Brussels sprouts?

czechens Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:12 pm

I love, love, love Brussels sprouts and would get a huge kick out of having a plant or two in my garden, but the culture info specifies cool weather--a rare occurrence in my area (just south of Kansas City - Zone 5), where summer temps generally stay in the upper 90s. Has anyone in my general vicinity had any luck with B-sprouts? Any tips? Or should I just stick to peppers?

landarch Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:41 pm

czechens, I am in Kansas City and can tell you that Brussel Sprouts are best suited for the fall garden due to the cooler temps while the plant matures (it just gets too hot too quickly when planted in the spring garden).

Having said that, I planted four brussel sprout bedding plants in the fall garden this year and they never sent up a stalk.

**camprn** Mon Jan 21, 2013 10:51 pm

I am in zone 5 and grow Brussels sprouts. Some years are better than other, but these plants are extremely long growing, 5 months. They are one of the first things I plant and one of the last to harvest. There are previous threads here with some info, but I found a lot of good info on the web.
http://myfolia.com/plants/1470-brussels-sprout-brassica-oleracea-gemmifera-group/varieties/4184-jade-cross

GWN Mon Jan 21, 2013 11:20 pm

but the culture info specifies cool weather--a rare occurrence in my area

HMMMM and I thought that zone 5 WAS cold weather... Very Happy

pryz123 Tue Jan 22, 2013 2:22 am

I believe that the zone number only reflects the average low temps in the winter and not the average high temps. That is why their is such a difference in summer temps in the same zone. Smile

**camprn** Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:39 am

The plant does not require cool temperatures to grow. It is cold tolerant. Here are a few links with information about Brussels sprouts, which are so very worth growing in the home garden.
http://www.brussels-sprouts.com/BSINFO.htm

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/brusselssprouts.cfm

http://www.hfrr.ksu.edu/doc1788.ashx

Czechens, it looks like if you choose a variety that has a shorter growing season, you can put them into your garden in July with harvest about time for the holidays.

Good luck.

quiltbea Tue Jan 22, 2013 11:21 am

In our area of Zone 5 our springs are usually quite cool so Brussels sprouts grow well but when we have a too warm spring, the plants don't thrive. Last year mine did poorly, too. This year I plan to start a few B.S. indoors in summer and transplant so they can mature in fall in case my spring crops fail.

Sweetmama Mon May 13, 2013 9:06 pm

I found some brussel sprout plants I want to set out this week. I can't find anything about spacing in Mel's book. Did I just miss it? Can someone tell me how many plants can go in a square?

Thanks, in advance, for your help.

Sweet Mama

**camprn** Mon May 13, 2013 9:12 pm

Sweetmama Mon May 13, 2013 9:27 pm

Thanks for quick reply. After reading more about them, not sure they will do well planting right now. But one of those spur of the moment purchases without much thought! I'll give them a try.

Thanks again!

**camprn** Mon May 13, 2013 10:01 pm

In the northern climes it takes all season to get sprouts for the Thanksgiving or Christmas table.

quiltbea Tue May 14, 2013 11:48 am

Most Brussels sprouts take 100 to 120 days to mature so they need a long growing season.
With this year being so cool and the winter long, I started my B.S. with my other brassicas and just transplanted them outdoors recently for the season. Hopefully no really hot spring for us this year. They will continue to grow and give forth lovely little sprouts in early fall.
Remember, while you're waiting, you can harvest a leaf now and then to eat in salads or in smoothies or use as a wrap for sandwiches.
Like cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, they take one square.

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