How to grow Brussels sprouts outdoors?

Popular with experienced gardeners, Brussels sprouts are quite simple to grow. Of all the known cabbage varieties, this one stands apart. However, in our gardens, it is considered a rarity due to its peculiar capriciousness and low yield. But this is far from the case.

You can grow a vegetable in a country house in the open field in the Moscow region, plant directly from seeds, or plant seedlings first.

What is Brussels sprouts

The plant is two years old, has a thick stem, reaching a height of one meter. On it there is a long-peaked foliage with a multi-colored bubbly surface. The top of the stem is crowned with a leaf rosette.

By the fall season begin to form small loose or dense heads of cabbage, outwardly resembling white cabbage forks. Their diameter is two to five centimeters, grows on one stem from 30 to 70 pieces.

The plant is unpretentious, frost-resistant, the vegetative period is 4-6 months, so it is recommended to grow the culture using the seedling method.

Each stem grows 30-70 heads of Brussels sprouts

Cabbage has a delicious taste and contains many useful vitamins and mineral components.

Origin story

Culture is considered a variety of white cabbage, in the wild in nature does not come across. Its predecessor is kale, which grows in the Mediterranean. The Belgian selection experts bred the Brussels vegetable, which was the reason for this name.

Over time, the vegetable began to be grown in the countries of Western Europe, and it got to the east in the middle of the nineteenth century, but did not take root due to the difficult climate. But Canadians, Americans and Westerners began to plant crops in industrial quantities.

Beneficial features

This variety of cabbage contains:

• cellulose;
• folic acid;
• proteins;
• vitamins of various groups;
• phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iodine, sodium salts;
• amino acids.

The vegetable is used in dietary nutrition

According to this composition, the product is classified as a valuable food and medicine.

Cabbage is recommended for diets prescribed for children and the elderly.Perfectly helps with diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Cabbage juice has a diuretic, choleretic, hematopoietic, anticancer, antitoxic, anti-inflammatory effect, stabilizes the working capacity of the pancreas, is recommended for those suffering from diabetes mellitus. Cabbage helps with wound healing after surgery.

Vegetable count gourmet food... It is used in salads, first courses, side dishes, can be pickled and even frozen.

The most popular varieties for cultivation

The most famous are:

• Garnet bracelet... Excellent resistance to cold weather, gives good yields, ripens four months after transplanting seedlings. The stem grows up to seventy centimeters, forms about forty heads of cabbage with a delicate taste;
• Dolmik... A hybrid of Dutch breeders, grows up to fifty centimeters. Heads of cabbage are yellow-green, their weight is about twenty grams. After cooking, they become delicate in taste;
• Boxer... High-yielding hybrid plant, excellent resistance to diseases and harmful parasites. Heads of cabbage are round, green in color, quite tasty;
• Funny company... Medium-sized culture, heads of cabbage are dense and very tasty, purple hue;
• Curl... The best and most productive variety bred in the Czech Republic. The stem height reaches ninety centimeters, forms a large number of five centimeter heads.

How to grow from seeds

To obtain strong plants, it is recommended to take care of the planting material. For preventive purposes, seeds should soak for 30 minutes in hot water, then cool quickly.

Sowing dates

Sowing is best from mid-March to early April.

For seedlings, a temperature of no higher than six degrees is required at night, and about eighteen during the day. So it is better to place the containers for planting on the balcony or in the greenhouse.

Seedling care

After three to five days, the first shoots appear. At this time, you should remove the plastic wrap from the boxes, rearrange them to more illuminated places. To prevent the seedlings from stretching out, it is recommended to organize additional lighting.

Seedlings of Brussels sprouts

Cabbage seedlings need abundant watering, but do not get carried away so that the roots do not start to rot. The soil should be constantly loosento provide oxygen access to the root system.

Feed sprouts follow in the phase of the second - third leaves, using Kemiru-Lux. It is necessary to ensure that the composition does not fall on the leaves. The second feeding is done a couple of weeks before transplanting. Urea, copper sulfate, potassium sulfate, boric acid are used for this.

Picking

It is performed for seedlings that have formed one true leaf. Pick pattern - "Six by six" centimeters... Before transplanting, the seedlings are spilled with a weak manganese solution, then they are carefully seated in cups.

Make sure that the roots do not remain bent. Too long are allowed to pinch.

The seedling deepens to cotyledonous leaf... The containers are placed in a shaded place for several days, the air should be humid.

Planting Brussels sprouts outdoors

Transplant seedlings should be after when the sprouts appear fourth - fifth leaves... As a rule, this moment falls on mid-May - mid-summer season.

The soil should be fertile, loamy. The preparation of the beds should be done in the fall - dig it up, add lime if necessary. In the spring, the place should be fertilized by adding a bucket of compost or humus to the square of the plot.

For planting seedlings, holes are prepared, in each of which a small spoonful of urea is laid, two tablespoons - superphosphate, a couple of glasses of wood ash.

The landing pattern is "Sixty by sixty" centimeters... The sprout waddles along with a lump of earth, sprinkled, compacted and watered.

Care rules

Cabbage should be fertilized urea and potassium chloride... Top dressing with boric acid, molybdenum and manganese solution should be foliar. During the period of the beginning of the formation of the ovary, infusion of bird droppings is introduced with the addition of ash.

The vegetable should be fertilized with urea and potassium chloride.

To accelerate the ripening of fruits and increase their weight at the end of the growing season, it is recommended to pinch the apical parts of the shoots. Rosette leaves are cut one month before harvest.

The plant should be spooled carefully so that the lower heads of cabbage do not begin to rot. In this case, weeds should be removed. These are the basic rules for caring.

Diseases and pests

The main preventive measure is the destruction of harmful parasites that remain in the soil for the winter. For this purpose, the beds should be deeply dug in the fall.

In the spring from the beds it is necessary remove weeds the cruciferous family so as not to attract pests. To scare away cabbage flies, you can sprinkle with tobacco mixed with ash or lime.

Harvesting and storage

In autumn, when the leaves turn yellow and begin to fall off, the heads of cabbage begin to shine characteristically... This suggests that you can start harvesting.

The stem is cut off at the surface of the ground, the remaining leaves are removed. If such a stem with heads of cabbage is wrapped in a bag, it can be stored in a cool place for about two months. In frozen form, cabbage lasts up to four months.

It turns out that there is nothing difficult in growing Brussels sprouts. It remains only to choose the most suitable for the climate variety for your region, and you can start sowing, plant this amazing and tasty plant, which will also look unusual.

Brussels sprouts are an unusual biennial plant (there is something exotic in it, reminiscent of a palm tree) with a growth period of about six months in the first summer it forms heads of cabbage used in cooking along a thick stem, and in the second it works for seeds. This vegetable crop is demanding on light, loves moisture, and tolerates a drop in temperature well. It continues growing during cold snaps up to 5-8 C and even short-term frosts.

The article gives the characteristics of the plant, describes the cultivation of Brussels sprouts in the open field, gives the main agricultural techniques.

Brussels sprouts: cultivation and care depend on the climate

The climate of our country is difficult enough for the cultivation of certain crops. Unlike Europe with the Gulf Stream and mild winters, which prolong the growing season of many vegetables, growing Brussels sprouts in the Urals limited by seasonal limits and severe temperature extremes. Transferring to the ground too early is not justified, because under the influence of strong return frosts, the most seasoned Brussels sprouts die. Her growing in Siberia relevant only through seedlings planted at almost two months of age in the first 15 days of May.

Brussels sprouts growing and care photos

Growing Brussels sprouts in the Moscow region has its own characteristics: it is necessary to choose early or early-medium varieties that have time to yield the harvest in a season, and the phased collection of heads of cabbage should be timed to mid-October. For example, the well-known variety "Hercules 1342" is a Brussels sprouts regionalized for this region. Its cultivation and care in the Moscow region are carried out by true gardening enthusiasts, who strive to place most of the known garden plants on their summer cottages.

Brussels sprouts varieties

A little more than a dozen varieties of this vegetable are listed in the State Register of Russia. To understand which variety is better to plant, you should study the offered assortment.

Brussels sprouts Hercules cultivation

Brussels sprouts Hercules... The cultivation of a well-known domestic variety is due to its external and taste characteristics. A late-ripening variety with a cone-shaped stem, on which oval heads are strung, does not go beyond the boundaries of average growth. Small heads of cabbage are great for cooking, homemade preparations (pickling, freezing, canning with other vegetables). However, it is less popular than the Hercules 1342 variant, which gives a higher yield and is immune to cabbage diseases.

Brussels sprouts Rosella cultivation

Brussels sprouts Rosella... Growing a mid-early variety, bred by German breeders, capable of almost completely yielding at the same time, makes it indispensable for gardeners who do not "live" in the beds and are content with rare visits. Like any other Brussels sprouts, Rosella is useful when growing and caring for adult plants according to the rules of agricultural technology, contains a fair amount of vitamin C and folic acid. In case of violation of agricultural practices - excessive fertilizing with nitrogen-containing fertilizers - it is capable of accumulating harmful nitrates.

Brussels sprouts sapphire cultivation

Brussels sprouts Sapphire... Cultivation in a summer cottage of a late variety, which requires more than 200 days for the harvest to ripen, is possible only in areas with early spring and long autumn. However, its amazing taste compensates for the labor costs of gardeners to transfer plants to greenhouses for growing with the onset of a steady cold snap. And if there is a desire to try heads of cabbage with excellent taste, it can be planted in the middle lane.

Brussels sprouts Casio cultivation

Brussels sprouts Casio... Growing a medium-sized and ripening variety, decorated with a blue-green top, guarantees a large number of good-tasting heads of cabbage on each plant. A bountiful harvest is an excellent way to plant this particular variety of Czech selection, which is tasty both fresh and thermally processed. This variety has a light nutty flavor that adds interesting flavor to green salads.

You saw Brussels sprouts in the photo: we will consider the cultivation of different varieties below (in principle, the agricultural technology is the same for all varieties).

Growing Brussels sprouts from sowing to harvest

If you previously planted a white-headed beauty in your garden, then you can cope with the Brussels one. In order to collect a decent harvest in addition to a new experience when planting an interesting plant, and not waste time fighting cabbage diseases and pests, it is worth learning a few simple rules. One of them is the mandatory observance of the crop rotation process (planting shift). You can return any variety of cabbage to where it grew in 4-5 years. The annual use of one corner of the garden for cabbage crops will lead to depletion of the soil, the accumulation of pathogenic bacteria and viruses, and as a result - an outbreak of diseases, poor plant growth, and small yields.

Basic Rules:

• You need to sow seeds at the end of March., can be in containers on the windowsill or in the greenhouse.
• The agrotechnology of growing seedlings is simple: rare abundant watering, protection from pests (it is necessary to process it in a timely manner, since the cruciferous flea is capable of destroying all seedlings in a day). It is best to overdo it by dressing the seeds before sowing with a special compound (for example, "Prestige" - 1 cube per half liter of water). Next, we just cut through the plants so that they do not stretch out. No picking is required!
• It is possible to plant in the ground already at a seedling height of 10 cm... She will already have 4-5 true leaves, by this time the roots are sufficiently developed.

Popular and simple about Brussels sprouts, their cultivation and care on video:

How to impress your country house neighbors with a good harvest of Brussels sprouts? The cultivation technique of this species is similar to the white one:

• A well-drained, deeply cultivated land is required, the best option is types of loam.
• When planting, not rotted organic fertilizers should be excluded, and then watering with fermented herbal infusion, because with a direct hit of fresh organic matter, cabbage is capable of accumulating a large amount of nitrates.
• During the growing season, if the soil has been well prepared in advance, you can do without feeding at all, or arrange "nutritious days". A decade after planting the seedlings, it is worth adding nitrogen fertilizers, and when tying heads of cabbage, focus on the phosphorus and potassium necessary during this period. Experts recommend using only mineral fertilizers.

Brussels sprouts growing from seeds when to plant

Brussels sprouts outdoor cultivation and care

The longest ripening cabbage is Brussels sprouts. Growing seedlings from seeds is the only way to get results in our weather conditions.

• You can sow at the end of Marchas soon as the soil ripens, cabbage is not afraid of frosts and perfectly survives a cold snap, frosts down to -3 ° C.
• A depth of 1 cm is enough, the distance between the rows is 10-12 cm.
• Drizzle generously and cover with plastic wrap. Seedlings appear in about 7-10 days.
• It is important to protect the seeds by dressing them against cruciferous fleas or by sprinkling the preparation directly into the rows.
• Further care is quite simple: water once a week, and weed the weeds.
• As soon as the seedlings rise slightly, break through the dense crops, leaving 1 plant per 5 cm.

Brussels sprouts are sown in rows for seedlings

With a plant height of 10-15 cm, they are planted in holes in a permanent place. Before planting the holes, it is advisable to spill water and sprinkle a couple of guests with loose humus.

Growing seedlings of Brussels sprouts at home

Since it takes almost six months from planting, the appearance of the first shoots to ripening and the moment of harvesting, this type of cabbage is sown with seeds and grown through seedlings. To get strong, sturdy seedlings you need:

• choose the best variety that meets the preferences of the gardener in terms of parameters: ripening period, taste, size range, color palette of leaves (this criterion is important when creating an ornamental garden)
• mix a soil substrate from non-acidic peat, humus, earth, sand and wood ash (it must be sifted). Garden soil is less suitable for seedlings of Brussels sprouts. Its cultivation on garden soil without additional disinfection (calcination) can lead to rot of immature seedlings, the spread of diseases among seedlings, and then to loss of yield
• follow the general rules for planting all cabbage species, observe the necessary distances (5 cm per seedling in diameter) and the sowing depth (1 cm).
• provide the necessary watering and light regime: if the temperature in the apartment is quite enough for the development of cabbage, then the light must be provided to the maximum. Daylight hours should be at least 12 hours, and the illumination should be intense. Therefore, choose windowsills on the sunny side. We water rarely, but abundantly. Don't forget about drainage: there must be holes in the bottom of our container.
• maintain the required temperature: during the day we keep the seedlings warm on the windowsill, at night we send the beauty to the glazed loggia. In this way, the required regime will be observed, and the plants will be hardened.
• fertilize with a solution of fertilizers. It is better to use liquid fertilizers diluted with water in the proportion intended for seedlings. This information is usually indicated on the packages.

Brussels sprouts are very easy to grow at home

How do lunar phases affect the planting of Brussels sprouts when grown from seeds? When to plant seeds for seedlings? Any vegetables with an edible ground part are recommended to be planted on the "growing" moon. The optimal period is the end of March, the first ten days of April. A light, loose substrate is laid out in separate peat containers. The earth is slightly compacted, 3-4 seeds are planted in the hole at a short distance, sprinkled with a layer of earth up to 2 cm.When sprouts appear, you should watch their development, then cut off or pinch off less successful ones near the surface of the earth, leaving one for further growth. Do not pull the stems out of the soil - this will damage the root system of the selected specimen.

Brussels sprouts: cultivation and care. Photos of plants in different periods of the growing season

Plant Brussels sprouts in rows at a distance of 40-50 cm in a row, 60-70 cm between rows

Growing seedlings of Brussels sprouts at home involves maintaining a low temperature regime, which is problematic in a warm apartment. It is all the more difficult to ensure a significant drop in temperature at night. Experts recommend placing racks with seedling boxes on glazed balconies, where the air is optimally cool. If necessary, it is convenient to throw a non-woven material over rigid structures so as not to "freeze" delicate sprouts. The best temperature for Brussels sprouts, its seedlings when grown, is from 12-15 during the day to 8-10 at night.

But the planted seedlings of Brussels sprouts have grown a little

Plants prepared for planting at the age of 30-45 days (when they release 4-7 true leaves) are determined in the soil. When transferring seedlings, it is necessary to compact the soil at the stems of the plant to prevent it from rolling out of the ground.

Open field cultivation of Brussels sprouts is a garden experiment, when you want to try something different, and not be content with traditional white cabbage. It is suitable for summer residents who are not going to cultivate a vegetable on an industrial scale.

Growing Brussels sprouts from sowing to harvest is no different from growing white cabbage

In a small area, it is easy to maintain cleanliness, remove weeds, water, if necessary, feed, spray from pests with infusions of bitter pepper, garlic, tomato tops. To preserve the moisture and looseness of the earth, a layer of mulching materials should be laid out under the plants (cut dried grass, large leaves, you can lay the broken side leaves of the cabbage itself). At the initial stages of cabbage development, treatments with strong preparations are permissible, which will have time to go through a decay period before ripening.

Brussels sprouts: growing secrets are simple

Watch a lesson on growing Brussels sprouts in the open field on the video:

Brussels sprouts: growing secrets

This favorite of European chefs, a culture with an extended yield period, allows you to cook dishes from a freshly harvested vegetable for several months. To get a result that you can be proud of, growing Brussels sprouts at home should be done with knowledge of some of the subtleties:

• This variety has a strong, voluminous root system and therefore requires ample space around it. With compacted beds, shading gives a much lower yield, develops worse. Therefore, it will be better to withstand a step of 60-70 cm between copies if you have enough land. If a small plot is allocated for this type of cabbage, it is better to plant several plants selected according to varietal characteristics and get a decent result than trying to fit two dozen sprouts on one meter, which will only be suitable for composting.
• It develops successfully after root crops (carrots, potatoes), loves green manure, onion, legumes in its predecessors.
• Avoid planting Brussels sprouts where any of the cruciferous plants grew last summer.
• The soil must be dug deep in the fall with the obligatory addition of fertilizers, ash and lime, and then easily processed in the spring. Liming is worth it, since the "Brussels guest" adores calcium, and the process itself deacidifies the soil, increases the percentage of assimilation of potassium and phosphorus, and increases the effect of fertilizers.
• The vegetable does not need hilling. The maximum that may be required is a little loosening of the soil, because even at the base of the stem, small cabbage heads are poured.
• In late varieties, after calculating the 30-day period before harvest, they pinch the growth point, cut off the top leaves in order to accelerate ripening.

Features of the cultivation of Brussels sprouts, its collection and storage:

• advanced gardeners, especially in areas with constant winds, install supports to prevent the vegetable from falling
• if the leaves framing the place where the coots are attached begin to turn yellowish, and the fruits themselves are covered with a pronounced waxy bloom - you can celebrate the victory, it's time to harvest.
• the crop is harvested selectively, starting from the largest lower heads of cabbage, providing further growth and nutrition of the upper heads
• do not delay the harvest too much, wait for the heads of cabbage to become too large - the bitterness that appears will reduce the pleasure of taste
• at the end of the season, the apical leaves are removed, the stems of Brussels sprouts are cut down. They can be stored without picking up the heads of cabbage, wrapped in plastic wrap at a temperature close to 1 C for another couple of months.
• Plants dug up along with the roots can be transplanted in the fall for growing in a greenhouse, because vegetate successfully at low temperatures. In this way, it is easy to extend the fruiting period and get healthy cabbage for a few more weeks.

We offer you to find out the tricks and secrets of growing Brussels sprouts from the video review:

Among all varieties of cabbage, it is Brussels sprouts that are distinguished by the maximum content of dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals. Ripe inflorescences contain up to 5% protein (which is comparable to legumes), more than a dozen amino acids, without which the normal life of the body is impossible.
If you pay attention to the vitamin composition, the main components are ascorbic and niacin. The concentration of vitamin C reaches 150 mg, PP - 98 mg, which exceeds the identical indicators of white cabbage. The inflorescences are rich in phosphorus, potassium, iron and magnesium.

The specific taste and aroma is due to the content of mustard oil. Vegetable culture, a photo of which can be found in any culinary publication, is recognized as a valuable dietary product that can be used in medical nutrition, including for persons with serious systemic disorders.

The maximum benefit can be obtained from the fruits grown on your own plot. Such vegetables are environmentally friendly and can be stored for a long period without chemical processing.

Popular varieties of Brussels sprouts

By its external characteristics, the culture is easy to distinguish due to the way it grows. Its stem stretches upward, reaching a meter height. Heads of cabbage form in the axils of the leaves on the stem, growing up to 7 cm in diameter (but more often 3-4 cm).

Growing this group of plants in the open field begins with the choice of a variety. In the conditions of the Russian climate, the following varieties are widespread:

• "Cassio" - has a high yield and belongs to mid-season varieties. At least 60 heads of cabbage can be harvested from one plant.
• Rosella - practically not inferior in yield to the previous one. An average of 50 inflorescences are obtained from the stem. The variety is mid-season, which is optimal for planting in the Urals and Siberia.
• Dallik - hybrid medium late cabbage.The breeders managed to obtain high keel resistance. Subject to the growing conditions in the Moscow region, you can get an excellent harvest.
• "Hercules" - late-ripening variety resistant to pests and diseases. When properly cared for, mature buds look like golf balls.

The harvest can be obtained after the first year of cultivation. From one copy, from 30 to 90 inflorescences weighing 8-20 grams are collected. In the future, cabbage is covered with shoots that bloom and give seeds. Their collection and subsequent use to obtain seedlings contributes to the annual collection of their own harvest.

Growing conditions

Cultivation of a culture is possible only if all conditions are met. It is a light-loving plant that loves moderate watering. In dry weather, the intensity of irrigation should be plentiful.

The nature of the soil is cultivated loam saturated with organic matter. In terms of pH, they can be neutral or slightly acidic. The stem reaches its maximum development at a temperature of plus 18-22 degrees, however, adult plants are able to withstand frosts, which is especially important for colder regions.

To exclude the impact of pests and diseases, it is recommended to use resistant varieties, the considered growing conditions, and compliance with crop rotation. If you do not follow these rules, cabbage can be affected by aphids, scoops, white beetles, red-colored flea beetles, thrips, moths, bacteriosis.

Ideal predecessors are vegetable roots, legumes, tomatoes, pumpkin. Do not plant after the cruciferous family. This is due to the fact that both crops are susceptible to the same diseases and pests.

Getting seedlings

Vegetation period plants (the time it takes from sowing to harvest) reaches 180 days, which determines the effectiveness of growing by seedlings. To obtain it, you should adhere to these recommendations:

The beginning of planting seeds - end of March, beginning of April. It is important not to miss this time, as the plant has a long growing season. Planting at a later date will not allow you to get a rich and full harvest.

A place - boxes with a soil mixture composed of peat, turf soil, wood ash, mineral fertilizers.

Seedlings are laid to a depth of 1-2 cm. The deepening is easy to make with a finger.

For seedlings to grow, a temperature of 18-20 degrees is required. The first shoots appear in 3-4 days. In some conditions, this will take a little longer.

For the growth and formation of seedlings, the temperature regime is changed to 15-18 degrees. Such conditions can be achieved by placing a box with seedlings on a non-solar windowsill.

Watering - Moderate, the soil should not be too wet or dry. It is recommended to monitor the condition of the soil layer every two days, especially if the weather is hot and sultry outside.

Planting Brussels sprouts outdoors

Planting is carried out after about 4-7 full-fledged leaves appear on the bushes. The optimal time is mid-May, early June. You should take care of the choice of the site in the fall. This should be a separate, well-lit place, where deep digging was carried out, mineral fertilizers were applied.

Based on 1 sq. m of land is used:

• no more than 6 kg of peat compost,
• 40 grams of superphosphate and ammonium nitrate,
• 20 grams of potassium chloride.

Also, in the autumn, the land is enriched with lime or ash - 200 grams / 1m2.

In spring, the soil layer is dug up again and young shoots are planted in rows. A lump of earth should remain on the seedlings, that is, the shoot is carefully removed from the container in which it grew, after preliminary digging. A distance of 60 - 70 cm is maintained between each instance. The specified gap is observed from all sides.

The shoots are firmly fixed in the ground by carefully tamping the earth against the stems.

Potted or cassette seedlings, which are less affected by the root system, take root best. Molds for this planting method are available at any flower shop.

Growing

The care of a seedling culture is commensurate with the care that is organized for a simple cabbage. Before the formation of ovaries, watering is carried out quite often, 350 l / 10 m2 of area are used at one time. After the appearance of heads of cabbage, the rate increases to 400 - 450 liters.

During intensive growth, the plant is extremely responsive to the introduction of mineral fertilizers. When seven days have passed after placing the shoots in the ground, the first feeding is implemented. It is recommended to use nitroammofosku - for 2 holes, 1 tsp.

The second time fertilizer is introduced after the formation of the first ovaries. The composition of the dressing: nitroammofosk, 25 grams of potassium sulfate, double superphosphate, a bucket of water. Fertilizer is injected accurately, dosed, for which it is convenient to use a watering can with a special nozzle.

Three weeks before harvesting, the tops of each bush are pinched, the rosette leaves are cut off. Decapation will allow you to get larger heads of cabbage, since all the strength of growth is directed to the final development of the fruit.

Harvesting

When a waxy shine is visible on the cabbage, and the leaves at its base begin to turn yellow and crumble, you can start harvesting. The fruits can be harvested at one time, when all the stems are cut, or in stages, sequentially removing the heads from the bottom of the bushes.

If necessary, you can resort to growing technology. Cabbage is planted in well-moistened grooves in the greenhouse or in special boxes in the basement (at a temperature of 3-6 degrees).
Storing Brussels sprouts

How to store the resulting crop? If growing is realized, the heads of cabbage are perfectly preserved directly on the stems. If cut with a shank, they are placed unprocessed in a dark, cool place, such as a cellar. To do this, they are buried in the sand. Optimum microclimate indicators - humidity 90%, temperature not higher than 0 degrees.

In an ordinary refrigerator, a vegetable is stored for about 30-45 days, for which it is placed in a bag with perforation. However, freezing is considered the best method. First, the inflorescences are kept in cold water for about 15 minutes, then in boiling water for 3 minutes. The cooled heads of cabbage are laid out in packaging bags and placed in the freezer.

Note to the gardener

Brussels sprouts are a relatively young crop. This plant grows successfully in most of the country. Optimal conditions are created with moderate humidity and air temperature.

The bushes are extremely cold-resistant - they are able to withstand short-term frosts and even frosts, down to -10 degrees. At the same time, too high temperatures delay the development of the plant and deteriorate the quality characteristics of the crop.

The soil for cultivation should not only belong to a certain type and level of acidity. The site must be structured and permeable. On the impoverished land, the culture practically does not develop and does not tie heads of cabbage well.

The plant perceives low light negatively. It withstands short-term moisture deficiency well. The powerful root system of the bushes is capable of sucking moisture from the deep layers of the earth. As it grows, the planting consumes many nutrients. The introduction of potassium and nitrogen into the soil determines the development of large heads of cabbage.

Brussels sprouts are an unusual biennial plant with a thick stem, 30-100 centimeters or more in height, on which green or green-purple leaves are located. Small dense or loose heads of cabbage with a diameter of 2 to 5 centimeters are formed in the leaf axils by autumn.In the second year, the plant blooms and forms fruits - small brown seeds enclosed in pods.

Brussels sprouts are the most valuable food and medicine. It contains a significant amount of protein, fiber, folic acid, vitamins E, C, PP, provitamin A, B vitamins, sodium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iodine, iron, amino acids.

Growing Brussels sprouts in the open field is an exciting activity that many vegetable growers and summer residents have liked. The resulting rich harvest of the most valuable vegetable crop allows you to diversify your diet and improve your health.

Varieties, which variety to choose?

Photos of Brussels sprouts

Among the varieties of Brussels sprouts, there are early ripening (ripening period of about 130 days), mid-ripening (130-150 days) and late ones, which will take 150-170 days or more for maturity.

Early varieties

1. Rosella - a variety of German selection, characterized by a high yield, heads of cabbage weighing an average of about 13 grams are formed and ripen almost simultaneously.
2. Casio - a variety of Czech selection, high-yielding, cold-resistant, stem height reaches 1 meter, heads (about 70 per plant) are green, dense, round, weighing up to 15 grams, with excellent taste.
3. Dolmik - Dutch hybrid up to 50 centimeters high, with yellow-green heads of cabbage weighing about 20 grams, which acquire a delicate taste after cooking.
4. Franklin - a fruitful hybrid, the heads of cabbage are green, round, with an excellent taste.
5. Garnet bracelet - a cold-resistant hybrid ripening 120 days after planting in the ground, withstanding frosts down to -7 ° С. On a stem with a height of 60-70 centimeters, 30-40 dense, rounded purple-red heads of medium size are formed, which acquire a delicate taste after heat treatment.

The early maturing varieties also include Isabella, Commander, Rudnef, Frigate, Oliver, Explorer hybrids.

Mid-season varieties

Among the mid-season varieties of Brussels sprouts, the most popular are:

1. Garnet - cold-resistant hybrid variety, the height of the stem reaches 70 centimeters, heads of cabbage (30-40 pieces) are rounded, maroon.
2. Boxer - a high-yielding hybrid variety, cold-resistant, resistant to pests and diseases, rounded heads of cabbage, green, with excellent taste.
3. Diamond - a hybrid variety with high productivity and disease resistance, dark green heads of cabbage, with a pleasant taste, reaching 3 centimeters in diameter.
4. Perfection - the best for the Moscow region, the Urals and Siberia, a productive variety of Russian selection with green heads of excellent taste.
5. Funny company - medium-sized variety, heads of cabbage weighing 10-12 grams are dense, green-purple, with excellent taste.

The well-known mid-season varieties Dauer Riesen, Hercules, and the Maximus hybrid have also proven themselves well.

Late varieties

This category of Brussels sprouts is represented by the following varieties:

1. Curl - a variety of Czech selection, one of the most productive, the height of the stem is about 90 centimeters, the average weight of the heads of cabbage is about 15 grams, the diameter is up to 5 centimeters.
2. Gruniger - cold-resistant variety, green-orange heads of cabbage, weighing up to 18 grams and up to 4 centimeters in diameter. The fruits improve their taste after being exposed to light frost.

Landing dates

For the cultivation of Brussels sprouts, the Russian climate is rather difficult. In the Urals, the cultivation of this vegetable crop is limited by serious temperature drops and seasonal limits.

Severe return frosts can lead to the death of Brussels sprouts planted too early in the ground. In Siberia, its cultivation is possible only through seedlings, which are planted in the ground in the first half of May at the age of two months.

In the conditions of the Moscow region, the cultivation of Brussels sprouts has its own characteristics. In order for the crop to have time to give its harvest during the season, it is recommended to choose early and mid-early varieties.

Growing seedlings

From mid-March to early April, is the optimal time to plant Brussels sprouts for seedlings.

How to choose a container?

For growing seedlings, containers, boxes, trays or individual cups are suitable, which must be disinfected by treating with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate. Many growers practice growing crops in cassettes, peat tablets or pots.

Soil preparation

Seeds of Brussels sprouts are sown in large containers or separate pots with fertile, well-moistened soil, which is prepared from equal parts of peat, turf and sand with the addition of 10 tablespoons of wood ash for every 10 kilograms of soil. For disinfection, it is recommended to spill the soil with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate before planting.

Seed preparation

The seed is heated in water at a temperature of 50 ° C for 15 minutes, and then immersed in cold water for 1 minute. After that, for 12 hours they are kept in a solution of trace elements, then washed with clean water and placed in a vegetable box of the refrigerator for a day. Then they are dried so that the seeds do not stick to the fingers.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Those who are used to growing seedlings in large containers should keep in mind that there should be a distance of at least 3-4 centimeters between the seeds of Brussels sprouts. Seed laying is carried out to a depth of 1-2 centimeters.

If the crops are kept under film or glass at a temperature of 18-20 ° C, shoots may appear after 4-5 days. After that, the cover must be removed and the crops must be moved to a loggia, a glazed balcony or to a heated greenhouse.

Seedlings require a night temperature not higher than 5-6 ° С, and a daytime temperature - 16-18 ° С. Before planting in open ground, seedlings of Brussels sprouts must be moistened and loosened. The substrate in the container should always be moistened, but in no case should it be overmoistened in order to prevent the seedlings from getting sick with the black leg.

Picking

If the seedlings of Brussels sprouts grow in a common container, they are picked in the phase of development of cotyledon leaves. The soil is preliminarily watered with a 0.5% solution of potassium permanganate, the seedling together with the earth lump is removed from the substrate and transplanted into a separate pot. If necessary, shorten the central root.

Top dressing

After the pick, when 2-3 true leaves appear in the seedlings, they are fed by preparing a solution of 10 liters of water, 20 grams of superphosphate, 20 grams of ammonium nitrate, 10 grams of potassium sulfate. After 2 weeks, the seedlings are re-fed.

For this, 60 grams of superphosphate, 30 grams of ammonium nitrate and 20 grams of potassium sulfate are dissolved in 10 liters of water. After each top dressing, it is recommended to water the substrate with water at room temperature.

2 weeks before planting in open ground, the seedlings begin to harden, daily increasing the time spent on the balcony or open terrace.

Seedling care

To obtain a rich harvest of Brussels sprouts, it is necessary to ensure proper care of the seedlings.

Landing in open ground

To grow Brussels sprouts from seeds, they can be sown at the end of March, as soon as the soil is ripe. It is enough to bury the seeds in the ground by 1 centimeter, keep a distance of 10-12 centimeters between the rows. After watering, it is recommended to cover the area with foil.

Seedlings appear in about 7-10 days. Further care is quite simple: weekly watering and weeding. Slightly raised seedlings are broken through, leaving 1 plant per 5 centimeters. When the height of the plants reaches 10-15 centimeters, they are planted in the holes. Before planting, the holes are spilled with water and a couple of handfuls of loose humus are poured into them.

Seat selection

For planting plants in open ground, choose the southeastern or southern slopes, which are brightly illuminated by the sun.Potatoes, onions, cucumbers, carrots, green manures, grains and legumes are good precursors for Brussels sprouts.

After radishes, turnips, daikons, turnips, radishes, tomatoes, cabbage, beets, it will be possible to grow it only after 4 years. Brussels sprouts most of all love loamy fertile soils with an acidity level of 6.7-7.4.

Soil preparation

Preparation of a plot for Brussels sprouts should be started in the fall. The soil is dug to the depth of the shovel bayonet and, if required, lime is added (400 grams per 1 square meter). In the spring, the soil on the site is fertilized with humus or compost (a bucket per 1 square meter).

Planting seedlings

Seedlings of Brussels sprouts about 10 centimeters high, which have acquired 4-5 true leaves, can be planted in the ground. This can happen from mid-May to early June. Seedlings stop watering 5-7 days before planting in the garden, and just before planting, the soil is abundantly moistened.

Brussels sprouts are planted in the ground on a cloudy day or in the evening after sunset. The wells are arranged according to the scheme 60x60 centimeters. They are dug out slightly larger than the root system of the seedlings. A seedling with an earthen lump is transferred from a pot or container into a hole, placed in it, the holes are covered with earth, slightly compacted and watered.

Outdoor plant care

To protect the seedlings from the cruciferous flea - the main enemy of the family - the site is sprinkled with ash. Brussels sprouts do not need hilling, from this the lower heads of cabbage can rot. 3-4 weeks before harvesting, it is recommended to decapitate Brussels sprouts - pinching the top of each stem and cutting the rosette leaves. This is done in order to set larger heads of cabbage.

Otherwise, Brussels sprouts are looked after as usual: loosening and weeding on the site, sufficient watering, feeding, protection from diseases and pests, if necessary.

Watering

Brussels sprouts are moisture-loving crops. It is watered 8-10 times during the growing season, spending 35-40 liters of water per square meter before the formation of heads of cabbage and 40-50 liters from the moment of their formation. In rainy weather, the frequency of irrigation and the amount of water consumed per square meter of water are adjusted.

Top dressing

Brussels sprouts, grown in the open field on infertile soil, must be fed with mineral fertilizers. A week after planting in the garden, the seedlings are fertilized for the first time with a solution of nitrophoska (60 grams per 10 liters of water) at the rate of 1 teaspoon per 2 plants.

In the period of the beginning of the formation of heads of cabbage on the stems, a second top dressing is introduced. To do this, dissolve 25 grams of superphosphate and potassium sulfate in a bucket of water, add 1 teaspoon of nitroammophos. For each plant, 1.5 liters of this solution are consumed. Brussels sprouts growing in well-fertilized fertile soil may not need feeding.

Pest and disease control

For the representatives of cabbage, the cruciferous flea is the most dangerous, but there are other insects that can destroy the harvest of Brussels sprouts: cabbage moth, white beetle, moth, aphid, scoops, bear, babanukha, black and wavy flea beetles, root lurker, rapeseed and cabbage bugs, wireworm.

The most effective preventive measures for insect control are:

• compliance with crop rotation;
• compulsory pre-sowing seed treatment;
• proper preparation of the site for planting or sowing crops;
• compliance with agricultural practices;
• strict adherence to the rules of plant care;
• cleaning the site from plant residues after harvesting.

If pests do appear, it is better to try to cope with them with folk remedies. To destroy the breeding insects, you will have to use chemicals, giving preference to bacterial insecticides.

In the garden, Brussels sprouts are most often affected by black leg, dry and white rot, keela, downy mildew, ring and black spot, slimy and vascular bacteriosis, mosaic.

If, despite preventive measures, Brussels sprouts are nevertheless struck by a disease, it is recommended to treat the plants with fungicides, for example, Maxim (4 milliliters per 2 liters of water) or Fundazol (10 grams per 10 liters of water).

How to harvest and store crops?

3-4 months after the seedlings are planted in the ground, the maturation of the heads of Brussels sprouts begins. You should not rush to harvest the crop: exposure to low temperatures only improves the taste of the vegetable. The plant tolerates cooling down to -6-7 ° С without loss of quality.

First, the lower heads of cabbage are removed so that the upper ones gain the required volume and density. After the beginning of leaf fall, a massive harvest is carried out. It must be removed in time before the temperature drops to -10 ° C. At the root collar, the stem is chopped, the top is cut off. Leaves on the stem in this form can be stored for about 3 months.

To ensure longer storage, Brussels sprouts are uprooted or dug up, the leaves are cut off on it and dropped into the cellar. Heads of cabbage can be cut with stumps and stored in the cellar, laid in boxes. They can be stored in the refrigerator wrapped in polyethylene for 1.5 months. For the longest period of time, Brussels sprouts are kept frozen.