I'm new to zone 5 and we planted them last spring. (Started them in the basement)
I guess it was summer by the time they grew big enough to produce and perhaps then it was too hot for them.
Now after months I finally got some sprouts big enough to harvest. They were small compared to what you see in the store.
So are they a cold weather crop?
Do you plant them in the summer for a fall crop?
Do you plant them late winter for a spring crop?
The few I got were delish, but it's snowing today and I'm sure too cold for the plant to survive much longer.
What is the secret to growing lots of lovely brussel sprouts?
Dove
When do you plant Brussel Sprouts?
We would pick right straight through until they were all gone even with snow covering the ground!. They get sweeter after the frosts. So enjoy!
As for growing we would start the seed in the garden in May and would harvest after the first frost. I found if they were started too early the sprouts would get too big and split before the first frosts.
Thank you Sandy,
I think we planted too early, we also gave straw-bale gardening a go this year and that probably wasn't the best idea.
Hindsight being 20/20, I think getting a grip on our zone 5 before experimenting with straw-bales would have been a wiser approach *S*
Last year was my first year to grow brussels sprouts (also zone 5b), and I bought seedlings in early May. They didn't do much until June, when the soil finally warmed, and then they took off. Our summers are not too hot so I didn't lose any to heat... but I didn't plant enough. Next year I will do both spring planted, and summer planted for a fall crop.
Darius how many did you plant?
Did you harvest then in June?
We're not too hot in June, maybe they just don't do well in strawbales.
I only bought a 6-pack to try. Wasn't sure I could grow them, having tried before (elsewhere). It was in June that I ate them, didn't mark my calendar though.
That's some good information. Thanks. I'm pretty sure we could plant twice a year, spring & fall.
I'm really thinking the strawbale had something to do with my lack of success.
dovey
I came across this website on brussels sprouts and thought you might find it interesting:
http://www.garden-grower.com/growing-vegetables/brussels-sprouts.shtml
Sue ☺
Thanks Sue, I'm going to click and look right now *S*
Brussels Sprouts have so many uses:
http://flickr.com/photos/kentwang/325738203/sizes/m/
:-) Z
Sun,
That link was great, I think I know what I did wrong... one (of the many) things was not realizing just how long it took them to fruit.
I've book marked the page so I can refer back to it in the spring.
Michael
I don't think I would want to use one as a Christmas tree, but I have seen them used in decorating magazines.
In a vase they are actually quite stunning.
I just can't imagine putting them in a vase and not eating them.