BS is for brussel sprouts

boffer 7/29/2010, 11:21 pm

I haven't seen much talk about BS on the forum-probably cause no appreciates how good they can taste after the first frost. But Camp posted a few of her BS pics that got me wondering. https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/new-england-f4/the-end-of-july-7-weeks-until-frost-t3574.htm#27049

To pick the leaves and stems off or not? Is there anything to do that will keep the sprouts from opening prematurely? 7 out of 8 of my BS plants this year come out of the ground crooked-not straight like Camp's do-any ideas?

brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts 100_2421

brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts 100_2421

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chocolatepop 7/29/2010, 11:48 pm

umm, IDK about the crookedness, but I know that was common with some of my other brassicas, just don't know why.

I snipped the leaves to preserve space. Only lower leaves and only as needed (some were crazy shading my kohlrabi and cabbage)

I'll try to get pictures tomorrow of my crazy sprout. what kind did you plant? how tall is yours?

boffer 7/29/2010, 11:59 pm

Oh man, you mean there's more than one type of BS? fun veggie

I planted Franklin Hybrid. I don't know a thing about it. It's currently about 30 inches tall; typically my BS's get to 3-4 feet tall.

Notice the seeds were planted on 2/20 and there're 80 days to maturation. I'm currently about 2 months behind schedule LOL rofl

brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts 100_2424

**camprn** 7/30/2010, 12:15 am

Oh, I LOVE Brussels sprouts!

brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Heart-smiley

YUMMY! I think my Brussels are leaning mostly for light, but the leaves are so big they act like sails when it is windy. They can be staked. I pulled off the lower leaves to promote better ventilation through the bed and I have planted lettuce underneath. I am thinking of pulling more of the leaves off, but I have not decided. My theory is that if the large leaves are gone the plant will put more energy into the sprouts (this could be totally flawed thinking). brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Suspect

brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Suspect

These are the best ones I have ever grown so... fingers crossed again. Here is some good info about Brussels sprouts. Check out the red variety. Yours are looking pretty good Bof! brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Icon_exclaim

Is the weather still awful? brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Smileyvault-bleh

The good thing about the BS is they will just keep going even if they are behind. I'm keeping the faith for your garden!

chocolatepop 7/30/2010, 12:54 am

haahaa, I planted Catskill which I believe has a 100 days to maturation listing on 2/21. I havent been home much before dark in the past several days, so I have no idea what they look like, but I dont know what little starter sprouts are supposed to look like!!!

Mine are also staked to keep them from invading other areas.

Thanks for the link!

boffer 7/30/2010, 1:09 am

I WANT MINE TO LOOK LIKE THIS!: clap

brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Brusse10

In my dreams! I grow healthy plants, but seldom do the sprouts get bigger than marbles. Last year I let 6 plants over-winter through single digit temps. The plants survived the temps, but the sprouts didn't continue to grow. I didn't complain when the deer ate them to nubbins this spring!~

I suppose that with the bad weather we've had that it's no surprise that the BS, broc, and cabbage are doing pretty good. I think it was Ander who mentioned recently that it's just a weird year. In the boxes where the brassicas are growing well, lettuce, spinach, rads, and bunching onions aren't doing so well.
thinking

Per the suggestion in your link, I'm going to hit 'em with blood meal in a week or two.

chocolatepop 7/30/2010, 1:18 am

I just added fish emulsion two days ago, you guys think I should hit it with something additional?

**camprn** 7/30/2010, 8:53 am

Aren't those amazing Boff? I want mine to look like that too. I'm going to dose mine with blood meal today. Still have not decided about pulling off the large leaves though. Rolling Eyes

I think I may try to get some of the seed for the red ones next year.

Odd Duck 7/30/2010, 11:01 am

Don't forget that plants get their energy from their leaves. They pull water and some nutrients through the roots, but they manufacture their own energy through photosynthesis via the leaves. Of course it makes sense to give them air circulation, but I try to let leaves remain unless they're yellowing or look actually diseased. And this is not BS specific (or maybe it's completely BS! brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Icon_smile

), just plants in general, maybe BS's need something different.

Just a thought, feel free to ignore me! brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Icon_lol

Sharon

moosedroppings 7/30/2010, 12:09 pm

I have never grown sprouts but here is what I know...which ain't much...

When the leaves start to turn yellowish you pick the leaves off and that will allow for room for the sprouts to grow.

**RoOsTeR** 7/7/2013, 11:02 am

I'm refreshing this BS thread. This is my first experience with growing them and they appear to be healthy enough...minus a bit of bug damage here and there. Mine seem shorter and more stumpy then the ones pictured. I sowed them mid-April and transplanted into the garden I believe in May? I do have some buds appearing on the stalks. I did notice some of them look somewhat "leafy". I don't know if this is normal or not? Our weather has also fluctuated quite a bit this season. Going from the low 80's one day, to upper 90's the next.
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Honestly, I don't know if my sprouts are going good or not, or if there's something I should be doing?

**sanderson** 7/7/2013, 11:11 am

Rooster, I think they look great. Look at all those future BSs!

The white butterfly green worms got mine but I can't wait until fall to plant some more. Will cover with tulle straight away. Buying BS on the stalk is a real treat (fresh from the coast). Hope to get enough for at least one dinner for us.

boffer 7/7/2013, 1:03 pm

Your plants look fine. But...

In all but the most northern states, summers are usually too warm for completely satisfactory production from spring plantings.

The heat is causing the early leafiness of the buds. You might try treating them like other cool crops by mulching and providing shade protection.

I would guess that a long season cool crop would be hard to grow in your climate.

**RoOsTeR** 7/8/2013, 7:46 am

I just hope I get something out of the BS I've planted. Lot's of time and space put into growing these beasts for sure Wink

**camprn** 7/8/2013, 7:58 am

RoOsTeR wrote:I just hope I get something out of the BS I've planted. Lot's of time and space put into growing these beasts for sure

I understand the anxiety you are experiencing. hang in there.

LittleGardener 7/8/2013, 1:55 pm

[quote="boffer"]I haven't seen much talk about BS on the forum-probably cause no appreciates how good they can taste after the first frost.

brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts 100_2421

Um, that their thang is NO sprout; it's a TREE... Shocked

(she says,
now digging her 6 sprouts right up), outa the bed, & moooving them. Um, where to?
What a Face

Think I'll donate these things to the YMCA Very Happy

garden plot. They have LOTS more room

boffer 7/8/2013, 2:09 pm

They look big, but they'll grow one per square. Here's this year's BS, one per square.

brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Dscn3115

brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Dscn3116

**camprn** 7/8/2013, 2:35 pm

I also grew mine with success one per square in adjacent squares.

point 9/8/2013, 10:23 am

Is the collective wisdom that if there is nary a bud now, there won't be a sprout by Thanksgiving?

Camprn had pictures of beautiful buds one May, as boffer showed at the top of this thread. Were they started in February?

I'd like to remove the BS stalks and leaves if there's really no hope. We're already at 50 degree nights.

**camprn** 9/8/2013, 11:13 am

Point, go ahead and take off the top growing tip and remove the leaves from the bottom, but leave about 6"-10" of the leaves on the top of the stalk. Sprinkle a little bit of dried blood around the bed. BS have shallow roots and often they are wide. The nitrogen in the DB will promote the foliage growth.

You can eat the leaves you cut off. Remove the main stem and vein and cook like collards. What a Face

Windsor.Parker 9/8/2013, 2:22 pm

sanderson wrote:...The white butterfly green worms got mine but I can't wait until fall to plant some more. Will cover with tulle straight away....

My BS suffered the same fate, sanderson.
Nearly all my Spring seedlings succumbed to the cabbage worm. Evil or Very Mad

brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Brusse12

Hope my newly "outside" sprouted brassicas (see below) will be productive, even at this late date.
brussel - BS is for brussel sprouts Fallse10

Maybe, as stated earlier the Catskill BS (bottom) and Copenhagen Market Early Cabbages (top) will produce heads made tastier by the 1st frost.

**camprn** 9/8/2013, 2:52 pm

Oh Point, to answer to take them up or not. I suggest leaving them, follow my previous advice and know they will continue to grow. + cell division above 36*F.

**sanderson** 9/8/2013, 4:31 pm

WP, I will set out 4 seedlings today. I'm using someone's idea of metal clothes hangers to drape and fasten tulle. Snip, snip, bend, bend, bend. Maybe I can take a photo after they are planted? Good luck on your BS.

Marc Iverson 9/8/2013, 9:57 pm

Windsor.parker, I was really intrigued to see your b.sprouts in buckets. I had been thinking of doing that myself. Please keep us updated!

I was able to see three in one bucket and four in another. I had been thinking that since the b.sprout plants get so big, I'd need to plant one per 5-gallon bucket, so I'm surprised to see yours with multiple plants in them. Will you thin them at all? Or are those even b.sprouts?

**camprn** 9/8/2013, 10:14 pm

They absolutely need plenty of room.

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Not a BS bud in sight, and it's September 8!

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