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How to Grow Brussels Sprouts
These bite - sized K are penis of the coinage Brassica oleracea which let in Brassica oleracea italica , cauliflower , kail , collards , kohlrabi , and cultivated cabbage . They are a biennial craw character and will flower and produce seeds in their second grow time of year after experiencing inhuman weather . Gardeners will not be able to save seeds from Brussels sprout plants in your first season . Brussels sprout are considered an advance craw for seminal fluid savers .
Time of Planting
Brussels sprouts require a long grow season . Transplant Brussels sprout outside just before the last Robert Lee Frost .
Planting and Spacing Requirements
Plant Brussels sprout seeds ¼ in late in flat 4 - 6 weeks before the last frost . When seedling are 3 - 4 inches grandiloquent , transplant in garden 18 - 24 inches aside .
Time to Germination
3 - 10 days
Special Considerations
Brussels sprouts are biennial . When growing for germ , isolate from other blossom Brassica oleracea in their 2nd year . Staking is recommend .
Common Pests and Diseases
Brussels sprouts are susceptible to a smattering of pestis including cabbage butterflies , cabbage loopers , cutworms , flea beetles , harlequin bugs , and the disease leaf smear and black rot . Many of the pest can be controlled by handle plants with row cover or by applying constituent pesticide throughout the growing time of year .
When and How to Harvest for Food Consumption
Begin harvesting sprouts when the sprout are stiff and are approximately 1 inch in diam . ripe sprouts will develop near the bottom of the works first . employ a incisive knife to harvest individual sprouts as they mature .
Eating
There are many ways to prepare Brussels sprout . The minuscule leafy nodes can be eat on raw , cut lightly with a mandoline or a sharp tongue and mixed with a light dressing for a impertinent salad . They can be steam or boiled and then simply dressed with butter , saltiness and black pepper , and served as a side looker .
Storing
Fresh Brussels sprouts will keep for several week in the refrigerator . If you ’d like to stretch along your enjoyment of Brussels sprouts into the wintertime , this vegetable can be blanched and fixed .
How to Save Brussels Sprout Seeds
Life Cycle
two-year
Recommended Isolation Distance
Separate varieties by 800 feet to ½ sea mile .
Recommended Population Size
To guarantee practicable seeds , save seeds from at least 5 plants . When maintain a variety over many generations , hold open germ from 20 - 50 plants . If you ’re saving seed for inherited saving of a rare variety , save ejaculate from 80 plants .
Vernalization
To save germ from Brussels sprouts , first decide how you will vernalize your plants . Vernalization can happen in the field or in storage . Overwinter Brussels shoot in the field if you will have 10 - 12 weeks of cool weather ( around 50 level F ) without regular temperature below 35 degrees F.
When plants can not be successfully overwintered in the plain , they can be vernalized in storage . Before the first frost , dig up the entire works , roots and all . Replant Brussels sprout industrial plant into containers fill up with slightly moist potting mix or moxie . Then , find a place to lay in your plants . The optimal storage conditions for Brussels sprout vernalization range from 34 - 39 degree F and 80 - 95 % relative humidity . A traditional etymon basement is ideal but garages , sheds , and other unwarmed structures work well in some climate .
In the spring , when the ground can be worked , replant Brussels sprouts in your garden . Space plants at least 18–24 inches apartin wrangle that are at least 36 inches asunder . Staking the plants is recommended to sustain tall semen stalks .
Assessing Seed Maturity
After flowering and producing seed pods , fuel pod will become teetotal and turn brown as the seeds inside also ripe and brownish . As with many of the Brassica crops , the window of time for an optimal harvest may be short because mature fuel pod can be lost to shattering and bird predation .
Harvesting
Gather seeds by veer entire branch or by harvesting whole plants . Because of this specie ’ tendency to shatter , the harvested material should be placed on drop cloths or in containers to prevent seed expiration .
Cleaning and Processing
Thresh branches of mature fruit by rubbing the pods between your hired hand or by flailing the unannealed pod against any surface that will cause fruits to go against open .
Storage and Viability
Store Brussels sprout seeds in a nerveless , dark , and dry position in an airtight container to keep out moisture and humidness . Properly hive away Brussels sprouts seed will remain viable for several years .
Learn more about salt away seeds .
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