The last several years, we have looked for Brussels sprouts to plant in our garden. I was wondering if anyone else has had any success with this vegetable? Lately, I cannot even find it in the stores to buy. Is this vegetable on the extinct list?
We are too old/disabled now to garden, but I am curious to find out what has happened to this favorite of mine. If you know, please let me know :)
You can find transplants in Nurseries, but not all garden centers. Timing is pretty critical with BS- and they take a huge space in the garden for about 6 months- time to maturity is very long. I have only grown them successfully once- other times the sprouts didn't mature for whatever reason. I find it more practical to just buy them! I do love them too. A few times I have found them for sale still on the stalks- that was fun.
Onelady, I find them when the cabbage transplants are out. Jade is most commonly sold here and I liked them. I tried to grow my own, but they dampened off. Since I did get cabbage to grow from seed, I need to try again.
I also staked my plants and they took didn't take too much room. You could set them in any sunny area.
I also learned to pluck those off the bottom to eat all summer and to pick the rest after the first light frost.
I am growing Brussel Sprouts very good here.
It takes long time you are right. But they are a plant that can stay outside with no problem during the winter, and I rather have something planted insted to have an empty soil area.
I started them from seeds on August 1st indoor.
I tranplant them out as soon as I have some room, after I remove my tomatoes. Normally September 1st.
Rigth now I see small 1/2" brussel sprouts. In a month or so they will be ready.
I also live some plants to flower in the spring. Their beautiful yellow flowers attract lots of bees.
Long time, but they are worth to me.
The one I found at the store they taste like plastic !!
This picture was taken on February 6, 2010
Beautiful Drthor!
I started mine from seeds also; had a struggle to begin with cause they were crowded by a tomato plant and something else. Both got froze and removed and the BS now have more room and seem to be doing much better, but it appears that a crop is a long time down the road!
I have planted from seed the last two years with varying success. In 2009 we had record cold in july, 2010 we had record rain and humidity. In 2009 we had more than we could eat so I cut back and of course 2010 was dissapointing. As the other posters state it does take up space for 5-6 months before being ready. I learned the hard way that they sweeten up AFTER a frost or two in the fall. I have seen this veggie in other wis gardens also so its not extinct yet.
Splitting them and frying in butter and a little garlic powder for taste, will take the bitter taste out during the summer.
Several of you say BS - - - what does that mean? I am extremely new here! I would like some hints on other short-hand used at this site too, if you can help me :) :) :)
Thank you all for the great responses :) I think I will just have to be on the watch at the grocery, but it is long time between when I see it there - even frozen!
onelady - I'm guessing BS stands for "Brussels Sprouts"
I like them. I tried growing some last year but they never sprouted :)
BS = Brussels Sprouts need a long time of cold weather.
They were born in a very cold region in Europe. They grew in between rocks with just a little bit of soil.
Exposed to wind and rain. They have a very small root system.
So if you plant your BS in the spring (I am talking about my area), they will never sprouts, instead they will bolt (=flower).
That's why I start them at the beginning of the september and I will have them in february or end of January. Right now mine are about 3/4".
They just need cold and a little patience ... that's why we grow our own veggies right?
Good luck
drthor - I could never understand why my mother always threw the Brussels sprouts seeds into the rock pile that also had a lot of grass growing there!
I only remember brushing off the snow to get to the sprouts. I was born and raised in Cornwall, England.
I'm wondering if I should create a similar rock pile and try growing BS's again.
We love BS and find them at most groceries. Locally, Marsh, Kroger's, Trader Joe's, and Fresh Market always have them. The best way, in my opinion, to buy them is on the stalk if you can find them that way. They last for weeks and weeks that way, in the fridge. You just break off what you need, as you need them. We're just finishing up a very large stalk that we bought for Thanksgiving!
I've also grown them from seed and starts in the past. They do take up lots of room, for sure. You also have to watch for cabbage butterfly caterpillars, like on any member of that family, and aphids. Bacillus Thurengicide (spelling) is a good organic way to take care of them.
Onelady, smiling because it took me a long time to guess at some of the shorthand.
IMHO was the hardest. In My Humble Opinion or IMO In My Opinion.
DH, DM, DB, DSIL. All Dear's or Dangs if it fits, LOL! Husband, Mother, Brother, Sister In Law, etc.
LOL, Laugh Out Loud
ROTFL, Rolling On The Floor Laughing. I have a good sense of humor and use that one a lot! Some people add My Butt Off, Or like me, & Laughing & Laughing.
TTYL, Talk To You Later.
BBL, Be Back Later.
I can't think of any more at the moment. I hope I covered most of them. Many times people will shorten the subject of the thread, like BS for the sprouts. MG was another hard one for me. It was Morning Glory!
I can't believe your stores don't carry the Brussels sprouts. I can get them frozen in bags or boxes (Green Giant or Birds Eye.) I hope you can find some. You may go back to growing and freezing your own.
Drthor, I never knew that about sprouts! This is turning into a very good thread! You don't have too long to wait till harvesting yours, YUM!
I can start mine in the Spring, plant out while it's pretty cool and not have to harvest most of it till after the frosts in October. If I don't pick as they grow all summer, I will have wasted some. They just burst because they are get so big along the bottom.
Honeybee, that is so cool that your Mom grew them right! I hope you try it. I'd love to see pictures.
Hoosier, I never knew about keeping them on the stalks either. I'm just learning a lot! I also know I'm growing them this year.
Here are my plants being smothered by the Hollyhocks last year. Even tho they only got the East and a bit of South sun, they still did well. I did try to keep the Hollyhocks tied up and off them after the picture :o)
billyporter - I have a little rock garden where I grow ferns, perhaps I'll throw in a few brussels sprouts seeds and see what happens. The area gets late afternoon sun, so I'm not sure they'll do well, but it's worth trying. If they thrive on neglect, this area would be perfect, because other than watering and weeding, this area gets no attention because that's what ferns like.
I have two brussel sprout plants and they both are about 3' tall with tightly-knit sprouts developing. I have seen pics with the lower & mid level leaves on, and I have seen pics with the leaves off. All pics had mature sprouts. Is there a preferred method of maintaining the leaves/ branches as the plant grows? In other words, do you prune?
drthor, thanks again for the keen observation regarding the root system. I am thinking about transplanting two BS plants (about 4 months old) from a raised bed into smart pots. Since you said they have shallow root systems, do you think this would be successful?
You need to start to remove the bottom leaves when you start to harvest the bottom BS.
If you want larger sprouts remove the top part of the plant, which look like a giant green flower.
I don't know about transplanting them ...
Honeybee, yep, nothing to lose but seeds! It would make a neat''flower'' that people would wonder about, LOL!
John, my leaves naturally start to yellow and die, so I clean them off when they do. Then I can see the sprouts and if they are big enough to pick.
I don't know about moving them. Seems risky.
