong autumn/winter winds – 50cm tall bamboo cane frame with string tied around works well to protect entire row.
How to grow... Brussels Sprouts
Rocket Growing Guides
Well, we all know how these can be the outcast of the vegetable world, but we rate them very highly indeed – stir fried with a little chopped up bacon and some garlic butter, you just can’t go wrong!
As part of the brassica family, there are a few pests that you need to protect sprouts from, but if you do this you should find that they grow well in the UK climate.
- Brussels Sprouts Growing Guide
How to Plant Brussels Sprouts
How to Grow Brussels Sprouts
- During dry spells, water thoroughly once or twice a week. Other than that, leave them to their own devices and they should be fine.
- May need earthing up and/or staking in strong wind as they get taller (approx. 1m+ high)
- Protect against slugs/snails, especially once the sprouts start to form as they love to munch on the small sprouts!
- Sprouts can open up – This can happen when we get warm, dry spells. Try to keep the soil moist and cool with regular watering and apply a mulch.
Common Pests and Problems with Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbage root fly – stunted growth/sudden wilting – the maggots tunnel into the roots to feed and the roots start to rot. Brassica collars and fine mesh netting will help to prevent this in future.
- Eaten by caterpillars – use netting to avoid Cabbage White butterfly from laying eggs in the first place. Check foliage (underside and near stems) regularly for small white/green/yellow eggs and wipe off. Pick off caterpillars if you find them.
- Club root – stunted growth/discoloured leaves – this is a fungal disease that can’t be remedied so you will need to get rid of affected plants. Plant future brassicas in a different area of the plot to avoid re-infection in subsequent years.
- Slugs/snails – keep them well protected as they will happily hide in the foliage and eat the sprouts. Beer traps work really well.
- Mice/rodents – can eat the sprouts too
- Pigeons – will strip leaves bare in just a couple of hours
How to Harvest and Store Brussels Sprouts
- Harvest in late autumn/winter once the sprouts have formed and are still firm
- Harvest individual sprouts from the bottom of the stalk before they start to open up. Harvest a few from each plant at a time, starting at the bottom – cut them off with a knife.
- OR harvest an entire stalk by cutting off at the base – then you can stand the entire stalk in a bucket/container of water and it will store for several weeks in a cool, dry place.
- You can eat the cabbage-like leaves at top of plant – use them as you would a savoy cabbage
- It’s easy to see when they’re ready to be picked in late autumn and winter, but you don’t need to rush as they’ll keep well on their stems for a fair while.
