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Brussels sprouts, a hardy,
slow-growing vegetable they resemble miniature cabbages . Brussel
Sprouts can be grown with fair success in most areas of the country. In
mild areas, or where there is deep snow cover, the sprouts may
overwinter.
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Healthy well cultivated/ maintained plants should
produce 50 to 75 heads. In all but the most northern states, and
Provinces summers are usually too warm for completely satisfactory
production from spring plantings. Plants set out in late spring to early
summer grow satisfactorily and mature high-quality sprouts when the fall
weather begins to cool.
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The Sustainable Vegetable Garden: A Backyard Guide to Healthy Soil and Higher Yields
With a wealth of information and tested advice, this problem-solving
treasure gives gardeners every-thing they need to do battle with
garden pests, diseases, and weeds—with safe, natural solutions.
Combining a troubleshooting approach with encyclopedic coverage and
drawing on the most up-to-date research on biological and non- or
low-toxic controls
Planting
Transplant in early summer
to midsummer . Spring planting is done from late April
to early May, with fall plantings done in late June.
The seed should be sown in
a protected location in peat pots or seed flats, 4 to 5
weeks before transplanting. {It will takes 90 to 95
days to reach full maturity .}Transplant the seedlings
to the permanent garden location when space and time
allow; but at least 90 to 100 days before the first
frost date for your area. For summer harvest, you must
plant transplants of an early, heat-resistant variety in
very early spring. Sprouts maturing in hot weather or
under dry conditions are more likely to develop
bitterness. Fall production is the most practical and
rewarding in most parts of the country.
Space plants 24 to 36
inches apart in the row, or 24 inches in all directions
in beds. Cover seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep and transplant
the seedlings when they are about 3 inches tall. Do not
allow transplants to become stunted in the flats before
transplanting.
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Watering
Moisture during the summer is critical to keep the
plants healthy Brussel sprouts are not very drought
tolerant, plants will become stressed and growth will be
impeded. Inexpensive
Water timer systems are available.
Fertilizer
Brussel Sprouts have high nitrogen and boron requirements, for
a good harvest- Follow a nitrogen fixing crop in your rotation -such as beans
or peas if possible.
Osmocote
,a time released fertilizer works well and has become very popular , lasting for
up to 4 months. An organic fertilizer such as fish emulsion can be
used bi-weekly.
Soil Ph should be to 6.5 or higher [See Also
Soil pH]
Pest & Disease Problems for Brussels Sprouts
- Aphids
are Yellowish-pink to pale green plant lice that suck ......plant
juices. They are a soft-bodied, oval/pear shaped insect and are commonly
found on nearly all varieties of plants, vegetables, field crops, and
fruit trees. [Images]
Hot Pepper Wax repels bugs from your plants, fruits and flowers. 100% natural spray
uses pepper extract and wax to effectively discourage pests. Helps to
reduce stress on cuttings. Aphids have many natural enemies such as
lady beetles , green lacewing larvae, and parasitic
wasps that also help to control aphids.
- Whiteflies [cabbage
Whiteflies]
Over 1200
known species of whiteflies. These tiny, insects feed in large numbers
on leaf undersides by sucking out plant juices. They secrete a sticky
substance called honeydew that may cause the growth of a sooty black
fungus [Image},
and also attracts other insect pests. Yellowing leaves are also
symptomatic. White flies are visible to the eye and will swarm in large
groups when the plant is shaken. See Whitefly
Control Products
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Cabbage Moth and Cabbage Butterflies
They lay their eggs on the underside of leaves. The larvae
hatch from the eggs and then feed on the leaves and/or
fruit. [Images-Moths]
[Images
Butterflies]
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Alternaria leaf spot is a fungal disease caused by Alternaria dauci. It
overwinters in diseased debris in the soil and it may be spread on or in
contaminated seed ,or by the wind. The disease usually start on older
leaf margins causing dark spots with yellow borders to develop.
Spots on the leaf stems will elongate and kill the entire leaf.
Infection most commonly occurs during the cooler portions of the
growing season when the leaf moisture does not dissipate as quickly.
[Image]
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Black Rot / Black Leg -Black rot is caused by a bacteria , Black Leg is caused
by fungus and can affect all vegetables in the crucifer
family. Above-ground parts of the plant are primarily
affected, and symptoms may vary depending on the type of
plant, age of the plant and the environmental
conditions. In general, yellow, V-shaped lesions appear
along the tips of the leaves with the point of the V
directed toward a vein. -There are no chemical controls available, so disease
prevention is very important. The bacteria survives the
winter on plant debris and on weeds, It also can survive
in and on seeds from infected plants. It can remain
alive on plant residue buried in the soil for up to two
years. The disease is easily spread . High temperatures
and humidity favor development of the disease.
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Fusarium wilt - The first signs are
drooping and yellowing of lower leaves on a single stem.
Earliest symptoms may appear on only one side of the
plant. Yellowing and wilting of the leaves occurs, and the
plants may die. If the stem is cut , the water conductive plant
tissues under the surface are sometimes discolored brown. Favored
by soil temperatures around 80 F, a low soil pH, Fusarium wilt
is more common in southern latitudes.
Harvest
Harvesting should commence when sprouts are about 1 inch
in diameter. Start at the bottom and harvest upward. If
harvest is delayed until the lower leaves turn yellow,
the sprouts will be tough and off flavor.
The flavor is actually improved by a minimal exposure to light
frost. |
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